Back to News Showjumping report January 17, 2010 by Jenny Beker With the current season now well advanced, it is timely to look at how the warmblood horses are faring in the various series classes to date. The age group classes have again been very well attended at all the major shows. As has been the pattern in previous years, the numbers do start to decrease in the 7 year old classes. This is to be expected as the horses that are successful in the 7 year classes will potentially be the stars of the future – and while not all can be stars, many will find a place giving pleasure to a great number of amateur riders. With the information to hand at this time, the situation is as follows: 7 Year Olds The current leader is the Voltaire II/Mia mare, Lilly Vuitton ridden by John Cottle, who has notched up a number of wins in these classes. Also in the top points group are Whittaker MVNZ (Marlon/mare by Indoctro), owned by Mount View Sport Horses and ridden by Ike Unsworth; Abenake Chief (Anamour/Chinook) owned and ridden by Daniel Webb; Kahurangi Valenza (Valiant/Lily) ridden by Kirstin McLeod; Campione GNZ (Corlando/JK Mazuran) ridden by Catherine Cameron. Others that have earned points are: Wimbledon MVNZ (Indoctro/mare by Emillion)- Ike Unsworth; Henton Exclusive (Escudo / Delphi) – Rachel McGregor; Cross Your Heart (Corlando II/Jate Miharo) – Vicki Wilson; Vortiel (Voltaire II), Mr Marmite (Salute the Stars/Loewen Rose) – Nicholas Baddeley; Kiwi Legacy (Cabdulla Du Tillard/Anne Demming) – Ashley Hart. There are currently 27 horses on the leader board with points. 6 Year Olds The top four places are currently held by warmbloods. Cortaflex Quickstep (Rox de la Touche/Majestuese Du Lys), bred by NZPH and ridden by Bridget Hansen has a substantial lead, followed by Dunstan Zasjany (Corland/Tysjany D) ridden by Katie McVean, Solano (Senator VDL/Sanderston) ridden by Vicki Prendergast, and Dunstan Zenzil HBC (Cantos /Tomelia H) ridden by Katie McVean. Others in the top 15 are Annandale Shalimah Distillation (Distelfink / Ballymalloe) – Sally Steiner, IQ (BT / Wilma) – Kim Best, Bates Amaretto MVNZ (Pico Bello/Vivacious) – Lisa Coupe, Shimmel Warrior (Wishing Well / Distance) – Maurice Beatson. There are currently 46 horses on the leader board with the following sires represented: Voltaire II, Littorio, Frisbee Kerellec, Pico Bello, Emillion, Escudo 1, and Funny Star. The dam's role is not underestimated but they are perhaps not as well known and therefore not mentioned. However, as time passes, and a history of warmblood breeding is established, this will undoubtedly change. 5 Year Olds In this group there are currently 68 horses on the leader board with points. This bodes well for the future – whether it be for top sport or the amateur ranks. Again the top 4 places are held by horses of warmblood extraction. The leader is R Mister Berg LC (Lindberg des Hayettes/Miss Brunei) ridden by Canadian Kyle Timm for LC Horse Farm. He is followed by Giggles (BT/Gabrielle) ridden by Kim Best, Burttorio (Littorio/Insatiable) ridden by Melanie Purcell and Dunstan Springfield (Indoctro/Diversity) ridden by Katie McVean. Many of the sire names mentioned above are again evident in the remainder of the field. Roughly 47% of the total of 68 horses are warmbloods. Updated results are not yet available for the Grand Prix Series. However, in the Super League series, warmblood horses are placed as follows: 1 Dunstan Delphi Katie McVean Leo Caylon/Flower Power /Brilliant Invader 2 Cortaflex Nicalette NZPH Anna Trent Cabdulla Du Tillard/Times Arrow/Tempio 3 Cortaflex Levitation NZPH Anna Trent Cacao Courcelle/Syn Mellay/San Mellay 5 Seremonie VDL Ike Unsworth Cento/Kimberly VIII/Rebel Z 7 Kahurangi Valentino Catherine Cameron Valiant/Abby/Aberlou 8 Corofino II Katie McVean Corrado 1/Valeska /Fernando 9 Dunstan Daffodil Katie McVean Salute the Stars/Flower Power/Brilliant Invader 13 Dunstan Forest II Katie McVean Forever/Illona/Lys De Darmen 14 Wurlitzer Vicki Wilson Grand Kavalier / In Fashion/Crossman 15 Gospel Robert Steele Jaguar/Spot On/Alba The penultimate round of the World Cup series is being held today at Woodhill Sands, with the final in Gisborne at the end of this month. This is a rider series but the horses that have been out earning points for their riders are those from the McVean stables, the NZPH horses ridden by Anna Trent, Seremonie VDL for Ike Unsworth, the Kahurangi duo for Catherine Cameron, Wurlitzer for Vicki Wilson, Gospel for Robert Steel, and Online NZPH (Fetiche Du Pas / Ally) for Phillip Steiner. Katie McVean has an impressive stable full of lovely warmbloods, both home bred and imported. The mare Dunstan Delphi impressed as a youngster and is certainly fulfilling her promise. The latest addition to the team, the stunning and very scopey imported stallion Corofino II, is a joy to behold in action. Unfortunately, he has displayed a strong aversion to jumping water and this has precluded his entry in some classes. This inexplicable and challenging question of why some horses will jump everything in the ring but don't like water is a frustration close to home as well! In conclusion, it has been a delight to see the happy, smiling face of our very own dressage star at a couple of show jumping events this season. I understand there have been some double clear rounds as well! Look forward to seeing one of these in the future.