The warmest weekend of the year so far saw a 36-strong field take on the fierce challenge of the South Downs for the FEI two-day three-star 160km Fontwell ride.
Sarah Kelleway’s stunning homebred bright bay stallion, Kosmik, eclipsed a top class field at what was his first international event. Kept under wraps and qualified in France, the eight-year-old has only had a couple of outings in the UK.
Astutely slotting to the front as the countdown began, Sarah headed the field on to the first 28km loop up a steep wooded climb to Bignor and through the sandy Bar Lavington Estate at an impressive 17.56km/hr.
The pair had company in the shape of Saeed Abdullah Al Ketbi’s Al Saamit until the end of the second loop, when the UAE horse was eliminated with a high pulse.
Their victory, at an average speed of 15.29kmh and with 25min in hand over Ali Mohammed Al Muhairi and Shikira, left the normally cool-headed Sarah, who has several Arab racing wins under her belt, filled with emotion.
“This is better than racing, when you’re on the horse for a few minutes – with endurance, you’re out there together for 160km,” she said.
Endurance rider and trainer Rob Sedgley, on Sarah’s crew for the event, said: “Kosmik is a world-class horse. His speed through the vetgate, especially given the heat, was exceptional.”
The nine finishers included British team hopefuls Beccy Broughton, third with her long-listed Zapala on the mare’s first competitive outing since Punchestown 2002; Katie Smith, fourth with Aloha Zodiac; Liz Platts, who brought Zilzal home in sixth place behind Jane James and Rowengay Garnet, and Jenny Jackson, who was ninth on Hannah.
Ireland’s leading rider, Bernie Leadon-Bolger, picked up a last minute ride on Sheikh Mohammed’s Leastreak and rode the horse into seventh place. Meanwhile Belinda Brigg brought Derek Francis’s former ride, Simbar, home in eighth.
|
Read the full report in next week’s Horse & Hound (26 June), or click here to subscribe and enjoy Horse & Hound delivered to your door every week. |
