Piggy March and Quantum Leap achieved the double in the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals, adding the five-year-old title to last year's four-year-old victory. They finished on a score of 86.85 – the same as that of Irish rider Susie Berry's Purple Rain, taking the win on the back of a better jumping score.
“We bought him as a two-year-old when Thomas [Piggy's husband] found him in Germany on one of his shopping trips, and he's always been so lovely to work with,” said Piggy. “He has beautiful paces and is the kindest person; he makes my life very easy. He always lifts in the atmosphere here and felt fantastic today which is very exciting for the future.
“He's been competing at BE100 level this year, recently stepping up to novice, but will finish his season after this – he's had a long year, and done all that I've asked of him, so he's earned a long, well-deserved holiday.”
Piggy's homebred Cornet March took third place. “He is a stunning horse,” she said. “He hasn't evented yet because he was slower to start but he has such quality that he could either event or showjump. It's lovely for Thomas because breeding horses is hard work and needs a lot of patience.”
Second-placed Purple Rain was the horse most impressing judge William Fox-Pitt with his 'potential to gallop'.
Holly Richardson's TBH Not Guilty won the prize for the best mare, with Cornet March the highest placed homebred.
Max Warburton and Patron of Keros win 4-Year-Old Championship
Susie Berry was also in the winner’s circle with the 4-Year-Old Championship, this time as the owner of the winning horse. Her partner Max Warburton rode his and Susie’s Patron Of Keros to win the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse four-year-old championship, most impressing William Fox-Pitt in the final 'potential to gallop'.
Sourced in Ireland just two months ago, Max says that Patron Of Keros has finished in the qualifying places in all of his runs, so he has been well-prepared. “It's so good for young horses to come and see an atmosphere and a crowd. It puts them in good stead for the future – and it helps if we decide to sell him, although we'd like to get a group of owners for him.
“We had to buy him in a deal – to have him we had to buy another, but luckily I think that one will be a nice horse too, it shares a sire with Cooley Rosalent [Valent], and we are always looking for young horses.
Patron Of Keros finished on a score of 90.75, more than three penalties ahead of Kitty King's multiple qualifier winner Parc All The Hype, while Amelia White's Waffle took third place.
The winner of the best mare prize was Caunton Cosmic Diamond, ridden by Tom McEwen in to eighth place, while the best owner/breeder prize went to Jason Doerflinger's ride Milchem Giovanni.
