Quinella for Wilson in Gold Tour at Takapoto
Sunday, 18 February 2024
Hawke’s Bay horsewoman Vicki Wilson made history today, taking the quinella with her horses Daminos TWS and Millionaire VWNZ in the Defender Gold Tour Grand Prix on the final day of the 2024 Takapoto Classic at Maungatautari.
It brought the curtain down on six days of superb jumping with the top courses designed by the celebrated Frank Rothenberger (Germany). He was full of praise for the event and is already planning his 2025 return.
“To me this place is one of the nicest anywhere,” said Rothenberger. “I have been to many other events, but this is really outstanding.”
Hundreds would agree, with a record turnout for the gorgeous Grand Prix luncheon, grazing platters and general spectators who lined the banks on two sides of the premier grass arena.
Sixteen started the two round Gold Tour final, with eight clear in the opener to progress through to the second.
Clears were thinner on the ground for the second round, with Vicki and her grey stallion Daminos TWS going mid-field and laying a challenge for those who followed with a 47.73-second round. Her second mount Millionaire VWNZ followed suite, to also go clear but in the slightly slower time of 52.31. Logan Massie (Dannevirke) and his chestnut stallion Bravado Ego Z rounded out the top three with his faultless 54.34-second effort.
Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) and Waitangi Skynet had a rail at the second of the double but were the fastest of the four faulters with their 48.06 round to be good enough for fourth. Isabelle Jameson (Whangarei) and Delphine NZPH also had four faults in 50.96 seconds for fifth place, with fellow four-faulter Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) and Takapoto Tinka sixth.
But the day belonged to Vicki Wilson and her team, who picked up $53,000 for their efforts, which were all the more extraordinary given it is their first season at Grand Prix level.
“You couldn’t get a better day at the office,” said Wilson, congratulating Takapoto Equestrian and course builder Rothenberger. “It has been a fantastic week.” “It was a super field out there,” said Wilson. “Things can go wrong with a very light tough. I came to win but you never know.”
Wilson bought the German-bred Daminos at auction in the United Kingdom. He is always very keen to win, fast and loves a challenge. “I thought we had done enough to win. I knew the others would have to take some crazy risks. I went as tight as I thought I could go.”
She had no inclination for her homebred Millionaire, who is out of her good showjumper Showtym Girl, to beat Daminos. “He is a very special horse and just super. He is a horse with a huge heart.”
She plans to start both in the Olympic Cup at the Land Rover Horse of the Year Show and is hopeful her purple patch of form will continue.
Earlier in the show, Samantha Carrington (Takapau) won the APL Window Solutions Silver Tour Final aboard Double J Hurricane, and then announced the retirement of her nine-year-old homebred who has been an absolute superstar for her.
The Partridge Jewellers FOPE Bronze Tour Final went the way of Emma Gaze (Ohaupo) and Shuttle Bug, with the Cambridge Grains Copper Tour Final won by Jaime Campbell (Auckland) with Henton Exchequer. Shannon Galloway (Waikato) and Day Walker won the Brandt Anne Symes Derby, with Deanna Horsburgh (Matangi) taking out the GH Mumm Pro Am Final on Kan Kan NZPH. The BTW Company Amateur Final was won Sheena Ross (Te Awamutu) and Coome FU.
