Tom Tarver-Priebe and the wonderful Equifibre Popeye triumphed this evening in the Bucas Silver Fern Stakes at the Land Rover Horse of the Year show in front of a big crowd who cheered him all the way.
The jump-off was action-packed, and the pressure went on with every clear round, each faster than the one before. Tom was last to go and he cut all the corners, galloped where he could and raced down to the last. When he cleared that, the crowd went wild and so did Tom, waving his helmet to the appreciative audience.
“I tried to stay calm, and not let it get to me,” he said afterwards. “I do get a bit nervous but I still had to go and do the job.”
As to his nine-year-old horse, Tom described him as a “good guy” and “special.” The pair has had some good results recently, including this time last year winning the Norwood Gold Cup.
“I planned my season around this show. I didn’t jump much earlier on as I wanted to peak now.” Tom, from Kawerau, plans on taking Popeye to Australia at the end of April but before that, he has the Horse of the Year class on Sunday to compete in and he rates his chances.
“It’s anyone’s class but there are realistically about ten horses that could win it. Yes, Popeye is in that 10.”
The crowd also appreciated the talent shown by 16-year-old Annabel Francis from Taupo on Carado GHP. The pair jumped clear, cut as many corners as they could, but they were just not quite fast enough. She was however just a fraction faster than Cantabrian Tegan Fitzsimon on Windermere Cappuccino, who has been winning everything in his path this season, but today they had to settle for third place.
Cambridge’s Nick Brooks and Versace C were fourth, having incurred one time fault in the first round.
Yandoo Takes Two!
Bayleys Young Rider of the Year
Emily Hayward and Yandoo Lady Gold won this title last year, and they have done it again this year albeit in sensational circumstances.
There were two riders who made it through to the jump off after two rounds in the Bayleys Young Rider class. Emily was first to go and when she had a rail down early in the course she thought she had handed the competition to the in-form Oliver Croucher on Waitangi Surf who had the other clear round. This combination had triumphed on Wednesday in the Norwood Gold Cup and were looking great over the first few fences but then disaster struck. Oliver jumped the wrong jump and was therefore eliminated, handing the win to Emily.
This is the sixth season Emily has competed on her lovely mare, and said that in the last three seasons they have really clicked.
“She isn’t the easiest horse at times, but she gives it her all.”
Understandably Oliver was devastated with his mistake, and said that he knew he was wrong as soon as they left the ground but by then it was too late.
“My horse wanted to jump everything clear, the rider just needs to remember his course!”
There was another hard luck story in the competition as Steffi Whittaker jumped two clear rounds in the competition riding On the Point Eve but incurred one time fault in the first round, so she had to settle for third place.
“I changed her bit today as she was a bit strong. It worked a treat. Yesterday we were one of the fastest, and this time I had more control, but went too slow!”
She was still delighted with her ribbon – “the first of my show!”
Steffi had hoped to be competing in the Olympic Cup class on Sunday on her stallion Eros K but unfortunately the horse was ruled out prior to the show with a short-term illness.
Elmo Jackson was fourth on Animation, with Sophie Scott on Lakato fifth.
Land Rover Horse of the Year runs from March 12-17 at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Showgrounds.
Alisha Neilson
Marketing and Media Manager
