The winners of the Racing Victoria Off The Track Championship, Sarah Weiss and Waratone.
© Australian Jumping
Racing Victoria Off The Track Championship sees Thoroughbreds shine in new careers
By Equestrian Life
The Pryde’s EasiFeed Australian Jumping Championships took place at Boneo Park 2-6 February, bringing together Australia’s top showjumping horses – including off the track Thoroughbreds who are clearly excelling in their second careers.
The Racing Victoria Off The Track Championship saw 26 horses line up for round one, and it was Stellaluna, a mare by Reward For Effort, who claimed victory with Victorian Brad Cunningham in the saddle. The pair were the quickest of eight clear rounds on the first day, followed by Darcy Wade and Miss Delfyne, and Katie Clark with Katelle Grand who were backing up after their Racing Victoria Off The Track Championship win the weekend prior at the World Wetlands Day Jumping Championships.
Round two again saw an impressive number of horses jump clear – 12 in fact! With this round incorporating a jump-off, those who jumped clear rode again. Three combinations left all rails in place for a second time: Strobe Knox and Summer Delago, Sarah Weiss and Waratone, and Katie Clark with Katelle Grand. Summer Delago, a mare by Delagro Brom, produced the quickest of the three to claim the win, ahead of Mossman gelding Waratone and Hotel Grand gelding Katelle Grand producing another consistent third place.
Nineteen Thoroughbreds lined up for Sunday’s Final, with two managing to jump clear around a tricky course and a further seven finishing on four faults. This meant that the two clears – Queenslander Sarah Weiss riding Waratone, and South Australian Lauren Bolzon with Madagascar, a gelding by Legal Option – went through to a deciding jump-off. Both had a rail, with Waratone stopping the clock on 47.79 seconds to claim victory ahead of Madagascar’s 49.04 second effort. A thrilling finish to a fantastic Australian Championship!
Sarah Weiss and Waratone over the Homes & Acreage jump in the Racing Victoria Off The Track Championship.
© Australian Jumping
Waratone, a 13-year-old bay gelding by Mossman out of Grand Manners (Danelez) was trained as a racehorse by Kylie Huxtable at Murray Bridge, South Australia. He had 22 starts for six wins and six placings, and accrued nearly $250,000 in prizemoney before retiring from the track in 2013; he has since gone on to clearly become a talented jumper. Congratulations Sarah and Waratone, our Racing Victoria Off The Track Australian Championship title winners!
Sarah Weiss and Waratone accept their championship title from Racing Victoria’s Laura Reid.
© Australian Jumping
Full placings for the Racing Victoria Off The Track Championship Final were:
1. Sarah Weiss and Waratone 0/4/47.79
2. Lauren Bolzon and Madagascar 0/4/49.04
3. Cassie Palm and Honey Steels Gold 4/69.29
4. Louise Abey and Sail On By 4/70.07
5. Strobe Knox and Summer Delago 4/72.25
6. Katie Clark and Katelle Grand 4/74.01
7. Isabella Lloyd and Bashboy 4/74.18
8. Bridgette Thompson and Magic Option 4/76.69
To find out more about off the track Thoroughbreds, visit Racing Victoria’s OTT Community page here.
READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE
