Former Racehorse Comes Good to Take Opening World Cup Round in Hawkes Bay (NZ)

By: Diana Dobson/ESNZ

Lucy Fell caused a bit of an upset this afternoon when she won the opening round of the Country TV World Cup (NZ) at the Hawke’s Bay A and P Show in Hastings. 

She and her former racehorse Tinapai headed off 16 other combinations, one of the largest fields seen in the series class for some years.

Fell (nee Akers) was the only rider to go double clear over the Roger Laplanche-designed course . . . and she was ecstatic.

It is just the second time she and 18-year-old Tinapai have won a World Cup class after more years competing in them than she cares to count.

Today’s victory also set right a missed opportunity at the same show last year when her bridle broke and she had to pull up.

“I was absolutely gutted about that because he was jumping so well and would have been in with a chance,” said the 31-year-old.

But today it all came together for the two-time Lady Rider of the Year.

“This is such a special win. We couldn’t have had a better start really. I thought we may have been in for a chance of a ribbon, but not the win,” she said.

“It was a strong and big field – the biggest I can remember for a long time.”

But she had plenty of praise for Laplanche.

“He did such a superb job. It was not huge out there but it was fair enough.”

Tinapai is known for his tricky behaviour and Fell said whole he was “an absolute lunatic” when she worked him this morning, he had his game head on this afternoon in the warm-up.

“I knew straight away it would be a good day. Sometimes you need a little luck in this game.”

Tinapai, who has been with Fell for 12 years, had just one warm-up show heading into today, and Fell says she will probably start him at the next round at Mystery Creek early next month.

And she would also like to win a third Lady Rider crown at the Horse of the Year Show.

“I know it is a little greedy to want one more, but that would be a dream to pull off.”

With a two-and-a-half hour drive home, there was no time for celebratory drinks but Fell thought she would treat herself to McDonalds and a frozen coke.

In the opening round of the class, just four combinations left everything in place – first-timers Lily Tootill (Auckland) aboard Ulysses NZPH and Rachel Malcolm (Cambridge) on Equador MVNZ, along with Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) on Conyers and Fell.

Thirteen of the 17 starters, who scored eight faults or less in the opening round, came back for the second.

Clears were a little more prevalent in the second round, coming from Beatson and Schimmel Warrior, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) on LT Holst Aunty Annette in their first World Cup start, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) aboard Carnutelabryere and multi series winner Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) on Dunstan Casebrooke Lomond, who was having his first crack at this level.

Laurie and her striking grey stallion Dunstan Casebrooke Lomond won the prize as the best presented at the horse inspection before the class.

It was a field that showed the depth New Zealand showjumping has coming through, with plenty promised for the coming World Cup rounds.

The next round is at Mystery Creek in early November. The series runs over six rounds, with the best four to count, and the overall winner has the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the world final in the United States next year.

In the Equissage Pony Grand Prix, just Ally Carson (Putaruru) aboard Tony The Pony and Emma Watson (Morrinsville) on Fun House came through to the jump-off.

Watson was out first on the former Pony of the Year and looked well on course to go double clear when a tight turn proved too much for the lovely grey and they finished with four faults at the second-to-last fence, coming home in 36.93 seconds.

Carson just had to leave everything up, but it wasn’t to be with the first of the double coming down. Despite picking up the speed, the finished just short, with four faults, in a time of 38.75 seconds.

Results -

Country TV World Cup (NZ league) Series: Lucy Fell (Opiki) Tinapai 1, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) Carnutelabryere 2, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Conyers 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Schimmel Warrior 4, Lily Tootill (Auckland) Ulysses NZPH 5, Rachel Malcolm (Cambridge) Equador MVNZ 6.

Best presented horse at horse inspection: Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) and Dunstan Casebrooke Lomond.

Equissage Pony Grand Prix: Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House 1, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tony The Pony 2, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Phantom Warrior 3, Olivia Ahlborn (Napier) Aorangi Ragtime 4, Phoebe Burns (Hastings) Galaxy Masterpiece 5, Ruby Mason (Napier) Mr Acho 6.

Cortaflex Seven-Year-Old Series: Daniel Blundell (Ocean Beach) Athena NZPH 1, Fraser Tombleson (Gisborne) Mea I 2, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Belischi HM 3, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Argio 4, Sinead Dolman (Gisborne) Floriant DHU 5, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) McMillans Chuck 6.

Mitavite Six-Year-Old Series: Robert Steele (Dannevirke) Delta Blue, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Dandelion, Ashley Hart (Hastings) Kiwi Showtime, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Lady Gaga G, John MacLennan (Waipukurau) Ngahiwi Para and Tracy Mason (Napier) WP Stella =1.

East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old Series: Sam Peters (Whangarei) Cadillac NZPH, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Beyonce, Monica Oakley (Waipukurau) Festival, Caroline Parkes (Wairoa) Kiwi Corona, Shelagh Nolan (Gisborne) Ngahiwi Eyeza Blue and Mick Gardner (Gisborne) Two Eye See =1.

Lincoln University Junior Rider Series: Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Kiwi Rocket 1, Sinead Dolman (Gisborne) Kiwi Lansing 2, Brayden Aarts (Auckland) Puma des Hayettes 3, Maia Coster (Tauranga) Landenfeld 4, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Waitangi Surf 5, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 6.

FMG Young Rider Series: Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 1, Emily Fraser (Bulls) Voila 2, Emily Fraser (Bulls) Kiwi Sunray 3, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Delta Fasteuex 4, Hannah Fraser (Bulls) Vendange 5, Rebecca Porter (Hastings) Kiwi Jet 6.

Caledonian Holdings Amateur Rider Series: Dirk Waldin (Havelock North) Lucas 1, Caroline Sutherland (Whakatane) Letty 2, Emma Deadman (Taupo) Avichii AF 3, Caroline Parkes (Wairoa) Peggy Blue 4, Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Velocity NZPH 5, Vicki Ridley (Auckland) Mosaic II 6.

Let’s Bale Pro Amateur Rider Series: William Lyles (Turangi) Jack The Lad 1, Greg Jamieson (Paeroa) Volrath Chagall 2, Katie Hercock (Matamata) Kiwi Express 3, Chloe Hansen (Opiki) Kiwi Motto 4, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 5, Carol Stewart (Tokoroa) Hit Parade 6.

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