David Middleton and WEC In The Money. Image: Equisoul Photography. 

Meet the Adelaide Five-Star field

Inside Adelaide | Presented by RB Sellars

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By Equestrian Life

Eleven combinations are set to start in the CCI5*L at Adelaide Equestrian Festival this year. Here, we take a closer look at the field…

Andrew Cooper riding Hey Arnold          

Ten-year-old bay warmblood gelding Hey Arnold is a four-star winner and previous Adelaide CCI5*L competitor, having finished eighth last year. Andrew has competed in the top class at Adelaide on seven occasions, his highest-placed finish being third with Evergem Perfection in 2016. Hey Arnold is owned by Madeline Cooper, and Madeline Wilson will be his groom in Adelaide.

Andrew Cooper and Evergem Perfection. Image: Julie Wilson/FEI.

Charlotte Edwards riding Just De Manzana

Twenty-five-year-old Charlotte Edwards is part of the New Zealand contingent to descend on Adelaide this year, and it will be her first five-star start. Her horse, 18-year-old mare Just De Manzana, is owned by Rosemary Edwards and is a winner at four-star level in Taupo with Charlotte in the saddle. Once owned by Aussie eventer Simon Tainsh, Just De Manzana is by Just De Pomme out of Northern Winfield (Skies Above). You can read more about Charlotte and Just De Manzana here.

Charlotte Edwards and Just De Manzana. Image by KAMPIC - Kerry Marshall.

David Middleton riding WEC In The Money & WEC In The Breeze            

David Middleton is no stranger to Adelaide five-star. In 2000 he won the event with Thoroughbred Willowbank Jack, before finishing second the following year - and since then he's had several other top ten finishes. David Middleton returns this year with two of his own horses. WEC In The Money is a 12-year-old gelding by In The Black out of a Balou Dr Rouet mare. He finished eighth in the CCI4*S at Adelaide last year and placed in his last two four-star starts at Wandin and Tonimbuk. WEC In The Breeze is an 11-year-old Warmblood mare who’s had four wins at FEI four-star level and finished sixth in the CCI3*L at Adelaide last year.

Diane Gilder riding Your Attorney

New Zealand’s Diane Gilder and her own incredible rising 20-year-old Your Attorney are no strangers to the Adelaide five-star: this combination finished seventh last year and sixth in 2019. Diane and ‘Baz’ have an incredible partnership and are a treat to witness going cross country. Baz is another Thoroughbred and is by Legal Opinion out of Polar Crown, a Carry The Crown mare. The combinations have finished in the top five of their last three four-star starts. Hollie Adams will be Diane’s groom at Adelaide.

Donna Edwards-Smith riding DSE Mendoza

No stranger to Adelaide having competed in the five-star three times previously, Donna will be saddling up DSE Mendoza, whom she owns in conjunction with Elise Edwards-Smith, David and Lesley Going, and Kim Keown. A 15-year-old New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred who raced as Pompei Cat, Mendoza is by Scardee Cat out of a mare by Marquetry. He’s competed at four-star level since 2019, and Adelaide will be his first five-star start. Elise Edwards-Smith and Kelly Clarke will be grooming for the combination in Adelaide.

Gordon Bishop riding Advantage Hill

Having taken on the challenge four times previously, Gordon Bishop is no stranger to Adelaide five-star. Last year, he completed the event with Advantage Hill despite tearing a groin muscle out on cross country. Advantage Hill is 5/8 Thoroughbred and 3/8 Warmblood, by Rudolph (Brilliant Invader and Regardez Moi bloodlines) out of a mare by Sprite who had a lot of Thoroughbred blood. Gordon bred and broke in Advantage Hill and always thought she’d be a five-star horse. Now at age 14, the mare has reached her prime and Gordon is excited to return to Adelaide. Gordon’s wife Emma Bishop is set to groom for the combination. You can read more about Gordon and Advantage Hill here.

Gordon Bishop and Advantage Hill. Image: The Blachat (Ashley Grant).

Kirilee Hosier riding AEA Flynn 

Kirilee Hosier and her own 17-year-old gelding AEA Flynn have been at FEI level since 2019 and reached four-star in 2022. They completed the five-star at Adelaide last year and finished ninth, and more recently finished in the top ten of the CCI4*S at Wandin and Tonimbuk. Flynn is an Australian-bred Warmblood by Flemmingh, out of AEA Lucinda (Stirling Luther).

Megan Jones riding Toulando   

South Australian Olympian Megan Jones has ridden at Adelaide in the top class on nine different occasions, often with multiple horses – including Kirby Park Irish Jester, Kirby Park Allofasudden and Kirby Park Impress. In 2005 Megan won the event with Irish Jester, and she’s also placed several times. Her partner this year is Toulando, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding who was in the top ten of the CCI4*S at Adelaide last year, before heading overseas to campaign in Europe. Back on home soil, he’s had two top-ten finishes at Wandin and Tonimbuk this year and will be contesting his first five-star in Adelaide. Megan says he’s the best cross country horse she’s ever ridden, so make sure you’re ready and watching come RB Sellars Cross Country Day!

Olivia Barton riding Hollyander HG

Bred and owned by Bob and Ela Weight, Hollyander HG is by Higgins out of an imported mare and has both jumping and dressage lines. ‘Holly’ was broken in by Deon Stokes and came to Olivia ‘Golly’ Barton as a four-year-old – and she certainly tested the then-18-year-old! Now ten years old, Holly has been in great form for 24-year-old Golly of late: she won her first ever CCI4*L start at Melbourne International Three-Day Event last year, and was recently second to Shane Rose and Virgil in the CCI4*S at Land Rover HOY in NZ. Adelaide is set to be Golly and Holly’s first ever five-star!

Olivia Barton and Hollyander HG. Image: Andrea Dunn Photography.

Sam Woods riding Cage Fighter

Cage Fighter started life as a racehorse and was reasonably successful on the track, having 15 starts for three wins. He underwent pre-training at Bimbadeen Thoroughbreds with Shane and Niki Rose, and when he retired it was only natural that he’d become an eventer. He partnered with a few working students before Sam Woods – also a working student at Bimbadeen – took up the reins in 2018. Sam took the horse to four-star level, and they won the CCI4*L at Sydney International Three-Day Event when Sam was 23 and Cagey was 16! Adelaide is set to be Sam and Cagey’s first five-star.

Adelaide Equestrian Festival runs 18-21 April, with the five-star horse completing their horse inspection on Thursday. Find out more here.

Published 15 April 2024.

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