6/7 November 2004
by Adam Fawcett - Page 1
Perfect conditions for a perfect event
– Tooradin 2004
PITTS SHOWS OFF TO DEFEND TOORADIN TITLE
Warragul based eventer Janelle Pitts has successful
defended her M C Kent Perpetual Trophy from 2003, steering her advanced
ride Mr Showoff to a narrow win in the Settlement Hotel CNC** last
weekend.
The win is the second in a row for the pair who took
out the top class at Yarra Glen and Lilydale Hunt Club’s combined training
day a week earlier and continues on from their three star debut at
Melbourne where they finished in the top ten.
With a jam packed CNC**, CNC*, two Pre-Novice and two
Preliminary classes, Saturday brought with it ideal weather for the 200
plus combinations who presented for the dressage.
With Tooradin again providing the Victorians with their
major run-in to Adelaide, 34 riders entered the Two Star with only Pagan
Davies and her chestnut gelding Double Bass scratching prior to the event.
Second to go in the Two Star, Natalie Davies - coming
off a successful 2003/2004 season – set the early benchmark with a lovely
test on the first of her rides AEA Abel Rex, accurate and forward for a
50.4.
No one got near Natalie and Rex until Emily Anker and
the up-and-coming ESB Irish Accent floated around the ring, gave two great
counter canter’s and nailed the laterals to move into second place just
0.3 behind Natalie on 50.7.
13th place after Dressage for Rohan
Luxmoore and his new charge
Benaloo Glance in the CNC*
Watching Janelle Pitts and Mr Showoff warm up around
the ring after Joanne Kinross and Judah kept their Melbourne form going
with a 64.5, one gets the feeling we are about to see a new leader emerge.
The trot work is beautiful, the extensions across the
diagonal even better – everything is forward today but unlike a lot of the
horses which seemed to be enjoying the spring growth a little too much
today, Mr Showoff is as calm as a schoolie. He waits, she gives the aids,
he executes. Simple!
The pair open up an early lead of over 5 points when
the score of 45.3 is posted – in a timely fashion I might add – on the
scoreboard under the trees.
Georgia Clifford has new ride Its Monty working well,
the gorgeous thoroughbred using every inch of his big frame to score 54.0
for a spot in the top ten.
Kelly Tobias has some trouble with Who Dares to score
74.4 while Murray Lamperd’s Sum and Substance – who will head to the Two
Star at Adelaide – also had a little trouble for a 75.3.
Just three horses after Janelle’s class leading test,
New South Wales’ Holly Park trots on in with the ultra consistent Secret
Squirrel and tries her hardest to steal the lead.
Another lovely test, Secret Squirrel so obviously at
ease on the grass and with such impulsion, the trot work really is
churning up the turf. As Holly leaves the arena she leaves the question on
every body’s face – who will lead? – hanging in the air.
45.0 from the judges gives us the answer – Holly by
0.3!
12th place after Dressage for Nina
Clarke and her rising star
Lockley’s Park Dante in the CNC*
Janelle Duffy brings out Jen Jan Butch Cassidy,
equipping herself rather well, particularly with the trot work and despite
Butch Cassidy throwing his head up at the halt – a minor fault to a pretty
good test – the pair leave the arena on 60.3.
Melissa Cannon has a lovely horse in Northern Express
but today is not their day, the horse losing balance a few times during
the extended trot work and switching legs during the counter canter before
asked. They walk back to the truck with 77.4 while Amanda Ross circles the
judges cars on Zoom…
Amanda – who adorned the event
program's cover - looks to have
another Otto Schumaker on hers hands with Zoom. Full of movement but also
energy, Amanda uses all her knowledge and tact to keep a lively Zoom under
control.
Amanda Howell on her up and coming star - Zoom
And she looks to have done it, until the very last
movement when the horse gets the wrong canter lead twice, fussing about
until Amanda switches him back and they head down the centre line
- 65.4 and I can’t help thinking of 2008…
Katja Weimann has her work cut out with the grey mare
Monogram Miss, lots of resistance after the first extended canter, but she
recovers quickly with some good counter canters. 69.9 keeps them in
contention.
Darren Green and the experienced Torlea Merlin McOhl
come into Tooradin in perfect form and ready to do some damage. The horse,
who is nearing the end of his career, does exactly what was asked of him –
when it was asked. Great canter-walk-canter changes and extra flashy in
front to score a 52.5 and into the top ten they go…
Morten Haugaard has his front-liner My Hamlet working
well in the warm-up but disaster strikes when My Hamlet enters the arena
to the sudden noise of a large branch snapping in the trees. Suddenly the
relaxed, soft Hamlet is replaced with a sweaty, tense one, and Morton does
well to keep a now very suspicious Hamlet together. A test that should
have score a 50, they walk out of the arena with a disappointing 60.9.
Now, where’s that bloody tree?
The Fast Rising Eventing Stallion Mr
Shirvington with David Middleton
– convincing Pre-Novice winners
Angela Tivendale has come along in leaps and bounds
since taking over the ride on Kylie-Anne Reid’s RPC The Third Wise Man,
moving him through Pre-Novice to Intermediate in one season.
Today the pair are entered in the Two Star and give us
some of the better shoulder-in’s and the walk is just so relaxed. All was
going well until the horse thought he would show how smart he was and
anticipate the change of leg at S, blighting an otherwise lovely test.
62.1 and it should have scored better than that.
If nothing else, Yona Lloyd and Spenser Street have to
win the award for best presented, they really were turned out to
perfection and looking the part, putting – we hope – the judges in the
right frame of mind. Lathered in sweat, Spenser Street is clearly ready to
perform, and in they go…
This horse can really move, and move from behind, his
trot work so big and flashy, the canter up and lively. Everything says
"look at us" and the rein back is – to quote Channel 10’s Dennis Commetti
– "centimetre perfect".
58.2 and they cement a top ten finish – just!
Best Presented – Yona Lloyd & Spenser Street
Emily Anker wants a top ten finish too, and if any of
her advanced rides are going to give it to her, it is ESB Irish Endeavour.
The big dappled grey has a real presence in the ring and performs near his
best, and despite losing it in the first counter canter and dipping
heavily at the final halt, Emily gets in with a well deserved 53.4.
A big presence in the arena – ESB Irish
Endeavour under Emily Anker
Murray Lamperd’s second ride for the day, Lush, seems
to be in a better mood than Sum and Substance, opening up with a lovely
extended trot across the diagonal but then drops some marks when there is
resistance into the first canter.
Murray being the true professional keeps asking Lush
for more and he responds – despite the hiccup the rest of the canter work
is very very good and they stay as close to the front-runners as possible
with a 65.4.
Holly Parker’s second ride, Simity Sam is another who
impresses, more good trot work from Holly and riding the markers gives her
a double top ten finish, Simity Sam moving in with a 53.1.
David Middleton has Armitage Downie Warlord – who has
been given an exemption to enter the four star at Adelaide – working well
outside the arena prior to their test and the horse continues it inside.
Great canter work as always and extended trots that manage to actually
extend AND keep their balance, they are the last combination allowed into
the top ten with a 53.7.
Last into the Top Ten – Adelaide bound David
Middleton & Armitage Downie Warlord
So with all tests completed in glorious sunshine,
the top ten looked something like this:
1. Holly Parker
& Secret Squirrel (45.0)
2. Janelle Pitts
& Mr Showoff (45.3)
3. Natalie
Davies & AEA Abel Rex (50.4)
4. Emily Anker &
ESB Irish Ascent (50.7)
5. Darren Green
& Torlea Merlin McOhl (52.5)
6. Holly Parker
& Simity Sam (53.1)
7. Emily Anker &
ESB Irish Endeavour (53.4)
8. David
Middleton & Armitage Downie Warlord (53.7)
9. Georgia
Clifford & Its Monty (54.0)
10. Robyn Brown
& Esperantan (55.8)
While the top five in the Tack Box CNC* after
dressage looked like this:
1. Jennifer
Hodgins & Lambourne Park Musendan (46.0)
2. Morten
Haugaard & My Antony (47.0)
3. Chris Smith &
Reminisce II (47.3)
4. Jenny Peck &
Hydrogen (47.9)
=5. Suzanne
Heislerrs & Dargan’s Grey (50.9)
=5. Catherine
Tolliday & Kirby Park Irish Justice (50.9)
=5. Hayley Smith
& Minapre Que Sera (50,9)
The top five in the Farm Hand Pre-Novice (A)
were:
1. Amanda Howell
& TS Suave Lover (46.2)
2. Nina Clarke &
LP McCubbin (48.0)
3. Alysha Hart &
Rimini Park Cassidy (48.6)
4. Eleanor
McCombe & Yarramee Jazz (49.2)
5. Kelly Mort &
Koyuna Tora Bora (50.4)
The top five in the Race Track Café Pre-Novice
(B) were:
1. Sandra
Moloney & Caramor (34.2)
2. David
Middleton & Mr Shirvington (39.0)
3. Ian Balfour &
Bring It On (40.2)
4. Debbie
Browell & Oscar B’Have (46.2)
5. Holly Lewis &
GV Illabo (49.2)
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