Julie Davey rides LT Holst Freda. World Cup Grand Prix CSI1* – W. 2024 -Taupo World Cup Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
Luke Dee rides Gangster WW World Cup Grand Prix CSI1* – W. 2024 – Taupo World Cup Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
It couldn’t be tighter heading into the penultimate round of the FEI World Cup (NZ League) Series at Dannevirke on Saturday.
Tied at the top of the leaderboard are Hawke’s Bay riders Julie Davey and Luke Dee who are both on the six-strong card of the final qualifier, which is being held at the Alabaster Contracting Central & Southern Hawke’s Bay Jumping Show.
Julie is in on her ever-consistent LT Holst Freda. They won a World Cup qualifier in Australia earlier this year but have so far not quite managed to top one onshore, with a second and fourth from the two so far.
Luke picked up his first-ever World Cup win aboard Gangster WW when he headed home the Taupo field and also has a fourth to his credit. Julie and Luke are tied on 35 points.
Right behind them is Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) who sits on 30 points. She and Waitangi Skynet won the New Zealand series opener, where she was also third aboard Benrose Stellar. Sophie and Stellar were then third at Taupo.
Sophie is in on both horses for the Dannevirke qualifier.
Also on the card of the $4500 class are Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) aboard Takapoto Tinka and Vicki Wilson (Hastings) with Millionaire VWNZ.
Just three of the four rounds count with the winner of the series having the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the Longines FEI World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland in April.
The course is being designed by Heather McDonald (Dannevirke). Both this weekend’s qualifier and the final count towards qualifications for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen.
FEI World Cup Rankings (after two rounds): Julie Davey (Hawke’s Bay) and Luke Dee (Hawke’s Bay) 35 points 1, Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) 30 3, Logan Massie (Dannevirke) 29 4, Makenzie Causer (Christchurch) 24 5, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) 22 6, Vicki Wilson (Hastings) 12 7, Alex Loiselle (Norsewood) 10 8, Jake Lambert (Cambridge) 9 9, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) 8 10.
WHAT: Alabaster Contracting FEI World Cup Qualifier part of the Central & Southern Hawke’s Bay Jumping Show
WHEN: 12 noon, Saturday, January 11, 2025
WHERE: Dannevirke
START LISTS AND RESULTS: https://www.main-events.com/event/11521/alabaster-contracting-central-sth-hb-sj-sh-cham/classlist/116163/21-alabaster-contracting-fei-world-cup-qualifier
LIVESTREAMING: ClipMyHorse
Diana Dobson
9 January 2025