It’s A Win for the Czech Republic at Bolesworth International
Thursday 16 June 2016
The Czech Republic had cause to celebrate at this year's Bolesworth CSI **** International when Emma Augier de Moussac took the young horse class on Thursday afternoon.
And De Moussac revealed that her winning ride Brighton Bay had been something of a chance buy when she purchased him at auction.
The competition, for six and seven-year-old horses and sponsored by Dutch Flower Shop, saw her prevail in a two-phase contest from Italy's Lorenzo de Luca with Jenny van het Waterblok and third-placed Sussex rider Nicole Pavitt, on Gemmarco 16.
"I am very pleased with him," De Moussac said. "I have a lot of hopes for the horse.
"I bought him at an auction when I'd had a little to drink, so it was not meant to happen! But last year, he knocked only two poles down, and he has been so consistent again this year, so it was a real lucky shot.
"He is an extremely competitive horse. He has a big canter and he is fast around the turns, so I have big hopes for him. I think he is going to be a grand prix horse, for sure.
"He is so mature in his head, and I never really need to worry about anything."
On a good day at Bolesworth for Irish riders, Elizabeth Power landed the two-star accumulator, sponsored by Conwy Land Rover, on Doonaveeragh One.
Collecting points for each fence jumped, including an extra points joker, Power collected the maximum score of 65, but her time of 48.41 seconds edged out Emma Stoker (Townend Tallulah V), while George Whitaker (Balibu) was third.
And the two-star, two-phase competition, sponsored by Fowler and Gilbert, went to Britain's Taisie De Gruchy, riding Hoodshill First Look, in a time of 23.07 seconds, and was followed home by runner-up Paul Barker (U2 II) and third-placed Michael Pender (Acorad).
.JPG "Jack Whitaker showcases a masterclass win in the Al Shira’aa four-star Grand Prix at Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International")