Sam Sizzles at Sydney World Cup
The final leg of the 2023 Australian World Cup Qualifying Series has wrapped up this morning at the Sydney Summer Classic Show at Sydney International Equestrian Centre.
With the competition moved forward to a 9am start to beat the expected extreme temperatures this afternoon, it was the Queensland combination of Sam Overton and Oaks Cassanova who took the prize. No strangers to success at this level, this combination who won the 2022 series and represented Australia at the world cup finals in Omaha, Nebraska in April earlier this year, were the only combination to master the course, putting together two clear rounds over what everybody agreed was a difficult track.
Above: Sam Overton and Oaks Cassanova.
Tom McDermott and Cooley Gangster who took a rail in the first round before a clear second round in 52.92 seconds, secured second place in the class ahead of Billy Raymont and Caprino, who unluckily, left all the rails in place, but also finished with a two-round total of four faults, due to a second-round time of 58.18, which incurred four time penalties.
Above: Tom McDermott and Cooley Ganster
Above: Billy Raymont and Caprino.
A rail in the first round and a single time penalty in the second round meant a total of five for Phillip Lever and Billionaire NZPH, relegating them to fourth place overall.
As a result of his consistent performances over the year, Tom McDermott took out the Australian League Title and we will wait with anticipation to see if he takes the opportunity to travel to Riyadh to represent Australia at the World Cup Finals in April 2024. Making it a great day for Tom, Cooley Gangster, the horse that carried him to this World Cup victory, was awarded the Golden Grand prize for the best performed horse over the course of the eight-leg-series.
It was a great competition and congratulations to the organising committee who made the event possible by moving the start time.
Congratulations to the winner and all the placegetters as listed below:
CLASS 313 CHATHAM PARK: – WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
PLACE | RIDER | HORSE |
1st | Sam Overton | Oaks Cassanova |
2nd | Tom McDermott | Cooley Gangster |
3rd | Billy Raymont | Caprino |
4th | Phillip Lever | Billionaire NZPH |
5th | Robert Palm | Jaybee Vibrant |
6th | Sam Whale | Fleur De Lacour |
7th | Brad Frankum | Oaks Calypso |
8th | Tom McDermott | Mr Lincoln B |