Clarke Johnstone rides Sparky Lad. File Photo. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
Paris Olympian Clarke Johnstone and Sparky Lad (Smart Missile x Lady Hepburn) have headed home a hugely competitive field to win the inaugural ARC Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup at Cornbury House Horse Trials in the UK. Their win – by just 1.9 penalty points – pocketed them £45,000. Forty-four combinations started the class which is for former racehorses who have been retrained for eventing.
“It was a big goal to win it,” says Clarke. “I knew I had a good chance with Sparky because he is a wonderful horse and a good jumper.” Clarke and Sparky, who has been jumping 4* this season, led from the start adding nothing to their 26.2 penalty point dressage score. Both horse and rider had thoroughly enjoyed the cross country. “This is a couple of levels down (for him) and he enjoyed it so much. He just loves to run,” said Clarke.
“To actually deliver is another thing. The showjumping round was under a lot of pressure and I couldn’t afford a mistake. That adds a whole different element to jumping a clear round than under normal circumstances.” He was particularly thrilled for Sparky’s owner Tim Boland who was a “wonderful supporter and heavily involved in racing in Australia”. Tim had owned Sparky since he finished his racing career, which Clarke described as “quite a good” one. “Sparky is a real character and becoming quite well known on the circuit as a cool little horse with a big character. Sparky reinforces how good this initiative is.”
Clarke was hopeful it would encourage top riders to seek out racehorses who had finished their racing career but had the right attributes for eventing. “It would be great to see more top riders riding beautiful thoroughbreds again. It used to be commonplace but not so much now – I hope this initiative encourages that.”
Other Kiwis to do well at Cornbury including Jesse Campbell and Speedwell who headed home the 49-strong (section F) CCI3*-S on 30.3 penalty points with Tim Price and Happy Boy in fifth on 38.
Samantha Lissington and her team picked up a raft of minor placings in the CCI3*-S classes. She and Quantas R were third in section B on a score of 40.6 and picked up another third in section C aboard Lucas Stone on 36.3. And with Delarado was eighth in section A on 46.4, and eight also with Malibu TS in section D with a score of 40.1
Tim and Chio 20 placed fourth in the CCI3*-S (section B) on 43.7, Jarillo was fifth in section C, and Tim picked up another fifth in section D aboard Garcon on 38.9. He was also fourth in section E aboard Brookfield Future News with a score of 31.5. Jesse Campbell was also fourth in CCI3*-S (section D) aboard Diachello on a score of 38.1.
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison