Nissan Easter Fest Day 4: Sime-Riley family clinches two impressive wins

The owner and rider of the two beautiful horses Sunny Park Stables Elpaso and Fulvic Connoisseur, Nicola Sime-Riley said that today (Saturday, 31 March) went significantly better than Friday.

“My boys have both jumped very well. Connoisseur is top qualifier for Monday’s Nissan SA Outdoor Grand Prix having had a second in his first qualifying round which was yesterday and then won today’s 1.50m two phase class in the Bob Charter Arena at the Kyalami Equestrian Park,” said Sime-Riley.

“I thought that the track was quite testing yesterday – it was fairly big with very few clears (I think about four clears). I rode El Paso very badly yesterday so I had a pole and then a stop at the last fence thinking that I was going to add a stride  and it just didn’t happen… Anyway, such is life – it’s in the past now.

“Today, Connoisseur won the class, jumping out of his skin – I did all of the turns having watched Mandy Johnston’s round which was superb and set the example. El Paso I had a silly rail at number four – he just touched it off and then coming into the combination: he is normally a little flat when he lands from an oxer so I rode him up a little bit too much so he just had the combination down going in, but I am very happy with him.

“Both my horses feel really good and really confident. I am hoping that they are both on form and give us all that they can on Monday. They will have tomorrow off – perhaps a little light work.

“I do have nine horses at the Nissan Easter Festival show tomorrow (crazy, I know) but that’s the name of the game and why I do it: I love it! I love being in the ring and competing – it is the most awesome feeling ever.

“To top off a super day, my son won the Outdoor Grand Prix today – what a feeling to have two family wins in one day and who knows if it’ll ever happen again! I am so very proud of him – his first 1.10m competition. He had two previous unlucky eliminations, but pulled the rabbit out of the hat today and showed us all how it’s done having had the only double clear!”

Overall, Sime-Riley said she’s super proud of how all of her horses have gone this far, with some having moved up a grade and still doing well. She encouraged those far and wide to come watch on Monday as she smiled when explaining her horses personalities.

“They are both triers. Elpaso has a lot of personality, he squeals and bucks when he’s having fun. Con can have that ‘wild side’ at times and I call him my wolf in sheep’s clothes… Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth and then all of a sudden he can explode and act like a stallion… He’s such a kind stallion though: he even kisses my five-year-old daughter at the stables.”

ALSO READ: Nissan Easter Fest Day 3: Lorette Knowles-Taylor wins 1.35m competition class