Olympic silver medallist Shane Rose has won the Melbourne CCI3* aboard a horse which he says could take him to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Rose was sitting in third following Sunday’s cross country but he moved up in the placings after an injury to Stuart Tinney’s Pluto Mio forced the overnight leader to withdraw.
Tinney’s withdrawal also opened the door for Sonja Johnson who was in second place after cross country but she and her chestnut Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison knocked two poles in today’s show jumping and they remained in second position at the end of the event with a score of 54.20.
A clear round to Rose and his thoroughbred Shanghai Joe saw the pair finish on their dressage score of 52.40.
An emotional Rose was lost for words by the performance of the young horse which was bred at his New South Wales property.
“I guess it’s like one of your kids doing well at school.
“He’s a good little horse. From the first time we took him out he was amazing.
“He’s got a great attitude. For a seven year old to come here and beat the other horses in this field is pretty good. I didn’t expect it really,” he said.
Rose is currently in contention for Australia’s three day event team for the upcoming World Equestrian Games with his squad listed horse CP Qualified, which won the Sydney CCI3* in April.
Rose says his winning mount from Melbourne also has the potential to one day represent Australia.
“He’s headed towards Rio if he can hold it together and beat the other horses that I’ve got.
“He has an amazing temperament and he just gets better and better,” he said.
Johnson also finished in third place aboard her second horse Belfast Mojito which also finished on its dressage score of 62.60.
Meanwhile, Australia was declared the winner of the Oceania Championships for Young Riders after the New Zealand team was reduced to two combinations. With teams requiring three scores and Kiwi Sarah Young eliminated on cross country and Bonnie Farant eliminated at the second horse inspection, the Australian team was guaranteed victory before taking to the show jumping phase.
Maintaining the form they had shown throughout the competition, the team each produced clear rounds in the show jumping phase. Team members Gabrielle Pither and Teegan Ashby also enjoyed success in the individual placings with Pither winning the CCI2* class and Ashby finishing in third. Remaining team members Jaimie Stichel finished 10th while Michaela Martindale was 16th.
In the CCI1* it was local combination Will Enzinger and Paihia Wilhelm who won from Megan Jones and Jayay Dom Perignon. Enzinger also finished in third with Bellhaven Sanskrit.
Full results from the event are available at the website http://www.miht.com.au
