Dec, 2021
London, Geneva, Texas, Riyadh – It has been a busy couple of weeks for RED MILLS Riders with victories all around the globe!
Conor Swail continued his Longines FEI Jumping World Cup North American League dominance in the early hours of Sunday morning at Fort Worth, Texas (USA), securing his third World Cup victory of the season after an eight-horse jump-off.
Swail took victories at the league’s opening two events at Vancouver (CAN) and Sacramento (USA) with Vital Chance de la Roque, but in Fort Worth, he brought forward a new winning partner in the 14-year-old gelding, Count Me In.
“I decided to bring him [Count Me In] here for a few reasons. He was up in Thermal (California, USA) for a few weeks, and this was a stop on our way back to Wellington (Florida, USA),” Swail explained. “The other reason is that it gives me another option if I decide to go to World Cup Finals. The horse that you use [at the Finals] has to have competed [in at least one qualifier].
“[Vital Chance de la Roque] is small and fiery, while [Count Me In] has more range. The one thing they have in common is that they’re both extremely good athletes and want to leave the jumps up for me, and that’s the reason why I’ve had such a good year.”
Swail maintains a comfortable lead in the NAL World Cup with 63 points and has earned points in every World Cup event he has jumped this season.
Brilliant Brash & Hello Mr. President Lead All-British Trifecta at The London International Horse Show.
As first to go in the jump-off, fellow RED MILLS Rider Shane Breen set the standard with a clear in an impressive time of 40.13 seconds.
The lead changed several times throughout and once again as last to go, RED MILLS Rider Scott Brash, pulled off an exceptionally tight turn to the vertical at number four and a frantic charge to the last, and shaved 0.14 seconds the time to take his inaugural victory at this year’s London International Horse Show.
Speaking of his victory aboard Lady Harris & Lady Kirkham’s Hello Mr President, Brash said: “Hello Mr President is a very fast horse, which makes my life a bit easier. Harry has won enough today, he needs to give the old ones a chance again! The crowd is what makes this show, and they were absolutely fantastic again tonight. The organisers have done a brilliant job, we jump all around the world, all year round, so to finish off in London with your home crowd, to get a win is extra special.”
RED MILLS Rider Bertram Allen and the 8-year-old gelding Classified won last weeks CSI5* 1.50m Prix des Communes Genevoises at CHI Geneva. Stopping the clock at 53.99 seconds, Allen left French veteran Roger Yves Bost on Ballerine du Vilpion to runner-up position in 54.33 seconds, while Jessica Springsteen (USA) on Volage du Val Henry placed third in 54.47 seconds.
“It was quite good everywhere, he is a naturally fast horse,” Allen said when asked where he thought he made the winning difference in the Table A against the clock-class. “He is only eight, but he has a really good brain and he is always looking to the fence. It was a nice course, big enough and my guy does not have so much experience so for him to go in and do that here at one of best shows of the year is nice.”
“I have had him for little bit over a year, his breeder still owns him,” Allen continued to speak about his winning mount. “He is just a lovely horse, every show he goes to, he gets results. He is already fantastic, and just getting better and better every weekend.”
Representing Australia in the Middle East, Edwina & Hazy Toulana finished on top in the CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix of Riyadh as the only combination going clear. An impressive debut for the talented mare at 4* Grand Prix level. Mouda Zeyada and Galanthos Shk took second place. Khaled Abdulrahman finished third.
“Wow, what an amazing end to the weekend at Jump Saudi with Hazy Toulana winning her first four star Grand Prix. Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support,” said Edwina.
