A trio of Kiwi eventers will be looking to continue New Zealand’s strong showing at Mondial du Lion, the Eventing World Breeding Championships in France this week.

Samantha Lissington, Ginny Thompson and London Olympian Caroline Powell are competing against riders from across the globe at an event that generally signals the stars of tomorrow.
Samantha has two on the card in Senor Crocodillo in the CCI3*-L for seven-year-olds and Easter Star in the CCI2*-L for six-year-olds. Also in the six-year-old class are Ginny aboard Cooley Wish Upon a Star and Caroline with CBI Aldo.

Senor Crocodillo is a German-bred grey Holsteiner gelding who is by Connor out of Marni (by Exorbitant XX) whose first international start was in July in a 3*-S. He placed fourth in his second start at CCI2*-L at Hartpury and was top 10 in the CCIYJ3*-S at Osberton in September. The seven-year-old class which has a prize purse of 31,000 Euro with 9400 Euro to the winner, has attracted 60 combinations from 17 countries and includes world no.1 Oliver Townend (GBR).

Easter Star is a bay mare who is by Estrello, out of Bonheur (by Quasimodo Z) who had the first of her two international starts with Samantha in August.

Cooley Wish Upon a Star is by Comilfo Plus Z, out of Uraine d’Hyrencourt (out of Ogango Sitte) and had his first international start with Ginny in July.

CBI Aldo is an Irish bred horse who is by Goodluck VDL, out of KMS Eclipse (by Ramon) who has twice finished just outside the top 10 in his three starts.

The six-year-old has a prize pool of 18,650 Euro and has 46 combinations on the card from 20 countries. Dressage in both sections runs Thursday and Friday with the Pierre Michelet (FRA) designed cross country on Saturday and showjumping, which has been designed by Jean Pierre Cosnuau (FRA) on Sunday.
New Zealand has a long history with the event, with Tim Price and Happy Boy topping the seven-year-old podium in 2019.

THE DETAILS HORSE:
Senor Crocodillo – owned by Joseph and Alexander Giannamore
Easter Star – owned by C Fenton and M Townsley Fenton
Cooley Wish Upon a Star – owned by Phillippa Levy, Ross Milne and Ginny Thompson
CBI Aldo – owned by Jo West, Serena Greenwell and Pat Melville-Evans

WHAT: Mondial du Lion – Eventing World Breeding Championship
WHERE: Le Lion d’Angers, France
WHEN: October 21-24, 2021
MORE INFO: https://www.mondialdulion.com/en/

By Diana Dobson – HP Media