Life After Racing at Sydney’s Weekend of World Cups

Kirby Park Allofasudden

Jeepster

Ozbred

At the 2011 Weekend of World Cups in Sydney, starting this Friday 6 May at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, there are a large number of ex-racehorses competing in both Eventing and Show Jumping from the lower grades all the way through to the top level. 19 horses in the top three eventing levels were racehorses with five out of the 31 entries in the Eventing World Cup and one out of 25 entries in the Show Jumping World Cup beginning their lives on the track.

There have been a number of notable Eventing stars who began their life as racehorses. One of the most memorable in Australia is Jeepster (raced as Delphic Oracle) who won Gold with Stuart Tinney at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Despite predictions that European warmblood breeding would see the demise of the thoroughbred in this sport, the testing nature of Eventing continues to suit the athletic physic and brave character these racehorses are renowned for. Considered the triathlon of equestrian sport, Eventing demands an elegance in Dressage, speed and bravery on cross country and agility and precision in show jumping. Whilst thoroughbreds can be temperamental at times making the harmony needed for dressage difficult, their fitness and willingness to take a leap of faith with their riders is what makes them truly amazing over a tough cross country course.  In 2008 Shane Rose competed on the exracehorse All Luck, owned by Angela Shacklady, at the Beijing Olympics recording the fastest time in the world cross country and helping to bring home Silver for Australia.

Angela, also a volunteer on the organising committee of Sydney International Eventing, is thrilled that there are so many ex-racehorses at Sydney's Weekend of World Cups. "It's  wonderful to see so many of these noble animals go on to a rewarding life after racing, especially knowing that many sacked racehorses are sent to a less glorious ending."

• Kirby Park Allofasudden - by Rustic Amber out of Passionate. Ridden by Megan Jones from Stirling, SA who won Olympic Silver in 2008. Allofasudden is competing in the 2011 Eventing World Cup in Sydney - Dressage 5:12pm Friday 6 May, Cross Country 12:18pm Saturday 7 May, Show Jumping from 3pm Sunday.
• Ex Racehorse Jeepster won gold with Stuart Tinney ten years ago at the Sydney Olympics. He made a guest appearance at the 2010 Sydney 3DE to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Sydney Olympics.Stuart is competing on two horses that he is aiming for the London Olympics
• Ozbred (raced as Ausbred) by Yeats out of Stormy Zephyr. Ridden by George Johnson (Show Jumper). Ozbred was bred by Chris Lawlor of International Animal Health and was. He was trained by Wade and Doreen Slinkard at Wilberforce and was a tough and consistent  middle distance racehorse who had more placings than wins. He was retired as a six-year-old and came to the Johnsons for retraining. He was always a brave and powerful jumper who performed in showjumping the same way he raced, gaining more placings than wins, but always generous and honest.  Three years ago he had to have his left eye removed after a mystery eye disease and it seemed his jumping career might be over. However, encouraged by several professional riders (including Vicki Roycroft who only has one eye herself ) to give him a chance, he started his second stage of his career and has gone on to perform even better, giving George his debut in World Cups last year. He was accepted for the Sydney Royal this year but was not allowed to compete when they discovered Ozbred only has one eye. Ozbred is competing in the Sydney’s World Cup Show Jumping Qualifier. Competition times - Equestrian NSW 1.4m Class from 4:00pm Saturday 7 May, Jumping NSW Sydney World Cup Jumping Qualifier from 12:00pm Sunday 8 May.

International Representatives, Olympians and Australian Champions all at Sydney's Weekend of World Cups!

As of 26 April there are already nearly 600 Eventing and Show Jumping entries across all the grades. The Eventing World Cup line up includes the 2010 winner, Christopher Burton (Wilberforce, NSW), back to defend his title on the lovely mare HP Lelanie owned by Jean and Jade Findlay. The 2009 Winner, Olympic Silver Medallist Megan Jones (Stirling, SA) is also returning for another crack at the impressive prize money. Joining these talented athletes is Sydney 2000 Gold medallist Stuart Tinney (Maraylya, NSW), Beijing Silver Medallist Shane Rose (Werombi, NSW), multi-discipline Australian representative Heath Ryan (Heatherbrae, NSW) and NZ Team 2008 World Equestrian Games Bronze Medallist Clarke Johnstone (Hamilton, NZ). Another 18 elite riders join the Eventing World Cup class all eager to prove they can master the three phases of dressage, cross country and show jumping to claim the victory in the 2011 Sydney World Cup Qualifier. Their competition begins with dressage on Friday evening in the Indoor Arena.

The World Cup Show Jumping line up includes the 2010 winner, Jamie Kermond (Ebenezer, NSW) and the 2009 winner Chris Chugg (Glossodia, NSW) who recently returned from helping the Australian Show Jumping Team achieve the highest placing ever in the World Equestrian Games. Also competing is three time Olympian Vicki Roycroft (Mt White, NSW), the 2010 Australian Junior and Young Rider Champion 17 year old Tom McDermott, 2010 Summer Classic World Cup winner Brook Dobbin (Vic) and the 2011 Sydney Royal World Cup winner Julia Hargreaves (Wilburforce, NSW). Joining these top riders are another 16 elite competitors from across the country. Their warm up classes begin on Saturday and the World Cup class is scheduled to run in the indoor on Sunday at lunchtime straight after the 3* class finishes.

Article & photos: Rachel Smith - Furdography