Steffi Whittaker rides Carpe Diem
Following a hot week of competition at HOY, it was the South Islands turn to shine with the SCNO Autumn Show.
Steffi Whittaker stole the show with a superb win in the Harrison Lane Pro Am (locally supported by Animal Therapeutics) aboard her lovely grey mare Carpe Diem, where five of the seven starters made it through to the jump off.
“This class is always a hot class to be in, its always a competitive class with great riders and horses. I was first and last out (Steffi also finished in fourth place with her non nominated mount Glenbrooke Rosarno) and so knew I had to set a nice time from the start..
Emma Barker built fantastic courses and now I am feeling well prepared and looking forward to the NZ Nationals next weekend. The SCNO committee did a great job with the grounds and putting on a great show, as normal!”
It would seem that the stars aligned for Steffi this weekend, as alongside her two Pro Am mounts, she also had her very special five year old who jumped double clears in the 70 & 80cm at only his second show. Erosinni is particularly dear to Steffi’s heart as not only is he out of her Pro Am winning mount Carpe Diem, he is also by her stunning stallion Eros K, that coincidently and very sadly she lost exactly five years ago. Eros K was produced by Joshua Barker before being sold to the Whittaker family where he took Steffi from Young Rider level all the way through to their first World Cup start where they placed fifth. He was also the NZ leading Jumping Stallion for two consecutive years. We look forward to watching Steffi and Erosinni over the next few years!
Three classes went ahead with only one starter, but each one produced a good round to solidify their win. Samantha Gillies & SP Victor jumped around the Mainland Coachwork Junior Rider for five faults and Sophie Fountain & TC Pianoman just dropped a single rail in the AMS Saddlery Pony Grand Prix (locally supported by Fill Rural). Nayton Mitchell & Brosnacroft Centilivi also just picked up four faults in the NZPH & A1 Equine 7 Year Olds. Bred and owned by A & S Brosnan, Centilivi is by ES Centavos and out of the Windermere Remember Me mare, Snazzy. It was a good weekend for Claudia Hay and the Eurosport Horses progeny as in the East Coast Performance Horses 5 Year Olds, Suzanne Black was the sole double clear with Glenbrooke Rockin Roses who is by ES Diamant B and out of the ES Heartbreaker mare, Glenbrooke Roses.
That wasn’t the only red ribbon that Suzanne picked up over the weekend, as she was also the only double clear in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Amateur Rider (locally supported by PL Performance Horses) with Castellane AF to take home the win.
Kimberleigh McCabe picked up another win in the TiES Jumping Futurity with the consistent Ray’s In Command.
Next weekend we look forward to the NZ National Championships!
For this weeks full results, go to www.main-events.com
Jumping Team 18 March 2024