Mariah Kaminski and OTT Linton Street, winners of the Novice section of the Racing Victoria Off The Track Dressage series.
© Equine Images Victoria
OTT Dressage Series champions crowned
By Equestrian Life
Now in its third year, the Racing Victoria Off The Track Dressage series wrapped up at Boneo Park earlier this month after three thrilling rounds of competition. The series, which gives OTTs the chance to compete across a number of Boneo Park events at Preliminary and Novice level, offered over $7000 in prize money and was once again hotly contested.
Following the third and final leg, held at the Hi Form Autumn Dressage competition, Mariah Kaminski and Linton Street emerged as the Novice Series winners, while Amanda Ross and Romeo F were crowned overall Preliminary Series champions.
Olympic judge Susie Hoevenaars enjoyed adjudicating at the second event of the series and was very impressed by what she saw. “I was really impressed with them. They were trying to please, they had a really nice attitude. The riders were all trying to ride sympathetically and establish the correct basics in accordance with the training scale. It’s a credit to them.”
With their best three test scores counted, Mariah and Linton Street finished on a total of 207.209 and took home $2000 in prize money for their efforts. Second place and $1000 in prize money went to Fiona Barker and Penrhos Gamble on a score of 204.308, while third place and $500 prize money went to Jessica Morrison and Afterlife.
Mariah says that winning the series is something she’s been working hard towards, and she couldn’t be happier with how Linton Street performed. “Even with limited time to train, he just always pulls out consistent tests with some nice comments from some judges. I love him!”
“I also love that Racing Victoria are sponsoring and holding these events for the off track horses.”
Amanda Ross and Romeo F finished on a total of 216.755 points to claim the Preliminary Series purse of $2000, with Jenny Bennet and Awakino in second on 212.008 and third
place going to Heidi Pickstock and DP Choir on 206.935. Prize money of $1000 and $500 went to these respective placegetters.
An eventer turned show jumper, Amanda Ross has had a number of talented OTTs over the years, from her 2000 Sydney Olympics mount to her last top-level eventer, Koko Popping Candy. Her latest star, Romeo F (racing name Switching To Win), was originally a $475,000 yearling by super sire Frankel and marked as a possible future Melbourne Cup horse – but as it turned out, he wasn’t as talented on the track as hoped.
Amanda Ross and Preliminary series winner, Romeo F.
© Equine Images Victoria
Given the opportunity to pursue a new career with Amanda, Romeo F is showing talent not only in the dressage arena but also as a show jumper – the latter being where his career will likely head.
With Racing Victoria’s Off The Track Dressage series now complete, focus switches to the Off The Track Rising Star Jumping Series, where the final leg is still to come at Boneo Park in April. After two competitions, Mick Pritchard and Quail Hollow are atop the leaderboard, just four points head of Marion Shears and Peewee Blitz.
The Off The Track Rising Star Jumping Series is for horses who raced or competed in an official trial within the past two years and offers $5000 in prizemoney thanks to Racing Victoria.
This article was written in conjunction with Racing Victoria. To find out more about Racing Victoria’s Off The Track program, visit OTT Community.
