Steve (Megan's partner keeps |
Megan feeding Jester |
Sonja gets the iceboots ready |
Behind the scenes at Sydney World Cup
Five of the six featured riders in “An Eventful Life” are in the top ten at the Sydney CIC3*-W. Megan Jones is leading the field with Kirby Park Irish Jester after a very sparky and keen cross country round saw her finish clear with four time penalties taking the lead from overnight leader Heath Ryan.
“He was wonderful as usual,” said Megan “and he is feeling so physically strong, bounding up the last hill on the way home just full of running. The course was tough enough and caused a few problems but I am so lucky to be riding a horse like Jester who just pings over everything with such a wonderful technique. He’s just great to ride.”
Stuart Tinney and Vettori pulled up from lying 8th after dressage to third after cruising round Wayne Copping’s course finishing just two seconds over the optimum time.
Sonja is sitting 4th and 5th with Ringwould Jaguar and Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison respectively, the later finishing exactly on the optimum time of 7.20 seconds. ‘Awesome’ was how Sonja described her round on Jag.
“Jag seems to have such a following with the people in the crowd – he’s really the nation’s horse and I just love him to bits. I was so proud of Liaison too. He is pretty young to be doing this level and he gave me a great round and just feels like such a talented horse.”
Shane Rose rode Taurus into 8th place and finished with a big smile.
“He is such a relaxed horse and at only seven he is very young to be at this level but he was great and I’m very, very happy.”
Shane also went clear and under time on Koko Black to finish 11th, but just to prove that eventing is a sport of ups and downs Shane was eliminated on Stratford Novalis and withdrew APH Moritz before the start of cross country.
Emma Scott was giving Mustang his second run at an event after being off for some time and was thrilled that he had pulled up well and gone clear.
“We had 10 time penalties, which is a bit annoying,” said Emma “but I think he was just a little bit off focus from the job simply because he has been out of it for a while. But he felt good and jumped really well so I can’t really complain and it feels great to be back eventing him again.”
With the showjumping phase coming up tomorrow there is less than a fence in hand between Megan and second placed Christopher Burton and then just a rail between the riders placed third to sixth. Prior to the show jumping all horses will have to pass the second horse inspection in the morning.
Alison will be following the riders in the show jumping phase of the HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing Qualifier CIC3*at Sydney tomorrow and will report on the exciting finale
Alison Duthie
