245,000 reasons to smile for Team EIAF
Above: Team Equine International Air Freight – left to right: Robert Palm, Katrina Hope, Isabella Du Plessis and Ally Lamb. Photo credit: Michelle Terlato Photography.
Following on from the Junior competition earlier in the day (click HERE), a very large crowd of excited spectators gathered yesterday to watch the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Jumping competition. The event brought together 48 wonderful jumping combinations with no less than four Olympians in the competition and at least one watching on. Competing were Eventer Shane Rose, Jumping legend Vicki Roycroft, James Paterson-Robinson and Peter McMahon, with four time Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander watching on from the VIP area.
Above: Edwina Tops-Alexander with Channel Seven’s Hamish McLachlan. Photo credit: Michelle Terlato Photography.
Forty eight combinations had earlier been divided into 12 corporate sponsored teams of four and much like Nations Cup competitions, only the best three performances from each team would could towards the team total. Each corporate “Slot holder” had invested $85,000 to be part of the day, which went a long way towards providing a total prize pool of $1,450,000, by far the most lucrative prize pool in the history of Australian Jumping. With $245,000 going to the winning team, scaling down to $75,000 for twelfth place, the stakes were never higher.
Names of the slot holders and the four combinations assigned to each team are listed below.
Equine International Airfreight: Katrina Hope and Oaks Gunn, Isabella Du Plessis and Onessa MVNZ, Ally Lamb and Eagle Rock, Robert Palm and Jaybee Vibrant.
Arrowfield Stud: Billy Raymont and Caprino, Clemency Hughes and YPH Capulet, Savanna Hopkinson and Bittern Park Karmen and Phillip Lever and Lomachenko.
James Harron Bloodstock: David Cameron and Yandoo Honolulu, Emily Patterson and Libertarian, Peter McMahon and KS Sovereigns Cadel, Amber Fuller and Nopal Van Tallaert.
Brisbane Racing Club: Amelia Douglass and Finch Farm Cadel, Andrew Jung and Big Dream Z, Jamie Priestley and Oaks Diamantina, Gemma Creighton and Dada Des Brimbelles Z.
Coolmore Australia: Vicki Roycroft and Kenny Casino, Shane Davidson and Jaybee Vigilante, Josh Collins and Cornel, Kate Hinschen and Conchita Van De Helle.
Peachester Lodge: Sam Overton and Oaks Cassanova, Will Mathew and KPH Maddison, Christopher Holland and Elsa, Frida Lindgren and Mabori De Mabribo.
The Australian Headliners: Shane Rose and Virgil, Hayley Morris and Warrego Rueben, Becky Jenkins and Fairview Cambridge, James Paterson-Robinson and Dublin.
Godolphin Lifetime Care: James Hetherington and Killara Park Sentaro, Rhys Stones and PSS Chantilly, Clem Smith and Oaks Conjuror, Stuart Jenkins and Fairview Alicana.
Unicornium: Brook Dobbin and Gina MVNZ, Tom Sedger and Casino Jack, Emma Smith and Cordelia Ego Z, Amanda Madigan and Diamond B Vivienne.
Washpool Lodge: Andrew Lamb and Denison Park Spartava, Jennifer Wood and Cocaine Ego Z, Clint Beresford and Emmaville Jitterbug, Olivia Hamood and Knock Out 111.
Martin Collins Australia: Andrew Cooper and Sharvalley Thunder, William Dight and Thea, Izabella Stone and Oaks Ventriloquist, Gabi Chugg and KG Queenie.
Domeland: Jamie Winning-Kermond and Tulara Stolensky, Suzie Williams and Commander NZPH, Jess Pateman and Celso and Thomas McDermott and Coolie Gangster.
The list above also provides the order in which the combinations came out for the first three rotations, with the final rotation performing in seeded order.
During the first rotation we saw the full range of performances. There was an elimination, and a retirement as well as two clear rounds, although one of these was just over the 92 second time allowed and incurred a single time penalty. The only team on zero penalties after this rotation were Unicornium, represented by Brook Dobbin and Gina MVNZ, with Brisbane Racing Club’s Amelia Douglass and Finch Farm Cadel incurring the single time penalty.
The second rotation again saw the full range of performances, however, this time there were two clear rounds. Equine International Airfreight represented by Young Rider Isabelle Du Plessis riding Onessa MVNZ was one of these, however, more telling was Queensland rider Tom Sedger and Casino Jack who were also clear and representing Unicornium, gave them their second clear round, putting them in great shape entering the second half of the competition.
Above: Isabelle Du Plessis and Onessa MVNZ. Photo credit: Michelle Terlato Photography.
The third rotation saw four clears, and with Equine International Airfreight (Ally Lamb and Eagle Rock) achieving their second clear of the day, they were placed equally with Unicornium whose third rotation combination, Emma Smith and Cordelia Ego Z, took the team’s first rail of the day. The other three clear rounds were achieved by James Harron Bloodstock (Peter McMahon and KS Sovereigns Cadel), Martin Collins Australia (Izabella Stone and Oaks Ventriloquist) and Washpool Lodge (Clint Beresford and Emmaville Jitterbug) who made a return to major competition with style.
The competition was all set for an exciting final rotation with the teams coming out in seeded order. With two teams sitting on a best possible score of Zero (Equine International Airfreight and Unicornium) and a further two able to achieve a best possible score of four (James Harron Bloodstock and Martin Collins Australia), we knew the competition was going to go down to the wire.
After the first eight teams had sent their fourth rotation combinations out, there had only been one clear round by Godolphin Lifetime Care (Stuart Jenkins and Fairview Alicana) however and earlier score of 22 and a retirement placed them on a total of 26 faults. With just four combinations to come, the best placed finished team were Brisbane Racing Club who finished on nine, so it looked like the last four had the competition to themselves, baring any catastrophies.
Out ninth in the fourth rotation were James Harron Bloodstock represented by reigning NSW Senior Champions and recent winners of the Sydney Summer Classic World Cup Qualifier, Amber Fuller and Nopal Van Tallaert. They had a wonderful clear round to place the team on a final score of four and really place some pressure on the combinations to come.
Next out were team Martin Collins Australia represented by Gabrielle Chugg and KG Queenie, with Gabi back in Australia after campaigning overseas for much of last year. Like Fuller before them, they also went clear, but with a time just 0.5 seconds slower. They also finished on four faults but slotted in behind James Harron Bloodstock due to the slower time.
Now it was time for the last two teams to see if they could keep the team score at zero. Equine International Airfreight represented by a man we are more used to seeing competing in Eventing, Robert Palm and Jaybee Vibrant. If there was any pressure on them, it certainly did not show. A superlative clear round gave his team a third clear round with allowed them to drop the 12 faults from their first combination and end up with a team total of zero.
Above: Robert Palm and Jaybee Vibrant. Photo credit: Michelle Terlato Photography.
This performance was going to be very hard to beat. The last combination of the day was the experienced Amanda Madigan and Diamond B Vivienne representing Unicornium. Not only did they require a clear round, but the had to be quicker than 83.27 seconds.
Amanda Madigan and Diamond B Vivienne had a very good round. Their was no issue with their time (82.12 seconds) however, they did take a rail on the way around, to leave the Unicornium team on a total of four faults. It turned out to be a $40,000 rail as that was the difference between the prize money for first ($245,000) and second ($205,000).
So the win went to Equine International Airfreight represented by Katrina Hope and Oaks Gunn, Isabella Du Plessis and Onessa MVNZ, Ally Lamb and Eagle Rock, and Robert Palm and Jaybee Vibrant. As the only team to record three clear rounds they were the deserved winners.
With three teams tying on a total of four, it came down to times where Unicornium prevailed for second from James Harron Bloodstock with Martin Collins Australia relegated to fourth.
It was a fantastic competition where after over two hours of competition, it came down to the last combination to determine the winners. For the large crowd in attendance, we suspect that the day will live long in the memory of all.
The Jumping community in Australia has a great deal to thank Katie Page for. Katie has worked tirelessly to turn an idea just two years ago into a full blown success that has set a new standard for Jumping events in Australia. We look forward to seeing what she has in store for the future.
Full results of the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Senior team competition were as follows:
PLACE | TEAM | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Tot |
1st | Equine International Airf’t | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2nd | Unicornium | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
3rd | James Harron Bloodstock | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
4th | Martin Collins Australia | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
5th | Brisbane Racing Club | 1 | EL | 8 | 0 | 9 |
6th | Peachester Lodge | 4 | 5 | 4 | RET | 13 |
7th | Washpool Lodge | RET | 8 | 0 | 8 | 16 |
8th | Arrowfield Stud | 4 | 25 | 8 | 4 | 16 |
9th | Coolmore Australia | EL | 9 | 4 | 4 | 17 |
10th | The Australian Headliners | 4 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 20 |
11th | Godolphin Lifetime Care | 22 | RET | 4 | 0 | 26 |
12th | Domeland | 10 | 20 | 4 | 19 | 33 |