Above: Maddison Stephen and Yalambi’s Grazi. Photo credit: Jasmine Dunmore Photography.

After a three-month break between Leg 1 and Leg 2 of the 2021 Australian World Cup Qualifying Series we had to wait just six days for the Leg 3 instalment of this fascinating series. The third leg was held last night in the Indoor Arena at the Queensland State Equestrian Centre (QSEC) as part of the 2021 Festival of Showjumping at Caboolture.

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The class, sponsored by Peachester Lodge, attracted the largest World Cup Qualifying field so far this year, with 34 combinations entered, with the skills of 28 individual riders on display. Once again, unfortunately, as with last week at Gatton, many of our Victorian competitors were unable to compete, but we look forward, hopefully, to them joining in for the fourth leg, scheduled for Waratah Showjumping show in late August in Sydney.

Before the class started, course builder David Sheppard told the large crowd that had assembled that the course was a “solid 1.50 metres” and although there was nothing at 1.60m set for the first round, there were a few elements at 1.55m.

We only had to wait until the fourth combination on course, the AJTL heroes for Team Willinga Park the previous night, Billy Raymont and Anton for the first clear round. Over the course of the next 30 combinations, he was joined by nine other clear rounds, the fastest of which was James Arkins and his stallion, Eurostar 1 in 78.82 seconds.

Rules of two round World Cup Qualifiers allow the top 12 round 1 performances to go forward to round 2 while carrying their faults, if any, from round 1. Tonight, all 10 clear rounds went through to round two as well as the two fastest 4-faulters, Jamie Priestley and Courage and Kate Hinschen and Finch Farm Cadel.

Billy Raymont and Anton. Photo credit: Jasmine Dunmore Photography

After the Round 2 course was set, the first combination to tackle it was Kate Hinschen and Finch Farm Cadel, who took some very tight lines but unfortunately took three rails to finish the night on 16 faults. Next out was Jamie Priestley and Courage who took a further two rails to finish on 12 and most probably out of contention for the win, but picking up some valuable World Cup qualifying points.

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Next out, in his first ever World Cup start was Sam Overton and Oaks Cassanova, the first of the Round 1 clears. They had a solid round, however two rails down put them on a total of eight. At least they were in the lead for the time being.

Aaron Hadlow and Vahlinvader, winners of the 2018 World Cup Qualifying Series followed and a fantastic clear round by them put them straight into the lead and really put the pressure on the eight combinations to come.

Aaron Hadlow and Vahlinvader. Photo credit: Jasmine Dunmore Photography

Lincoln MVNZ ridden by Izabella Stone was next, but a single rail towards the end of their round meant that tonight was not going to be their night. The Queensland veteran, Clem Smith and Alite were the next combination to tackle the course. They replicated Stone’s round, but a slightly faster time placed them into second place, with half the second round completed.

Maddison Stephen and Yalambi’s Grazi, a combination who had a perfect round in the AJTL the previous night, were the next combination on course. What followed was another perfect ride, to make it two clear rounds in the World Cup and to emphasise the quality of the ride, she cut 10 seconds off Hadlow’s time to snatch the lead.

Maddison Stephen and Yalambi’s Grazi. Photo credit: Jasmine Dunmore Photography

Josh Collins and Cornel were next take to the stage, but three rails placed them down the order. The winning rider from last week’s Gatton Leg Tom McDermott was next, this week riding Warraleigh Park Cortez. They attacked the course with purpose, but an early rail meant that the elusive double clear they needed to give the top of the leaderboard a shake eluded them.

The third last combination on course were Billy Raymont and Anton who set about trying to reel in Maddison Stephen, but like McDermott before him, a rail down early in the round saw their chances slip away. The pressure seemed to be showing on these chasing riders as the next pair out Olivia Hamood and Jane Fonda DVD also took a single rail.

And so it came down to the last combination on course to try and win the class. James Arkins and Eurostar 1 took to the course knowing that they had to be clear and quicker that 51.06. They rode a lovely measured round. Our commentator told us as the round progressed that they were tracking on time to take the win. They made it around all but the last clear and just as they were about to snatch victory, the top rail of the last fell as Arkins and Eurostar 1 crossed the finish line about 0.3 seconds quicker than Stephen’s time.

The crowd cheered wildly for what was a very popular first World Cup win for Maddison Stephen and Yalambi’s Grazi. Aaron Hadlow and Vahlinvader, the only other double clear performance were second and the fastest 4-faulter Billy Raymont and Anton slotted into third. The unlucky Arkins and Eurostar 1 had to settle for fourth. So close but yet so far.

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At the presentation, Stephen said that timing delay before her ride did not phase her and she was happy that after having the horse for 6 years she had now seen it come right through the ranks to win at World Cup level.

Maddison Stephen and Yalambi’s Grazi. Photo credit: Jasmine Dunmore Photography

We congratulate the winner and all the placegetters for putting on such an exciting display of jumping. We look forward to the next leg of the series to be held at Waratah Showjumping in August at Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC).

The first twelve placings in this class were as follows:

Class 15: Peachester Lodge – FEI Caboolture World Cup Qualifier