<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><strong>The
Aussies took the trans Tasman test but Kiwi star Katie McVean won the class...
thanks to more than just a little help from the crowd at the 2011 NZ Horse of
the Year Show in Hastings this evening (Friday).</strong></font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">A
capacity crowd willed the 24-year-old Beijing Olympian and her horse Dunstan
Delphi carefully over each jump on their way to victory in the $50,000 Silver
Fern Stakes.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The
were the last of the field to go in the second richest class of the six-day show
that culminates with the crowning of the New Zealand Showjumper of the Year on
Sunday.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">McVean jetted in from Europe on the opening day of the
show to defend her Showjumper of the Year title.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">It is
the second time she has won the Silver Fern Stakes – the last time nine years
ago aboard Dunstan Dolly.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Twenty-three started the class, which was whittled down
to 16 for the second round. With McVean the only double clear, there was no
jump-off. </font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Five
combinations shared second equal on four faults apiece including last year's
stakes winner Billy Raymont (Australia/Ocean Beach) on both his horses Nicalette
NZPH and Stardom. </font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western">“<font face="Arial, sans-serif">Daffodil tried her heart out there tonight,” said a
very happy McVean. “She has been such a super star this season.”</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Daffodil was a little feisty today, and has only been
lunged while McVean has been in Europe for the past three weeks. </font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The
NZ team – McVean, Lucy Akers (Mystery Creek/Palmerston North) on Tinapai, Chris
Harris (Christchurch) on Zilco Te Peka and Philip Steiner (Tauranga) on
Annandale Online NZPH were leading by one at the end of the first round of the
trans Tasman but a fault-ridden second round by three of the four team members
saw them finish six faults behind their neighbours.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Australian chef d'equipe Graeme Watts was chuffed with
the win saying it was a good stepping stone for a few of the younger members of
the team who had the London Olympics in their sights.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">In
the dressage phase of the Alltech 3* eventing World Equestrian Games team bronze
medallists Clarke Johnstone (Cambridge) and Orient Express have the early lead
after scoring 40.2 penalties for a fluent and forward performance. </font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Sitting just behind him is Lizzie Brown (Hamilton) with
Henton Attorney General, with Johnstone in third spot aboard KS Secrets on 46
and sixth with Incognito on 51. Cantabrian Alice Montgomery, wearing a red arm
band on her black jacket, lies fourth with the seasoned Gordon on 47.4.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The
18 starters in this top class will provide an exciting spectacle as they tackle
John Nicholson’s challenging cross-country course at the Hawke's Bay Equestrian
Park tomorrow.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The
top echelon of the dressage competitors finally made an appearance at the
show.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">It
was a closely stacked top three in the FEI Intermediate I, with less than one
percent in it. Kumeu’s Wendi Williamson took the win on 64.07%, with Te
Awamutu’s Christine Weal and her new mount Spielzeit just behind on 63.81%, a
course error proving costly.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Andrea Bank (Auckland) with Limonit finished third on
63.55% and Jody Hartstone (Raglan) took fourth on her 20-year-old stallion
Donnerwind 5, downgraded this season from Grand Prix to Prix St Georges,
finishing on 62.96%. </font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The
show continues on Saturday and finishes on Sunday.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Results - </span>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Silver Fern Stakes: Katie McVean (Mystery Creek)
Dunstan Daffodil 1, George Sanna (Australia) CP Aprilla, Brook Dobbin
(Australia) Advisor, Billy Raymont (Australia/Ocean Beach) Nicalette NZPH, Katie
McVean (Mystery Creek) Seremonie VDL, Billy Raymont (Australia/Ocean Beach)
Stardom =2, Robert Steele (Hawera) Gospel 7, Julia Hargreaves (Australia) Vedor
8, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) Annandale Online NZPH 9, Danielle Butcher
(Australia) Twins Big Higgs 10.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Alltech CIC3* (after the dressage): Clarke Johnstone
(Cambridge) Orient Express, 40.2, 1; Lizzie Brown (Hamilton) Henton Attorney
General, 43 2; Clarke Johnstone (Cambridge) KS Secrets, 46, 3; Alice Montgomery
(Christchurch) Gordon, 47.4, 4; Lizzie Brown (Hamilton) Push Play, 48, 5; Clarke
Johnstone (Cambridge) Incognito, 51, 6.</font>
</p><br>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0cm" class="western"></p>
