Fabulous Faberge Fires at Takapoto

Emelia Forsyth has broken the Australian stranglehold on the Bellevue Main Arena at the Takapoto Estate Show Jumping, with victory in the second Gold Tour Qualifier this afternoon.
The Clevedon 20-year-old nabbed the win aboard former eventer Henton Faberge by just 1/100thof a second from Paul Brent (Australia) and his lovely stallion Fontaine Blue VDL.
“I loved Michel’s courses,” said Emelia. “They are forward striding and suit the way I like to ride and how my horse likes to go.”
Her plan was to create some pace and stick with it. Emelia and her chestnut mare were through to the final after their efforts in the first qualifier yesterday but she felt the horse was fiery and strong and needed another run in the beautiful Bellevue Main Arena.
“It is definitely amazing to compete alongside some of these riders. It makes you want to up your game.”
She and Henton Faberge won both Silver Tour Qualifiers in 2019 and placed third in the final. The combination have had a few World Cup starts this season which gave her plenty of confidence heading into Takapoto’s Gold Tour.
“She is the most honest horse and has never stopped for me. Every time I have stepped her up I have never worried.”
For the final she plans to just go out and do the very best she can. “I want to do these big classes while I have a horse who can do it,” says Emelia who is studying a business degree at the University of Waikato.
Runner-up Paul bought Fontaine Blue VDL as a three-and-a-half-year-old from the VDL Stud in Holland and has produced him all the way through. “I am enjoying having some great fun with him,” he said.
Kimberley Bird (Ashburton) was over the moon with her third-place finish aboard Cera Cassina who has been out with injury since her December World Cup win.
Thirty combinations will start in Sunday’s 1.5m final which has a $35,000 cheque for the winner.
Bernard Denton (Feilding) and Horsesports Sequell took out the second Silver Tour Qualifier, coming home with a brilliant clear to win by 1.77 seconds ahead of Rachel Malcolm (Cambridge) aboard Monte Carlo MVNZ.
“The mare jumped really well last weekend and we can be very quick,” said Bernard. “The course suits her and the ground is just perfect.”
The horse is not long back from an 18-month rehab. “She wasn’t supposed to come back so we are very fussy about the ground. She really hasn’t done much to be in this league.”
But she was the star today in the 18-strong field. “Today my priority was for us to qualify. Everyone was galloping and trying to go fast while mine was to turn. The mare doesn’t have a huge stride so I have to make the most of what turning ability I had. I knew I had to be clear and quick.”
Takapoto rider Jaime Tiller (Cambridge) and Lanice van de Heffinck won the second Bronze Tour with a super slick effort in the 63-strong field. Jaime credits the mare with completely changing the way she rides. “My previous horses have been heavy and slow and with not a lot of blood,” she says. “She covers the ground fast so I had to adapt. She has so changed my riding for the better. Without her I wouldn’t be riding the (other) horses as well.”
Second in the Bronze today was Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) and Frangipanne de Toxandria who were just a snip behind Jaime’s 65.85 second effort, crossing the flags at 65.94, with Ally Carson (Putaruru) aboard Whiorau Ritchie who were also clear, coming home in 66.42 seconds.
The Copper Tour Qualifier belonged to Karis Spurway (New Plymouth) aboard her former racehorse Kapattack. Seventy-four started the class with 27 coming back for the jump-off. It was there that 17-year-old Karis and Kapattack, owned by Tash Brooks, staked their claim, flying home in 27.51 seconds. The top 14 were all double clear. Right behind Karis was Olivia Dalton (Karaka) aboard Cheyenne who crossed the 28.13 seconds with Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) and Fiber Fresh Casallita third in 28.93 seconds.
Karis has had the thoroughbred since September. Her plan today was just to qualify and she was surprised to win. “I was stoked with the jump-off,” she said. “I didn’t think I went that fast but I did a few good turns so that put me ahead.”
 
Results – 
 
Gold Tour Qualifier (second): Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) Henton Faberge 1, Paul Brent (Australia) Fontaine Blue VDL 2, Kimberley Bird (Ashburton) Cera Cassina 3, Amanda Madigan (Australia) Diamond B Vivienne 4, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 5, Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) LT Holst Andrea 6, Annabel Francis (Taupo) La Quinara 7, Sarah West (Matamata) Oaks Centurian 8.
 
Siler Tour Qualifier (second): Bernard Denton (Feilding) Horsesports Sequell 1, Rachel Malcolm (Cambridge) Monte Carlo MVNZ 2, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Henton Excalibur 3, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Delphine NZPH 4, Alexa Randall (Auckland) Cirrius GNZ 5, Sally Steiner (Tauranga) Cartoon NZPH 6, William Willis (Karaka) Cassera MS 7, Phillip Steiner (Tauranga) Kiwi Sunup 8.
 
Bronze Tour Qualifier (second): Jaime Tiller (Cambridge) Lanice van de Heffinck 1, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Frangipanne de Toxandria 2, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Whiorau Ritchie 3, Amelia Douglass (Australia) Sirius du Granit 4, Rylee Sheehan (Te Aroha) Bandito NZPH 5, Elmo Jackson (Auckland) Centino 6, Laura Hilhorst (Cambridge) LC Underburg 7, Pieta Milne (Nelson) Global PH Mylorde 8.
 
Copper Tour Qualifier (first): Karis Spurway (New Plymouth) Kapattack 1, Olivia Dalton (Karaka) Cheyenne 2, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Casallita 3, Tara Gower (Ohura) Double J Image 4, Isabella Du Plessis (Karaka) Cera Carlina 5, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 6.
 

For full results, head to www.equestrianentries.co.nz.

Winner of the Gold Tour Qualifier at Takapoto Estate Show Jumping this afternoon was Emelia Forsyth and Henton Faberge. Photo by Ana Rattray/Cheleken Photography

WHAT: Takapoto Estate Show Jumping
WHEN: Week 2 – February 25 (training day)-March 1, 2020
WHERE: Takapoto Estate, 90 Finlay Road, Maungatautari, Waikato 3494
MORE INFO: www.takapotoestateshowjumping.co.nz
FULL RESULTS: www.equestrianentries.co.nz.

Takapoto Estate Media Liaison
Diana Dobson