Above: Gemma Creighton and Dada Des Brimbelles Z. Photo Credit: Simon Scully Photography.

It took Gemma Creighton 12 World Cup Qualifier starts until she broke through for her maiden win last week at Shepparton and now, just a week later, in the second World Cup Qualifier of the season, she has won again to start the season in the best possible fashion. Again riding 14-year-old gelding Dada Des Brimbelles Z (Darco X President), Gemma put in back to double-clears, to claim the victory by a very small margin from another double clear combination, Amelia Douglass and her 13-year-old gelding Quel Filou 16 (Quiwi Dream x Lerano 2). Repeating her third placing from last year at this event and rounding out an all-double clear podium was the Queensland rider Mattea Davidson aboard another gelding Jaybee Vigilante (Vivant x Jet Set D). It was a fantastic class to watch, with new class leaders being created after almost every combination completed their second round.

Advertisement

After yesterday’s inclement weather, today’s competition was held under brilliant blue skies in warm Autumn sunshine, making the conditions exceptionally pleasant for both competitors and spectators alike. An impressive number of 23 combinations appeared on the start list and with three riders entered on two mounts, there were a total of 20 combinations eligible for World Cup points.

The first round saw a total of four combinations produce clears and in a sign of things to come, the fastest of these were Gemma and Dada Des Brimbelles Z, zipping around the course in 86.68 seconds.

Above: Gemma Creighton and Dada Des Brimbelles Z. Photo Credit: Simon Scully Photography.

The top 12 performed combinations from the first round were invited by the judges back to compete in a second round to sort out the placings. Carrying their first-round penalties with them, the 12 comprised of the four clear combinations, seven combinations carrying four penalties with them and the fastest of the pair of eight-faulters.

Advertisement

Appearing in a seeded order, the first combination on course were Kate Hinschen and the 9-year-old mare Calouandra PS (Callasco X Filou De Muze). In what was the horse’s World Cup Qualifier debut, the pair almost got around the course clear, however, they took a rail at the last fence to finish on a total of 12 penalties and eventually finish the class in twelfth place.

Next out were the first of seven combination bringing with them just four penalties. Hugh Buchanan and Christamour D (Christian X Unknown), an 11-year-old gelding also having its first World Cup Qualifier start went clear to finish on a total of four and take the lead for the time being. They set the standard which saw the next four combinations all go clear. The first of these were Mattea Davidson and Checkamour D (Check In X Champion FP) who tied with Hugh and Christamour D finishing in the identical time of 60.81 seconds. They were followed by the third placed combination from last week at Shepparton, Madeline Sinderberry and Gredstedgaards Number One (Numero Uno X Quintero), who took the lead with a time of 56.75 seconds, followed by Jamie Winning-Kermond and Tulara Wat Colblensky (Colman x Tulara Cornetto), finishing in 53.56 seconds to take the lead. They were followed by Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZPH (Calvaro X Mr Blue) who also went clear and quicker to finish in 52.42 seconds, thereby, once again, creating a new leader.

Advertisement

The next pair out were Brook Dobbin aboard the youngest horse in the field Devos GP (Deu Merci Van T & L X Toulon). Just for something different, they took a second-round rail to finish on a total of eight. After them, the clears recommenced when Sam Whale and Fleur Delacour (Corofino II X Lio Calyon) put in a great round but not quite fast enough to replace Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZPH at the top of the leaderboard. At this stage of the competition, we had six combinations who had completed their day, all on a final total of four penalties.

The first of the combinations coming into the second round unburdened with penalties were Mattea Davidson and Jaybee Vigilante. They joined the group that went clear in the second round and took a place at the top of the leader board. The next combination on course were Amelia Douglass and Quel Filou 16 who as a combination were having their first outing at this level. They had a brilliant round, not only going clear, but eclipsing the leader’s time by a little over a second, meaning that with just two combinations to come, they had secured a place on the podium.

Above: Amelia Douglass and Quel Filou 16. Photo Credit: Simon Scully Photography.

The second last combination on course were Rhys Stones and Riverton Kanntador (Kannan X Conquistador). They encountered a difficulty or two, taking three rails and eventually ending up in eleventh place.

When the final pair on course were Gemma Creighton and Dada Des Brimbelles Z went clear, they brough the total of second round clear performers to nine out a possible 12 combinations which concluded a magnificent class to watch.

Advertisement

It was an exciting day to watch. Gemma Creighton would seem to be in the form of her life with consecutive World Cup Qualifier wins, while Amelia Douglass achieved her first World Cup Qualifier podium finish after several years of trying. Further, with nine combinations within a single rail of the lead, it was a magnificent class which kept the large crowd enthralled right up until the last fence was cleared.

After two competitions in two weeks, the season now breaks for a while and will resume at Caboolture in the last week of June.

The full listing of placings in the World Cup Qualifier are detailed below.

CITY OF WYNDHAM: FEI JUMPING WORLD CUP QUALIFIER CSI1*-W

Results sourced from equipe.online

Full results of the class can be found HERE