Princess Delphi heading to Saudi Arabia

Top Kiwi showjumper Katie McVean continues to set the
equestrian world alight – this time in announcing the sale of her stunning
home-bred mare Dunstan Delphi for an undisclosed multi-million dollar deal with
the Saudis.

 In what will surely be the most expensive horse ever sold
out of New Zealand, nine-year-old Delphi is set to become a star for the Saudi
Arabian Equestrian Federation who will co-own her with a yet un-named rider.

 McVean and Delphi set records recently with their sixth
equal placing at the World Cup final in Germany, and last year as New Zealand's
best-ever performed showjumping combination at the World Equestrian Games in
Kentucky.

 Speaking from Holland this morning, 24-year-old McVean
(Mystery Creek) says her horse was never intended for sale, but as soon as they
had their first Europe outing in March, horse agents started asking.

 “People were saying she looked to have the most scope of
any of the horses jumping at the World Cup final and she was doing it with so
little effort.”

 The successful buyers had watched her go at the World
Games in Kentucky and followed her progress.

 “We came to Europe not wanting to sell her and I truly
believe we were a huge chance for a medal at London with a little more
experience on the European circuit,” she says. “The decision was a very very
hard one to make.”

 McVean, who is now ranked 101 in the world, says to
compete on the likes of the Global Champions Tour is incredibly expensive.

 “It was going to cost a fortune to do it and anything
could happen.”

 She has no doubt her intuitive and trusting steed knows
something is up.

 “She knows something is going on, and I've taken a
ridiculous amount of photos of her over the past few days. But I'm very excited
to see her go with her new rider and they've said if I ever want to see her I
am most welcome.”

 She will fly home with her father later this week.

 “There is still a small chance, but I think I am going to
have to give up on my London (Olympics) dream and start over. It has been my
goal for a long time but if I tried to keep her and everything had gone wrong,
I would have had nothing – this way I can set up for the future, and maybe next
time I won't have to sell.”

 At home in the Waikato, she has eight 'babies' who are
all half siblings to Delphi.

 “Now I need to get home and get them going.”

 McVean says the support from her parents Jeff and Vicki,
along with Delphi's co-owners Chris and Sandy Shore (Ashburton) had been
incredible.

 It has been an emotional ride for the Shores too, who
were on hand to see Delphi go so well at the World Cup.

 “It is definitely a mixture of happiness and sadness for
us at the moment,” says Sandy Shore. “Our Delphi adventure is coming to an end
and that is sad, but we're so happy that it has exceeded all our expectations.
It wasn't an easy decision for everyone to make, but it was the right one.

 “I feel we are so lucky to have been part of this
incredible journey with not only an amazing horse but an equally brilliant
rider. To be involved with the McVeans has been a fabulous experience.”

 Jeff McVean, a past Olympic showjumper for
Australia, said he had every faith in the future of his very talented daughter,
who herself competed at the 2008 Beijing Games.

 “Horses can break,” he says. “Katie is young, has a lot of
nice horses at home and I think her talent has been a bit underrated. We just
don't have all the money in the world to be able to support her and keep her
going over here at this level.”

 He said the sale was sad for Equestrian Sports New
Zealand (ESNZ) as the combination were favourites to help the nation qualify
for the London Olympics.

 “The horse was just such a sensation over here and what's
even more special is that Katie started her from scratch. This is huge for New
Zealand breeders for the future.”

 ESNZ chief executive Jim Ellis understands the dilemma
the McVeans and Shores have faced.

 “Delphi’s value has increased with every performance the
combination have put in. The sixth place at the World Cup final was probably NZ
Showjumping’s greatest ever performance so of course it is sad to lose this
quality of horse so close to the London Olympics. They've been under huge
pressure as a result of the interest shown in Delphi and their decision is
completely understandable.”

 But Jeff McVean admits he's also heart-broken to see his
'Princess' go. McVean bred Delphi out of his own World Cup mare Flower Power,
and from a very early  age, he knew he had a superstar on his hands....and he
was right. - Diana Dobson

Posted by:
Anne Vallance

NZ EQUESTRIAN News

Princess Delphi heading to Saudi Arabia
Monday, 9 May 2011

NZ EQUESTRIAN News

Princess Delphi heading to Saudi Arabia Monday, 9 May 2011

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Princess Delphi heading to Saudi Arabia
Monday, 9 May 2011