Great Britain claims the top two places in the feature Grand Prix on the Andalucía Spanish Sunshine Tour.
Monday 13 March 2023
James Smith landed his biggest win in the top-billed 4* Diputación de Cádiz Grand Prix on the Andalucía Spanish Sunshine Tour on Sunday, 12 March, with John and Laura Renwick’s home-bred Arkuga. But it was oh so close as fellow Brit Karl Robins had to settle for second by the tightest of margins.
Fifty riders came forward in this world ranking class – also a qualifier for both this year’s European championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics – and just nine posted initial clears over course-designer Marcus Nunez’s challenging 1.55m track.
The jump-off proved super-competitive, James and the 12-year-old Arkuga – by the Hales family’s famous sire Arko III, an Athens 2004 ride for Nick Skelton, and the first foal from Laura Renwick’s multi-winning speed specialist Beluga II (Heartbreaker/Darnels) – edged ahead by just 0.01 seconds.
James has enjoyed phenomenal success on the recent Atlantic tour in Vilamoura, Portugal, with Arkuga - the on-form pair recorded five world ranking wins on the six-week tour and travelled straight to Spain to continue with their amazing winning run.
“I thought the course was very tough today, it was very testing all the way round. I’m just delighted with Arkuga, he jumped fantastic in the first round and amazing in the jump-off; I’m very grateful to John and Laura for allowing me to have the ride on him, he just gets better and better,” said James, who was on his first visit to the Sunshine tour. “I love it! The rings are amazing, the facilities are great and I definitely plan to be back!”
Karl Robins made it a British top two with second place aboard his own 12-year-old mare Equine America G Camille HBF (VDL Zirocco Blue x San Patrignano Cassini).
It was a great day for British breeding as Chris Smith featured in the 4* Small Grand Prix with James and Nicola Barry's home-bred mare Messarado Blue.
The fifty-nine starters were reduced to fourteen for the jump-off with Chris and the 8-year-old Messenger x Indorado mare jumping into second place 1.47 seconds behind the winner, Germany's Nicola Pohl on Fiona Des Hayettes.
Matthew Sampson was a world ranking 4* winner earlier in the week with his own and Rachael Evison's Ebolensky - winner of the London International Horse Show at the Excel arena back in December and winner of the first grand prix of the 2023 Andalucia Sunshine Tour in February.
Ninety competitors contended Friday's Schelstraete Equine Law Trophy over a 1.50m speed track but they were no match for Matthew as he sliced corners and used the tightest of lines on the 14-year-old Clinton x Heartbreaker mare to win by 0.26 seconds. James also featured, taking fourth place on Nicola Jamison’s 11-year-old Holly 1.66 seconds in arrears.
Andalucía Sunshine Tour Week 5 - Sunday, 12 March 2023
Diputación De Cádiz 4* Grand Prix 1.55m
1st - James Smith (GBR) & Arkuga - 0/0 - 40.33 seconds
2nd - Karl Robins (GBR) & Equine America G Camille HBF - 0/0 - 40.34 seconds
3rd - Manuel Fernandez Saro (ESP) & Acoufina PS - 0/0 - 40.69 seconds
4* Small Grand Prix 1.45m
1st - Nicola Pohl (GER) & Fiona Des Hayettes - 0/0 - 33.93 seconds
2nd - Chris Smith (GBR) & Messarado Blue - 0/0 - 35.40 seconds
3rd - Adam Prudent (USA) & Labalou - 0/0 - 35.78 seconds
Andalucía Sunshine Tour week 5 - Friday, 10 March 2023
Schelstraete Equine Law Trophy 4* 1.50m Speed
1st - Matthew Sampson (GBR) & Ebolensky - 0 - 63.13 seconds
2nd - Frank Schuttert (NED) & Gream - 0 - 63.39 seconds
3rd - Penelope Leprevost (FRA) & Djagger Semilly – 0 - 64.25 seconds
4th - James Smith (GBR) & Holly – 0 - 64.79 seconds
Image: Equus Media
