Emma Gillies and Benrose Black Jack shine in Stal Tops class at Willinga Park
The Stal Tops class at Willinga Park delivered thrilling competition, with riders from both sides of the Tasman chasing a share of the prize money and a place on the leaderboard. In the end, it was New Zealand’s Emma Gillies who stole the spotlight, guiding Benrose Black Jack to a flawless performance and the win.
Advertisement
Emma and the 13-year-old gelding were clear in the opening round, stopping the clock at 78.51, before laying down a lightning-fast jump-off round in 35.47 seconds. The pair looked sharp and confident, edging out some of Australia’s brightest young talents.
Australia’s Charlie Magnier and Notre Dame de Bourguignon flew around the jump-off in 35.70 to take second place, just fractions of a second behind the leaders. The chestnut mare, owned by Sophie Magnier and Linda Huddy, continues to prove herself a reliable and competitive partner.
Advertisement
Rounding out the podium was Tanner Robinson with Casiana. The pair impressed with two clear rounds and a smooth 36.82 in the jump-off, securing third place and continuing their consistent run of form.
Alexander Jang and Parallax SCF finished fourth after a clear 37.55 in the jump-off, while Jack Barker and Tulara On Trend took fifth with another double clear in 39.19.
Advertisement
The class drew a big field, with plenty of horses showing promise. New Zealand’s Sophia Blackbourn piloted LT Holst Zalato Blue into seventh after a strong first round but eight penalties in the jump-off, while Australia’s Olivia Gostelow guided Tulara Cristo into sixth after one rail down in the second round.
With 35 starters, the Stal Tops class proved both technical and demanding, highlighting the depth of talent across Australia and New Zealand.
Emma’s victory with Benrose Black Jack was a standout performance, underlining the strength of their partnership and placing the pair firmly in the spotlight as ones to watch.
Advertisement
Leg 3 Results
| PLACE | RIDER | HORSE | |
| 1st | Emma Gillies | Benrose Black Jack | 11 |
| 2nd | Charlie Magnier | Notre Dame de Bourgignon | 9 |
| 3rd | Tanner Robinson | Casiana | 8 |
| 4th | Alexander Jang | Parallax SCF | 7 |
| 5th | Jack Barker | Tulara On Trend | 6 |
| 6th | Olivia Gostelow | Tulara Cristo | 5 |
| 7th | Sophia Blackbourn | LT Holst Zalato Blue | 4 |
| 8th | Emily Lang-McMahon | Ellisimo | 3 |
| 9th | Claire Zylstra | Harvey B | 2 |
| 10th | Cody Tincknell | Numero Too | 1 |
As the series heads towards its final leg in Sydney, the leaderboard remains incredibly tight. With the top 13 combinations still in contention to either win outright or tie for the series win, every round will count. Riders such as Jack Barker, Tanner Robinson and Charlie Magnier are sitting at the top, but strong performances from Alexander Jang, Cody Tincknell and others mean the title race is far from decided. The Sydney final promises to deliver a thrilling conclusion, with the series crown still wide open.
Advertisement
