Silver Lining for Annie and Helen

Silver Lining for Annie and Helen

Helen McNaught-McFarlane may have had every confidence in the ability of her horse LT Holst Aunty Annette, but even she didn’t pick them to win the Silver Fern Stakes.
The Taupo horsewoman, who is riding the horse for her teenage student Brayden Aarts, headed home a classy 14-strong field to take the win in the second richest class of the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings today.
McNaught-McFarlane and Annie – as she is known at home – were all clear in the opening round of the class, but picked up a single time fault. Nine combinations came back for the second round, where the eventual winner added nothing to her tally.
Behind her, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) and Esteban MVNZ – a horse she is riding for the injured Carissa McCall – carried four faults from the opening round, and while clear in the second, had to settle for second place.
Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) and Quango were also clear in the second but were carrying four faults from the opening round, to come in for third, with Rio Olympic eventer Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) and Quainton Labyrinth, who were leading after the first round, filling fourth place.
McNaught-McFarlane was rapt with the efforts of her horse.
“I’ve had her just three weeks and this is our first show together,” she said. “I have been a catch rider for years so am well used to being able to getting on a horse without much preparation. This is just awesome. I knew she was a nice horse . . . I love a good mare; they try hard and work hard.”
She and husband Duncan McFarlane found the horse for Aarts and she is schooling her for the young rider.
McNaught-McFarlane also started her 2016 Olympic Cup winner Carnutelabryere in the Silver Fern Stakes but it wasn’t to be for the quirky grey Polish import, who retired in the second round.
She plans to start both Annie and Carnutelabryere in Sunday’s Olympic Cup.

There were tears aplenty when 18-year-old Drew Carson won the Dunstan Nutrition Young Rider of the Year aboard Winston V Driene.
It was a hard-won class, with 36 jumping the opening round, nine coming for the second and just two progressing to the jump-off.
It came down to a battle of the ladies, with Lily Tootill (Karaka) aboard Ulysses NZPH and Carson jumping off for the prestigious Big Red Cup.
Tootill was out first, and was going well until the Ultra Mox fence, coming home with four faults in 51 seconds. All the pressure was on Carson.
She and Winston V Driene gave the first fence a big nudge, but somehow it stayed up. They weren’t so lucky at the second, and from there on in Carson knew she had to really fly. They did just that, crossing the flags with four faults in 50.14 seconds.
“I’m a bit lost for words really,” said Carson, who hails from Putaruru. “I was so nervous, but I knew I just had to go clear. Once I took the second I knew I had to beat Lily’s time – we cut those corners and he really picked up for me.”

A lovely clear showjumping round has seen Jackson Bovill and Visonnaire move into the lead in the FEI CIC3* eventing.
The Matangi combination sit in the box seat on 47.3 penalty points going into the final round today (Saturday), the John Nicholson-designed cross country.
Overnight leader Sarah Young (Tokoroa) and Leo Degas have slipped to fourth place after dropping a rail, to sit on 50.9. Samantha Felton (Cambridge) had three clears from her three horses, with Ricker Ridge Pico Boo in second on 47.6, and Ashleigh McKinstry (Owhango) on Pioneer Brass Monkey in third on 49.6.
Twenty-year-old Bovill had posted a personal best in the dressage and was rapt with the efforts of his mare, and he is looking forward to the cross country.
“It is quite an attacking course,” he said. “It’s got bold lines and is well built. I’ll be sticking to my game plan and ride it as best I can.”
Bundy Philpott (Cambridge) and Tresca NZPH held on to their lead in the CIC2*, and sit on 40.6, with Donna Edwards-Smith (Te Kauwhata) and DSE Cluny moving up to second in 47.8 and Jessica Woods (Ohaupo) aboard Just de Manzana also moving up a slot for third.

Hillman Hunter’s HOY campaign almost came to an early end when he was kicked in his yard on the first day of the show . . . but yesterday he ruled supreme and won the Show Hunter Horse of the Year crown.
Abby Robinson couldn’t believe it. The 25-year-old administrator from Ohaupo had to scratch her six-year-old from the showjumping classes, but held out for the show hunter.
“I was worried because I thought he would be fresh as fresh for it,” she said.
She needn’t have worried – he was a star. At the end of the first round they were lying second behind Karen Riddle (Rotorua) and her lovely grey stallion LC Telepathy.
“After that first round I thought we had a good chance as there weren’t many clears,” said Robinson. “He didn’t put a foot wrong in his call back so it was just incredible.”
It is the first HOY title she has ever won, and her first time in the open show hunter title class.
The victory meant a lot to Robinson and her mother, Maryanne Robinson.
“She is very involved with it all and was here to see us win. She keeps me in line!”
Hillman Hunter was chosen by her mother as a weanling when Robinson was out of the country.
“It was pure luck really.”
She has done plenty of show hunter competition over the years, and says it is a good discipline for young horses.

Results –

Showjumping, Silver Fern Stakes: Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) LT Holst Aunty Annette 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Esteban MVNZ 2, Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) Quango 3, Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Quainton Labyrinth 4, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Casebrooke Lomond 5, Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cassanova 6.

Dunstan Nutrition Young Rider of the Year (part of the FMG Young Rider Series): Drew Carson (Putaruru) Winston V Driene 1, Lily Tootill (Karaka) Ulysses NZPH 2, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 3, Elmo Jackson (Auckland) Next 4, Harry Feast (Canterbury) Double J Bouncer 5, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Waitangi Wi Fi 6.

Harney & Sons Five-Year-Old of the Year (part of the East Coast Performance Horses Breeding Series): Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Beyonce 1, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Delicious HM 2, Daniel Blundell (Ocean Beach) Charlie NZPH 3, Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Burrow 4, Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Commander NZPH 5, Monica Oakley (Waipukurau) Festival 6.

Show hunter, Show Hunter Horse of the Year: Abby Robinson (Ohaupo) Hillman Hunter. Reserve: Karen Riddle (Rotorua) LC Telepathy.

Virbac Equine Junior Show Hunter of the Year: Claudia Thomas (Rotorua) Kinnordy Go Girl. Reserve: Isobel Vokes (Helensville) Bizzie Beware.

Amateur Show Hunter of the Year: Stephie Joustra-Smith (Kumeu) Disney. Reserve: Abby Robinson (Ohaupo) Lost in Translation.

Harrison Lane Category B Pony Show Hunter of the Year: Maddie Smith (Tuakau) Starlight India. Reserve: Anna Nalder (Rangiora) Acclaim.

Category C Pony Show Hunter of the Year: Rebecca Williamson (Kumeu) He’s Priceless. Reserve: Harriet Laing (Leeston) Triple Star Picture Puzzle.

Woodford House Category A Pony Show Hunter of the Year: Maddi Davidson (Te Awamutu) Rhythm N Gold. Reserve: Bria Fitzgerald (Waikanae) My Scooter.

Dressage, Level 1 Pony of the Year: Bella Small (Araimu) Kingslea Busy Bee. Reserve: Paris Masterson (Papakura) KS Rose D’Or.

Level 2 Pony of the Year: Isabella Chatfield (Tauranga) AD Dennache. Reserve: Antonia Verissimo (Pukekohe) Picture Me Painted.

Level 3 Pony of the Year: Mackenzie Sim (Pukekohe) North East. Reserve: Anna Wilson (Waipukurau) Pepee.

Level 4 Dressage Pony of the Year: Alison Addis (Kaeo) Whistledown Kristopha. Reserve: Lilly Jefferies (Wellington) Prima Magneto.

Level 2 Horse of the Year: Lorraine Ward-Smith (Oamaru) Fernlea Diamond Day. Reserve: Alex Matheson (Cambridge) Furstango.

Level 3 Horse of the Year: Abbie Deken (Taranaki) Giuliani. Reserve: Rebecca Rowlands (Christchurch) Solo.

Level 4 Horse of the Year: Melissa Galloway (Blenheim) Windermere J’Obei W. Reserve: Vanessa Way (Taranaki) NSC Pronto.

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