Carnival celebrates retired racehorses competing across three disciplines
- Fran Cleland
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
THE inaugural Off-The-Track Carnival at Boneo Park, Victoria, showcased retired Thoroughbred racehorses in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd over two days.
The 387 horses displayed their versatility, competing on the flat and jumping across dressage, showing, showjumping and combined training disciplines.
The event saw the 2020 Melbourne Cup Winner Twilight Payment – winner of more than winner of $5.5 million in prizemoney – competing a level playing field alongside horses that were finding their new careers much more satisfying than coming last in a bush maiden plate.
The Thoroughbred has always been king in the show arena and the winner in the off-the-track ridden show hack class, Grace Pihan’s Parklane (Vital Verse) has had a busy couple of weeks, also competing at Adelaide Royal where he took the champion novice hack sash.
The show hunter hack winner and ridden show horse supreme champion was Sabrina Gilmour’s Espresso, a British-bred gelding who raced as Jack Regan.
Josh Clarke had a successful day in the open led class with his nominations of SLM Enough Said (Flame of Venice) winning the class and SLM Huster (Areyoulistening) the Rising Star Award.
The led show hunter and Rising Star Award winner in that section was Dale Plumb’s Helmiton.
Thoroughbreds have been the mount of choice for our Olympic riders in eventing, with almost all of our famous gold medals scored by them.
Their talent in jumping was shown off over rails at Boneo.
Jennifer Duffy and Notre Amour, who raced as Proletariat, won the 110cm championship and the Jumping Grand Champion Award.
Philip Stephens rode Bequest, AKA Chipper, to win the 100cm championship.
Grace Chantler won the 90cm championship aboard Quiet Ale and made it a successful event with another win in the 60cm on Quencher.
In the 80cm championship Georgia Matthews rode Luckbea Lady for the win and Robyn Brown and As Good As won the 70cm championship.
The most popular event on the program was the team showjumping showdown where nine celebrities on three teams had the big crowd cheering.
Olympians Amanda Ross and Jamie Coman and young eventing champion Sam Jeffree joined forces as the “Elite Equestrian” team to win the event.
In second place was the “Jockey” team made up of jockeys who double as showjumpers – Celine Gaudrey, Daniel Stackhouse and Jamie Melham.
The “Trainers” – Matt Laurie, Jason Warren and Matthew Williams – weren’t disgraced in third place.
In the combined training section, Sophie Mueller and Baritone won the 60cm championship, Robyn Brown and As Good As the 80cm, Amanda Ross and Valkyon the 95cm and Imogen Bergin and Prince Alfred the 105cm.
Dressage classes were run up to Elementary level, with large numbers competing at all levels.
The Elementary championship was won by Mariah Kaminski riding Linton Street followed by Tara Lawrey and Simmering in second place, Georgia Spangaro and Lord Wimborne third, Sienna Wright and St Andrews fourth, Haley Smith and Flutoni fifth and Jessica Morrison and Afterlife sixth.
The Novice champion was Kylah Brewer aboard Princess Keikilani, with Lauren Dafonte and Yenhaab second, Kelly Mcgregor and Leica Mae third, Emily Aitkenhead and Golden Chai fourth, Stephanie Rowe and Palatial Rock fifth and Daizi Plumb and Chorus sixth.
Delwyn Ogilvy and Wairua (AKA Warren and Bonny Ezra) took out the Preliminary championship followed by Keyarra-lee Smith and Yoicks Eleanor second, Grace Imrie and Lady Fiorente third, Regina Knobel and Hillview Park Standing Ovation fourth, Jessica Gregory and Kentucky Lemonade fifth and Ashley Hunt and Lofty Star sixth.
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