Barrett Bags his First CCI4* HSBC FEI Classics in Adelaide

Craig Barrett and Sandhills Brillaire. Photo: ESJ Photo

Craig Barrett has taken out the 2012 CCI4* HSBC FEI Classics Australian International Three Day Event in front of sell-out crowd at Adelaide’s Victoria Park.

This is Barrett’s first win at this level and only the second time he has entered the four star event.

A beaming Barrett couldn’t wipe the smile from his face and credited his young horse for showing fast pace during Saturday’s cross country phase which saw many top combinations prematurely end their campaign for the title.

“Every win is special but this is the biggest win of my career and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.

“Traditionally she hasn’t been the fastest horse in the world, but yesterday the thoroughbred kicked in and she just kept going, just kept galloping,” 

Barrett and his 10 year old thoroughbred mare Sandhills Brillaire had a two rail buffer leading into today’s show jumping phase. Their advantage was extended to four rails after second placed combination Natalie

Blundell and Algebra incurred two rails down.

The pair went on to produce a near faultless show jumping round and were unfortunate to knock down the final rail.

“It was a tough fence that last fence and I don’t think anyone jumped it clear – that’s a real show jumping fence. I think I relaxed coming into the last fence, I knew I was ok so I probably sat a little still.”

“I wasn’t interested in what Nat did, it’s no good to worry about what she did or didn’t do. You’ve just got to do your plan, stick to your plan and ride to that plan that’s the best way to do it.

“You shouldn’t worry about what others do because you can’t change it and at the end of the day it shouldn’t change what you’re doing,” he said. 

Murray Lamperd and Under The Clocks rounded out the minor placings.

Earlier, Victorian rider Will Enzinger (Flowervale Maserati) took home the CCI2* in a nail-biting finish which saw the young rider hold onto the lead and win the class by less than a fraction of a penalty. 

The Adelaide International Three Day Event is the second leg of the 2012/2013 HSBC FEI Classics^TM – a six series competition made up of the world’s only four star event competitions. The AI3DE is the only four star event in the southern hemisphere.

Full results from the Australian International Three Day Event can be found HERE

Story: Equestrian Australia