Hat-trick for Horwood
JOBURG - Nicole Horwood riding the Mark White Nissan sponsored stallion Capital Don Cumarco has proven that she is queen of the South African Derby.
Horwood has clinched a trio of wins in three consecutive years after she won the 2014 Galencia Property South African Derby at Kyalami Equestrian Park on 5 October.
The horse-and-rider combination were 20th out of 24 riders to enter the arena, and the challenge of riding a clear round was set as the leader at that stage in the competition was Lorette Knowles-Taylor riding Team Nissan Nabab Forever. The pair had cleared every jump but incurred one time penalty.
Once the bell sounded for Horwood, a hushed silence fell over the arena as the crowd watched her jump in anticipation. As she cleared the second last jump, the spectators egged her on to clear the last jump – and she did.
Horwood described Capital Don Cumarco as a bold and brave horse and said he was sensitive which made him careful over the jumps. Horwood and Capital Don Cumarco’s first round in the derby could also be described as bold and brave as the horse-and-rider combination tackled each jump with ease, and the stallion jumped much higher than he needed to over each of the testing 1.5m jumps.
The competition was set for the next four riders. Nicola Sime-Riley riding Sunny Park Stables Connoisseur, who trains with Horwood under the guidance of South African show jumping legend Gonda Beatrix, was next to go and she held no bars in riding a steady clear round. The crowd was ecstatic that there was two clear rounds and a jump-off in the competition.
Shaun Neill riding the Delmon Mining and Civils sponsored horse Clyde Z was up next, but after they knocked a pole, Neill opted to retire, leaving the next rider, former derby winner Mandy Johnstone riding Callaho Lissabon to try their luck, but they incurred eight penalties.
The highest horse-and-rider combination to qualify for the SA Derby was Barry Taylor riding Nina Stephanou’s horse Bacchus 68, but a hoof in the water and the last jump knocked down, left him out of the running for a win.
The jump-off was set and Horwood and Sime-Riley did not miss a beat in chasing a clear round in under 48 seconds. Horwood was first to go and she cleared the testing course in a quick 41.42 seconds. Then Sime-Riley took up the challenge, but she unfortunately knocked one pole and rode through the finish flags in a slower time of 42.14 seconds.
The final placings saw Horwood in first place, Sime-Riley in second, Knowles-Taylor in third, and a joint fourth place of riders with four faults were Gail Foxcroft riding Equifox JFK, Dominey Alexander riding Discovery Enjoy 68 and Sime-Riley riding Sunny Park Stables Elpaso.
Barry Taylor, riding Bacchus 68 was also called up to the prize-giving ceremony as he clinched the Victor Ludorum for the 1.5m classes leading up to and including the SA Derby.
