Stuart Tinney and Celebration
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at the Sydney Eventing Summer Classic – find out more here
While Stuart Tinney’s win in the CIC1* at the Randwick Equine Centre Sydney Eventing Summer Classic was a catch ride on his daughter’s usual ride Diabolo, his win in the CIC2* was on board his own horse, the aptly named Celebration.
This seven year old Holsteiner warmblood owned by Elisabeth Brinton is turning out to be a star in the making. This was his first CIC2* start and he replicated the result of his first CIC1* start at Canberra last year with a win
Stuart Tinney
It was very tight at the top after Saturday’s dressage with Thea Horsley’s Fairview Rembrandt leading the way on 30.30, Rachael Lee riding Urodel Du Texier on 30.40 and Stuart on 30.60 but when Thea picked up 12 faults in the Sunday morning show jumping she dropped down the leader board while Stuart and Rachael stayed on their dressage scores
Thea may have been disappointed with that performance but she put in one of only two double clear cross country rounds on her other horse, Kelecyn Supernatural to finish in third place, moving up from 11th after the dressage
Rachael Lee and French Evening
Stuart and Celebration seemed to cruise easily around the course and added just 4.8 time penalties for the win on 35.40 ahead of his pupil Rachael, finishing in second on the very elegant grey Urodel Du Texier (39.20) and fourth on board French Evening (43.10) - our interview with Rachael coming soon
Jess Manson and Amani Phantasie
The Sunday morning show jumping phase also saw the demise of the Brighton Saddlery CNC2* overnight leader Cathryn Herbert when she added 28 faults, leaving the door wide open for Jess Manson on board Amani Phantasie.
The only rider to jump clear was Paul Buckland on Freedom Grandeur but they withdrew before the cross country and Jess, who added eight faults in the show jumping, put her foot down on cross country to ride a very effective cross country round, adding just 3.6 time penalties and taking the win on a score of 48.80
