Above: Amber Fuller and CP Aretino. Photo Credit: Jasmine Dunmore Photography.

Amber Fuller and gelding CP Aretino have triumphed this afternoon in the third leg of the 2023 Australian World Cup Qualifying Series held at Larapinta near Brisbane. In an exciting tussle, where the top four combinations all produced a double clear performance and were separated by less than two seconds, they came out on top after a very exciting class where the lead changed hands several times towards the end of the competition.

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The afternoon started with 23 combinations lining up to tackle the 1.60m course, put together by Philippa Howells, a Level 3 Course Designer from New Zealand. The first 10 combinations on course all either collected rails or retired or were eliminated, however, the 11th combination out,  Amber Fuller and the 2022 Equestrian NSW Jumping Horse of The Year Nopal Van Tallaert, proved that the course could be conquered, finishing clear in 91.84 seconds. By the end of the round, they had been joined by just three other clear combinations. The fastest of these four was Amanda Madigan and the horse that was just two weeks ago was awarded the Jumping horse of the Show at Sydney Royal, Diamond B Vivienne.

Above: Amanda Madigan & Diamond B Vivienne. Photo Credit: Jasmine Dunmore Photography.

With just the top 12 combinations invited back to compete in the second round, these four were joined by five combinations who took a single rail on their way around, the two 8 fault combinations, with the fastest of the four 12-faulters

First out in the second round were Jamie Winning-Kermond and Tulara Stolensky, however, they took a further three rails, adding to their three in the first round to finish on a total of 24. The second combination out, Queenslanders Gemma Creighton and Dada Des Brimbelles Z did much better, taking just a single second round rail to end up on a total of 12.

The winners of the first Leg of the Series at Shepparton back in March were the next to try their luck. Sarah-Louise McMillan and Tyrone VDL scooted around the course, clear, in just under 70 seconds, for a grand total of eight faults to take the lead and put some pressure on those to follow. Next were the first of the second-round combinations carrying just four faults with them, namely Izabella Stone and Tulara Stolzette, who unfortunately for them, were eliminated after a double refusal. They would go on to finish in twelfth place.

Mattea Davidson and Checkamour D came into the second round carrying just four faults, but by the time they were left the arena, they were on 16, courtesy of three second round rails. It was almost the same story with the next pair, Ally Lamb and Eagle Rock, who collected an extra two rails to finish with 16.

The next combination into the arena replicated Ally Lamb and Eagle Rock’s performance when Jessica Pateman and Celso collected eight more faults to finish on 12. With the leaders of the competition still Sarah-Louise McMillan and Tyrone VDL on eight faults, the next pair, Aaron Hadlow and Vahlinvader, set about chasing them down. Starting Round 2 with four faults, they took just a single rail to also finish on a total of eight, however a time which was over three seconds quicker placed this pair in the lead for the time being.

We were now getting down to the pointy end of the competition. While the leaders were sitting on a total of eight faults, the four remaining combinations were all starting round 2 with the best possible score of zero.

The first combination of the final four out on the course were Amber Fuller and Nopal Van Tallaert. Once again, as they did in the first round, they set the standard, going clear with a time of 67.36 seconds. They had a solid grasp of the lead and it was going to take an extraordinary performance to make them give it up. We didn’t have to wait long!

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Tom McDermott and Cooley Gangster were the first to set out after the leaders. In a fantastic performance, not only did they go clear but they shaved over a second off the leading time, finishing in 66.22 seconds to now sit in the lead.

After a short break, Amber Fuller was back, this time with her old buddy CP Aretino. The rules of these World Cup Qualifiers only allow a rider who might have more than one horse in the class, to pick up World Cup points on just one horse, which must be nominated before the start of the class. Amber had elected Nopal Van Tallaert as her World Cup points earner and while CP Aretino could still win the class, their performance would have no bearing on the allocation of World Cup points. So, with this round having no bearing on World Cup Qualifying aspect of the class, Amber and CP Aretino had almost a free shot at the win and they certainly seemed to accept the offer. Setting out at a cracking pace – this was a steed with speed and at the end of the round, all the rails were still in place and they had stopped the clock at 65.72 seconds, knocking exactly half a second off the leaders time.

Above: Amber Fuller and CP Aretino. Photo Credit: Jasmine Dunmore Photography.

The last combination out on course were Amanda Madigan and Diamond B Vivienne and the only ones who could get between Fuller and CP Aretino and victory. They put up a valiant effort, going clear in a time that was very swift, but not quite swift enough. They stopped the clock at 66.05 seconds which was a third of a second slower than they needed, however, it was fast enough to claim seconds place, in what had been an exciting affair.

The large crowd that watched on from the hill overlooking the main arena were thrilled at what they had just witnessed. It was the best that Australian Jumping has to offer with a great standard set.

With next year being an Olympics year, we look forward to the competition in this World Cup Series getting hotter as each leg passes.

The next leg of the Series will be held at Caboolture in late June. We can hardly wait.

The top 12 placings in the World Cup Qualifier were as follows:

CLASS 23: MITAVITE: FEI WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: OPEN – 1.60m

Results sourced from online.equipe.com