A trio of New Zealand riders are in France for the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships Lion d’Angers. World no.2 Jonelle Price, Olympian Caroline Powell and Ginny Thompson will line up against riders from 24 other nations to contest the best of the best six and seven-year-olds.
Jonelle has Fernhill Kankan in the seven-year-old. The Irish-breed black mare, who is by Kannan, out of Fog (by Zierbluete), has had five international starts across both eventing and showjumping with Jonelle, including a win in the CCI2*-L at Millstreet in June, and is relatively new to Team Price.
Caroline lines up CBI Aldo in the same class. The bay Irish-bred gelding, who is by Goodluck VDL, out of KMS Eclipse (by Ramon), has been with her his whole international career and was fourth in the CCI3*-L at Blair Castle at his last outing in August. He competed at Le Lion last year for eighth place.
Also in the seven-year-old is Cooley Wish Upon a Star, a Belgium-born chestnut by Comilfo Plus Z, out of Uranie D’Hyrencourt (by Ogano Sitte), who joined Ginny’s stable last year.
Caroline and Ginny also have entries in the six-year-old. Ginny has Quantas R, a German-bred grey Hanoverian who is by Qualito, out of Galazy R (by Grey Top), and a new ride for her.
Caroline is in aboard Tik Tok, a bay Irish-bred warmblood who is by Ulysses M2S, out of Ballinamurra Coors Light (by Desir du Chateau), and was fourth earlier this year in the CCI2*-S at Ballindenisk in Ireland.
Both classes have two days of dressage on Thursday and Friday, with the cross country on Saturday and showjumping on Sunday.
The is the 38th edition of the event and has this year attracted 118 combinations. For the first time ever, riders from Morocco, Luxembourg and Argentina are on the start list. The event is certainly known one that shines a real light on the champions of tomorrow.
New Zealand has a strong history with the event, and in recent years have certainly featured on the podium. Tim Price and Happy Boy won the seven-year-old title back in 2019, with Andrew Nicholson and Yacabo BK third in 2017, Jonelle Price and Cooley Showtime third in 2016, and Andrew and Quimbo third in 2010. In the six-year-old, Andrew Nicholson and Jet Set were second in 2013.
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THE HORSE DETAILS:
CBI Aldo – owned by Jo West, Pat Melville-Evans and Serena Greenwell
Tik Tok – owned by Jo West
Fernhill Kankan – owned by Therese Miller and Julia Lukas
Cooley Wish Upon a Star – owned by Phillippa Levy, Ross Milne and Ginny Thompson
143 Quantas R – owned by the High Flyers Syndicate
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison