Always a highly anticipated event, Equestriad took place over the weekend (18-19 May) at Bicentennial Equestrian Park, Camden, NSW with competitors in action from EvA60 all the way through to CCN4*S level.
Jessica Rae and Rascal won the CCN4*S on a total of 45 penalties, adding just 11.6 cross country time faults to their dressage score of 33.4.
On a course where no one in the field finished under time, it was a stellar effort.
Jessica bred, broke-in and has campaigned Rascal since the very start of his eventing career, and has always believed in the now 15-year-old Regardez Moi gelding’s suitability as an event horse. The pair reached four-star level in 2019 and have produced consistent results ever since; last month at Adelaide, they were fifth in the CCI4*S, and in March they were second at Tamworth CCI4*S.
“As usual, Equestriad was a great event. Niki, Shane and their hard-working team do a fantastic job and everything seemed to run very smoothly,” said Jessica following her win.
“I was really pleased with Rascal and thrilled that he won the four-tar class. He’s actually been placed in so many four-stars over the last five-years and this was his first win. He absolutely deserves it; he’s such a tough, reliable horse and I’m very grateful to have him.”
Jessica says the cross country course had some tough questions, but both Rascal and her other ride, Fifth Avenue, handled it well: “Thanks to the recent rain, the going was as good as we will ever see at Camden and I thought the four-star cross country track certainly had plenty of tough questions to be answered. I was really pleased that both Rascal and my other four-star ride, Fifth Avenue, were able to answer these questions and felt super around the course.”
Fifth Avenue was actually the quickest on course, finishing with 9.6 time faults. Starting on a dressage score of 37.9, the 15-year-old mare finished on 47.5 to place a very close fourth. Fifth Avenue is by a Warmblood stallion, Raphael, out of an Irish Sport Horse cross Thoroughbred mare.
Katie Taliana finished second on Revelwood Wynston Street with 45.7 in the CCN4*S, while Emma Mason and KPH Kingfisher were third on 45.8 – so the scores were tight among the first four.
In the CCN3*, it was Cathryn Herbert and CH Don Quixote who won the class on 39. Eighth after the dressage on 35, they were the only combination to go clear and under time on cross country and then added just the one show jump rail to their final score.
Shenae Lowings and 11-year-old Thoroughbred Chasing Great were second on 43.3, a great comeback after unfortunate falls in the CCI4*S at Adelaide and Tamworth, and then Hazel Shannon and WillingaPark Chelsea were third on 46.1.
Alexandra Wolters and Overproof won the CCN2*S on 33.7, ahead of Niki Rose and Dreamrush on 35.1, and Deon Stokes with Diamond B Baton Rouge on 36.6.
The CCN1*S-A went to Sandi Palmer and Quarter Horse gelding QL Gunsmokin Spinifex on 38.2, while the CCN1*S-B went to Katie Taliana and Lyrical Street on 27.4.
Congratulations to Shane and Niki Rose and the team on another fabulous Equestriad!
