Blooming Fabulous!

Katie McVean with Dunstan Daffodil Photo / APN

Dunstan Daffodil fooled them all in the Cathay Pacific one star grand prix on the third day of the Bayleys Tauranga Showjumping Championships (NZ), sneaking in for a very smart win.

Daffodil and Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) were one of three combinations to go through to the jump-off over the John Vallance (Australia) designed course. None of the original 23 starters managed to leave everything up, so the four faulters came through to jump off for honours.

First out was Mathew Gilmour (Cambridge) and his newly-imported Belize Di Cantero, who set the pace at 42.14 seconds. McVean and Daffodil looked to be taking their time but a well placed cut inside the wall to into the second to last fence saw them stop the clock at 40.17.

Rachael Bentall (Hastings) and Kiwi Brave jumped a super round but couldn't quite match McVean, coming home in 40.82 for second place.

Candice Fox (Auckland) showed why she's leading the KiwiSpan junior rider series with a fantastic win today (Saturday) aboard Larkham. They were one of seven combinations who went through to the jump-off, notching an impressive and comfortable 36.39 when time mattered. Second placed Hannah Harding (Auckland) and Cosmic Cowboy came home in 39.39.

The show finishes Sunday with the final of the New Zealand World Cup series.

Results -

Cathay Pacific one star grand prix: Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Daffodil 1, Rachael Bentall (Hastings) Kiwi Brave 2, Mathew Gilmour (Cambridge) Belize Di Cantero 3, Tess Williams (Gisborne) Alltech Walnut Brown 4, Sally Steiner (Tauranga) Annandale Wickcliffe Brannigan 5, Sally Steiner (Tauranga) Annandale Laughtons Legacy 5.

KiwiSpan junior rider: Candice Fox (Auckland) Larkham 1, Hannah Harding (Auckland) Cosmic Cowboy 2, Natasha Brooks(Cambridge) Hairy McLairy 3, Lisa Hogg (Opotiki) Brook BHS 4, Luke Dee (Gisborne) Lowenbehold (owned by Jordyn Becconsall) 5, Emma Deadman (Bay of Plenty) My Kind of Guy 6.

ST Hay Supplies pro amateur: Amy Sprague (Whangarei) Casali 1, Kirsten McLeod (Gisborne) NZ Josef 2m Olivia Gibson (Auckland) Quickstar 3, Dani Lodder (Auckland) Interflora Of Renton 4, Sophie Broadman (Pukekohe) Kaipara Beedle 5, Glen Beale (Pukekohe) Solano 6.