Source: EQUITANA.

The Grand Prix at EQUITANA Melbourne with $AUD52,000 in the prize purse has been run and won. Canberra’s Izabella (Izzy) Stone and Oaks Ventriloquist pocketing the $15,000 first prize.

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The 26-year-old steered her 10-year-old warmblood grey to the quickest double clear over the two-round David Sheppard-designed course. Fifteen started the class with 10 coming back for the second round, three of whom were on zero faults – Brook Dobbin aboard Gina MVNZ, Izzy, and her coach Tom McDermott with Cooley Gangster. Just last week, Tom won the Australian Senior Jumping title at The Pryde’s easiFeed Australian Jumping Championships, with Izzy runner up.

Brook and Izzy both kept their slates clean, leaving all the pressure in the world on Tom who looked on track for victory . . . until the last when he took a rail. Despite the quickest time of the round, he finished with four faults and in sixth place.

Izzy’s grin said it all. “I couldn’t be more pleased with my horses,” she said. “Ventriloquist has gone from strength to strength the last couple of weeks. I couldn’t be happier.”

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Tom has been coaching her for around 12 years and Izzy says he is very tough to beat.

Brook finished in second place, with William Dight aboard Thea third and Tom with his second mount Cachassini II fourth. Izzy was also seventh aboard Tulara Stolzette.