Sam Overton and Oaks Cassanova won the Martin Collins Australia Grand Prix
Ally Lamb and Cera Ducati continue their top form at GDP Classic
By Equestrian Life
GDP Classic has today concluded in Victoria, with the 4 day show drawing some of Australia’s best showjumping riders to Boneo Park.
With a prize pool of $60,000, the second largest in Australia, the Martin Collins Australia Grand Prix promised to be action packed, and it did not disappoint. After a strong first round, 10 combinations progressed to the jump off where it was Sam Overton and Oaks Cassanova who landed on top of the podium.
Having returned from representing Australia at the World Cup Finals in Omaha, Nebraska last year, the combination proved why they were the winners of the World Cup Final qualifiers, taking home the purse of $20,000.
Sam says of his round “for it to come off like that, with so many clear rounds in the jump off… I just had to give it everything and he jumped super!”
Speaking on the calibre of event and what it means to have a class like today’s Grand Prix, Sam shares “the GDP team, they’re passionate, they’re showjumpers…they know what a good event needs and they have done just that. To have this show is just fantastic.”
No strangers to the GDP Classic Grand Prix, Sarah McMillan and Tyrone followed up their 4th last year with a second today on a time of 58.22. Robert Palm and Jaybee Vibrant closed out the top 3 on a time of 60.77.
The podium in the Martin Collins Australia $60,000 Grand Prix.
The Jump Off in the 4Cyte Junior Championships was nailbiting until the end, with Olivia Price and Chio MS taking the lead by just 0.49 seconds. Elissa Stevens and Vertigo followed closely in second with Sienna Holdsworth Rose on Coolart Farm Short Torque rounding out the top 3.
Speaking on the competitive class, Olivia was quick to praise Chio MS “ there were a lot of quick ponies in there, I know that Chio MS is naturally quick, so I had to just keep him tight… I’m very lucky he helped me out in there”.
Olivia Price and Chio MS were winners of the 4Cyte Junior Championships.
Emma Collins and the 2013 mare Oaks Abracadabra won the Pink Hills Pastoral Co Mini Prix, leading confidently on 46.95. Quick to also praise the event, Emma shared “GDP is an event by riders, for riders, it truly is the best show of the year, it’s just incredible!”
Clem Smith and Quantico 12 were second in the class on a time of 47.37, whilst Sarah Duggan and Dublin were third on 48.82.
Emma Collins and the 2013 mare Oaks Abracadabra won the Pink Hills Pastoral Co Mini Prix.
Contested by the top 30 riders from the previous round, the Flipout Amateur Championships was won by Georgia Hodgetts and Yandoo Pasadena on 50.34, with Jane Powell and gorgeous grey Happy Girl in second on 51.43. Stuart Abrahams and Vivarchi closed out the top three on a time of 52.31.
The Flipout Amateur Championships was won by Georgia Hodgetts and Yandoo Pasadena
The final of the Bared Footwear Childrens Championship was won by Valentina Hercus and RBH Chaccarla on a time of 47.57, with Harriet Smith and Im a Cowboy close behind on 47.70. Harry Gault and Emcee Holly Golightly followed in third on 49.06.
Saturday
New combination Ally Lamb and Cera Ducati (by Diamant de Semmily) followed up their recent win in the Future Stars 130 – 135cm at World Wetlands Championships with another win, in what was described as the strongest futurity class in Australia. The last combination to go, Ally and Cera Ducati had the crowd on the edge of their seats as they secured a time of 42.51 in the Strathmerton Engineering Future Stars, to best Jennifer Wood and Oaks 007 who posted 43.17.
GDP’s very own Brook Dobbin won the Yandoo Park Rising Stars final on Oaks Empire (Emerald X Kannan), securing a time of 39.74. Gabrielle Kelly and Californium (Calavino x Holster Hi Shadow) were second on 39.79, with Jamie Hewitt-Toms and Balou du Rose were 3rd on 40.21.
The first event in the Stal Tops Young Rider Series saw experienced combination Lorna Reilly and Bellhaven Jazz take the win by over 4 seconds, finishing on 42.28. Supported by Australian rider Edwina Tops-Alexander and her husband Jan Tops, the Stal Tops Young Rider Series is now in its sixth season. Showcasing four events scheduled over the year, Young Rider’s score points at each leg, with the highest scoring combination being crowned the series winner.
Catching up with Lorna, she had nothing but praise for Bellhaven Jazz “She’s just an incredible mare”. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to do some of the tight lines I was thinking, but I just scoped it out and thought in the moment.. which worked out well!”
Lorna Reilly and Bellhaven Jazz won the first leg of the Stal Tops Series.
From the event
GDP team member Brett Hickey shared his gratitude to the competitors at the end of the 4 days “thank you for supporting us, we are a small group and wanted to run the best event in the country, and I think we have done just that. We want to get bigger and better next year, so stick with us!”
Full results and draw can be found: HERE.
Published 18 February 2024.
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