Sophie Scott’s double clear victory aboard Benrose Stellar in Saturday’s FEI World Cup qualifier at Dannevirke’s Central & Southern Hawke’s Bay Jumping Show was not quite enough to pop her to the top of the leaderboard as the New Zealand series heads to the final.
Pressure-fuelled competition
It was a stunning victory and her pressure-fuelled clear in the second round of the Heather McDonald-designed course saw her edge Julie Davey (Hawke’s Bay) and LT Holst Freda into second with the only other double clear of the Alabaster Contracting sponsored class at the Central & Southern Hawke’s Bay Jumping Show.
Sophie knew she had to better Julie’s clean slate in 58.76 seconds, which she did with a stunning round in 52.08 seconds. But with Stellar her non-nominated horse, the top points go to Julie who leads heading into this week’s final.
The opening round of the five strong class saw just Julie and Sophie clear. Luke Dee (Havelock North) aboard his European import Gangster WW had a rail at the second of the double late in the course to sit on four faults, with Sophie and her nominated horse Waitangi Skynet picking up eight faults late in the course. Waipuk farmer Oliver Edgecombe and Takapoto Tinka had a forgettable second half of the course to finish with 16 faults.
In the second, everyone was clear, giving Luke third place on four faults in 53.98, Sophie and Skynet fourth on eight in 53.72, and Oliver fifth on 16 in 60.12.
“I am so unbelievably happy with Stellar…”
“It was a great class,” said Sophie, noting just how competitive each combination had been on a lovely course from Heather. “I am so unbelievably happy with Stellar – she jumped super out there.”
Julie knew she had not only go clear but – with Sophie to follow – notch a fast time. “It was good jumping,” she said. “I knew I had to be clear and pray… but it didn’t work out!”
Luke was quick to claim the rail he and Gangster had. “He is pretty special. I was just a bit unlucky in the first round. He got a bit keen on me and jumped in too big into that double. It was rider error really. I should have added one extra and would probably have been clear.”
Julie will remain at the top of the leaderboard heading to the Waitemata-hosted final, with Luke just behind her and Sophie in third. However, just three of the four rounds count and there are points-and-a-half on the table for the final. The winner of the series has the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the Longines FEI World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland in April.
Results – Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Benrose Stellar 1, Julie Davey (Hawke’s Bay) LT Holst Freda 2, Luke Dee (Havelock North) Gangster WW 3, Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Waitangi Skynet 4, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Takapoto Tinka 5.
Re-watch all the action via ClipMyHorse.TV.
Source: ESNZ press release by Diana Dobson
