Sophie Scott and Waitangi Skynet posing with Waikato SJ President, Paxton Conder at Takapoto Estate – Photo by Cornege Photography
Sophie Scott will be hoping she nominates the right horse in the second round of the FEI World Cup (NZ League) Series at Taupo on Saturday.
The Palmerston North 22-year-old dominated in the series opener at Takapoto, winning aboard Waitangi Skynet and placing third with Benrose Stellar, however, Stella was her nominated horse, so she didn’t get the winning points which went to Julie Davey (Hawke’s Bay) who was runner-up in the class aboard LT Holst Freda.
Julie and 10-year-old Freda, the daughter of last year’s series’ winner LT Holst Andrea, are always a threat with their beautifully consistent jumping and once again, they’ll be one of the favourites at Taupo.
Those top three from the opener are all well-performed in the indoor and Sophie says she’s looking forward to another tight competition. ‘We’ve had some good work and competition between the series opener and Saturday’s qualifier, they’ve all been jumping super,” she said. “There’s no room for error with just four rounds and there is some very good competition in there. I think everyone has a fair chance at winning the series.”
Luke Dee (Hawke’s Bay) and his imported Gangster WW will be keen to build on their fourth place effort in the opener, as will Vicki Wilson (Havelock North) with her 12-year-old homebred Millionaire VWNZ, Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) with her 11-year-old imported mare Dolce Del Colle, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) aboard Bravado Ego Z and Daniel Webb (Hunterville) with WSJ Centaur. Also on the card for the class with the $4800 prize purse is Colleen Crous with Castiel Xtreme.
Philippa Howells is designing the course, with the class set to go in the McIntosh Global Equestrian Indoor Arena at 3pm on Saturday. The class will be livestreamed on ClipMyHorse.
In a shortened World Cup series, the next round is at Dannevirke (January 11) with the final at Waitemata (January 19) to follow. The winner of the series has the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the Longines FEI World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland in April 2025.
FEI NZ League World Cup Rankings (after one qualifier): Julie Davey 20 points, Sophie Scott 17, Luke Dee 15, Makenzie Causer 13, Logan Massie 12, Daniel Webb 11, Alex Loiselle 10, Jake Lambert 9, Oliver Edgecombe 8, Colleen Crous 7.
WHAT: Taupo World Cup Classic – CSI1*-W (second qualifier)
WHERE: Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, Taupo
WHEN: November 30, 2024
ENTRIES AND RESULTS: https://www.evoevents.co.nz/resultClass/2135886914/28/1
LIVESTREAM: ClipMyHorse
Diana Dobson – 27 November 2024