Cross-country day at Puhinui has had remarkably little effect on the scoreboard, with a bit of a reshuffle at the top end of the Auckland Council CCI4* class, while the other classes have had almost no change in the top six places.
Clarke Johnstone and his relatively-new ride, Aces High, are now poised for victory in the Advanced, with a fluid, forward yet unhurried round coming home clear and under the time.
Clarke has had the 10-year-old Australian-bred thoroughbred since April; he is by Another Warrior and was produced with success to four-star level by Australian Madeline Wilson.
Clarke was also clear and under time on Dutch-bred Deo Volente, and has thus risen from 10th to fifth.
Of the 12 combinations to tackle Ewan Kellett’s four-star track, 11 completed, and only two had jumping penalties – both for stops at the bounce into the water, which was by far the most challenging question.
Clarke admits the bounce made him a bit nervous, but he was thrilled that both his horses jumped it so well, and he doesn’t think the track was soft overall: “There was a bit to jump!,” he says.
Four pairs were clear and under time, and among them was probably the gutsiest round of the day, Beth Wilson and Alto et Audax, who have leapt from 12th place to sixth place as a result.
Monica Oakley and nine-year-old Acrobat (Euro Sport Centavos) are now sitting second, on their dressage score, and dressage leaders Renee Faulkner and Rubinstar HH have dropped to third, having incurred four time faults.
Donna Edwards-Smith earned the admiration of many for the sheer physical and mental fitness involved in riding four horses around the four-star track, and she got three of them home clear; DSE Tangolooma is now fourth (adding 6.8pen for time), DSE Mendoza seventh, and DSE Rodriguez ninth.
Christen Lane was thrilled with her clear round on her homebred Thunder Cat (Littorio/Alley Cat), who has only recently returned to full fitness after recovering from colic surgery; additionally it’s been some time since Christen herself, a former Puhinui winner, has competed at the highest level.
The pair slipped from second after dressage to eighth, having incurred time faults – they went on the wrong side of the ropes early on the track and had to double back. Christen says: “I couldn’t be prouder of my Thunder Cat… clear jumping around the cross-country. Unfortunately we weren’t speedy today and have moved down the field, but something to work towards for next year!”
Gilmours CCI3*
The top three in the Gilmours CCI3* is unchanged after cross-country day, with first-placed Monica Oakley and Artist adding nothing to their dressage score. They have, however, increased their lead slightly, and now have a rail in hand over Renee Faulker and Mi Focus, who added 1.6 time faults but retained second place, with Bundy Philpott still third on Shillings, on their dressage score.
Muzi Pottinger on Good Timing and Elise Power on Arctic Cielo have moved up one place respectively from fifth and sixth to fourth and fifth, both pairs home clear and under time.
Heelan Tompkins makes up the top six on Oranoa Greyson, also on her dressage score.
Of the 26 Intermediate combinations, eight were clear and under time, and a further 11 were clear with time faults. There were three eliminations, one withdrawal, and three with 20 penalties.
Veterinary Associates CCI2*
Places one to four in the Veterinary Associates CCI2* remain the same as they were after dressage, with Jock Paget leading on Bing Bong, Ella Morshuis second on World Famous, Abigail Long third on Cruising Guy, and Samantha Mynott fourth on CHS Royal Genie.
Greer Caddigan has improved from sixth to fifth on Ricker Ridge Pico Boo, and Matthew Grayling makes up the top six, with Henton Ambassador.
The vast majority of the Novice combinations were clear and under the time – 23 out of 30 – with just one elimination for a rider fall, one retirement, and one rider receiving 20 penalties.
Thompson Electrical CCN1*
Clarke has increased his lead in the Thompson Electrical CCN1* on Watermill Hadley, and now has a rail in hand over second-placed Charlotte Treneary and her pony Kabo Pongo. Charlotte is also fifth on her second ride, Mirrabella Piper.
The majority of riders in this class were clear and under time, but Renee Ryall, who was second after dressage, picked up 20 penalties to drop out of contention.
Leisa Keighley and Black Attire have moved up a place to third, while Francesca Masfen and Kinnordy Gallilee have moved from sixth to fourth. Alyssa Harrison and Da Vinci Code make up the top six.
