Aussie raider James Arkins is warming up for the Farmlands Horse of the Year Show in the best way possible . . . by winning.
Aboard his New Zealand-bred Rosthwaite Vigilante II, he again headed home another Kiwi field, this time in the Excel Premier League Grand Prix at the Aon Insurance Premier Show at WoodhillSands in Auckland.
He was the only one of the nine strong field to leave his slate clean in the two round competition.
Coming in behind him were teen Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) aboard AP Ninja and Tash Brookes (Cambridge) on her former racehorse Kapattack.
The women finished second equal and have both showed excellent in recent months.
Earlier in the show Hayward-Morgan and AP Ninja won the Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider class and aboard her other horse Yandoo Lady Gold, she was second in the Telford Junior Rider class.
In the Country TV Pony Grand Prix, Olivia Miller (Te Puke) and Kaycee McKay were the only double clears in the 15-strong field, three of whom came through to the jump-off.
Pip Howells was the course designer for the two day show, which attracted 450-plus horses.
Results -
Excel Premier League Grand Prix: James Arkins (AUS) Rosthwaite Vigilante II 1, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja and Tash Brookes (Cambridge) Kapattach =2, Sam Morrison (Tauranga) Bairritz 4, Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cassanova 5, Josh Barker (Auckland) Eros K 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Oliver Miller (Te Puke) Kaycee McKay 1, Olivia Dalton (Auckland) Simply Samantha 2, Billie Mae Mentzer (Mangawhai) Taylor Made Gift 3, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House 4, Bronte Sewell (Kumeu) Sky Hi Even Better 5, Jayden Horsfall (Kerikeri) Redcliffs Colour Me Quick 6.
Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider Series: Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 1, Sarah Young (Tokoroa) Belize Di Cantero 2, Sam Morrison (Tauranga) Frangipanne De Toxandria 3, Sophie Burling (Kerikeri) LR Ruegar MSH 4, Laura Inkster (Auckland) Strathcarron Zaurak 5, Nakeysha Lammers (Hikurangi) Waldorf 6.
Telford Junior Rider Series: Brayden Aarts (Pukekawa) George Jetson 1, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 2, Lucy Bull (Taupo) Westhay Grace 3, Brayden Aarts (Pukekawa) Puma des Hayettes 4, Laura Inkster (Papakura) Oporaes Jackamoe 5, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Miss Cassinei MS 6.
East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Series: Vicki Prendergast (Matamata) Sangster and Candice Fox (Karaka) SJ Duesenberg =1.
Caledonian Amateur Rider Series: Carol Stewart (Tokoroa) Hit Parade 1, Laura McGregor (Cambridge) Mister Macloud 2, Melanie Dudding (Tuakau) Country Vogue 3, Chloe van den Boom (Northland) Mirrobella Molly 4, Kate Hewlett (Kerikeri) Capatino GNZ 5, Kate Hewlett (Kerikeri) Prince Loch 6.
Mitavite Six Year Old Series: Kate Hewlett (Kerikeri) Capatino and Charlotte Cotter (Taukau) Ngahiwi Best Wishes =1.
ESNZ Seven Year Old Series: Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Eye Catcher 1, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 2, Rosie Commons (Auckland) Athena GNZ 3, Josh Barker (Auckland) Lanius GNZ 4, Ryan Lim (Auckland) SE Rumour Has It 5, Carol Stewart (Tokoroa) Hit Parade 6.
