Successful derby for Sime and Sunny Park
Benoni’s Nicola Sime recently competed in the Galencia South African Derby 2014 on her two top horses, Sunny Park Stables’ Connoisseur and Sunny Park Stables’ El Paso.
The Galencia South African Derby 2014 is considered the highlight on the equestrian calendar for the year.
The event is a testing track of solid elements, like a bank and dyke combined with show jumps.
It is a long and tedious track and is usually won by a clear round.
Last year, Sime had a clear with El Paso but ended up in a jump-off and finished third.
This year she jumped a textbook clear on Connoisseur, a really impressive feat – two clears in two years on two different horses.
Nicole Horwood and Mark White Nissan’s Capital Don Cumarco also went clear and the two had to jump off.
Horwood just pipped Sime at the post, which meant Sime finished in second place on Connoisseur while also finishing fourth on El Paso, who knocked one pole down.
Connoisseur’s groom John Mbwene also received a long service award at the Derby.
Sime’s pupils also did very well.
Lorraine Porter and First Class, a young thoroughbred she has been producing under Sime’s watchful eye, competed in the final of the Young Horse Performance Series and received the award for Best South African Bred Potential Show Jumper and Best Thoroughbred.
Michelle Wilson’s Chaka, who Sime has been instrumental in schooling, was awarded Best Namibian Warmblood, to top off a fantastic Derby weekend for Sunny Park Stables and the East Rand.
