Sam Hutton jumps to victory in New York with a new ride
Monday 18 May 2026
Sam Hutton has quickly established a rapport with new ride WKD Toronto to record their first win at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show in Westchester, New York.
The pair had contended the initial 47-strong $32,000 4* 1.45m two-phase to take fourth, but they were quicker again in the Fidelity Investments $32,000 4* 1.45m Time First Round. Twenty-three riders came forward over course-designer Alan Wade’s 15-effort 1.45m track, Sam hitting top speed to clinch the win by 1.27 seconds at their second show together and beating two fast USA riders.
Bred by Joe Sloan and Joanne Sloan Allen at their Sycamore Stables, Northern Ireland base, the Tornesch x Carnaval Drum 13-year-old recently came under the ownership of AS Farms USA Inc with Sam in the saddle.
“I watched Brianne [Goutal-Marteau] and she did one less stride than me down a line on her big-striding horse [S&L Marlon Van De Heffinck]. I don’t know my horse at all well yet as it’s only our second show, but he was good and quick away from the fence,” said Sam, who faced a nail-biting wait. “I knew there were still some fast ones behind me and I heard Mary Rose [Canterbury] on Zuperman MT was fast.”
Luckily for Sam, not quite fast enough and Mary Rose had to settle for second place.
Joe Fernyhough lands the Balmoral Grand Prix with Calcourt Countdown
Joe Fernyhough scored victory in the feature CAB Group & Dunlop Homes 2* International Grand Prix with Calcourt Countdown to round off Balmoral Horse Show on a high.
“It was fast but it was easy for her, she’s naturally quick and with speed and balance, she held it together,” said Joe, who praised the show – “It’s a very, very well run show with a lovely atmosphere and the only county show I know that puts on a proper international schedule; I hope it continues for many years to come.”
Thirty-eight riders set off around course-designer Colm Quinn’s 1.45m course but only six mastered all the fences to return for the jump-off.
I’ve been coming here for the last three years and placed fourth in the Grand Prix the last two, and this was the most technical course I’ve seen. Colm built a good track; it wasn’t big but full up 1.45m but he used the gradient of the ground to his advantage and added a tight time allowed – a lot of the first riders had time faults,” said Joe, who found he benefitted from his late draw. “My mare is sharp and naturally quick, so it wasn’t a big issue for me.”
Joe used his penultimate draw to maximum effect, steering his father Rowland’s home-bred Westpoint Quickfire x Landjunge 10-year-old mare into an unbeatable with 0.17 seconds in hand.
“The riders had their foot flat to the boards and I thought, I might make third place, but Richard Davenport told me what I needed to do,” added Joe. “My mare won the speed here two years ago but at the end of last year, I didn’t quite have her where I wanted her, but the last few weeks I’ve been on top of it; and I had a bit of luck on the day.”
James Smith jumped to the top in the 2* CRL International Speed Challenge over a 1.40m track with Juno Rose 23, the Erdento x Nissan Caretano Z 12-year-old mare flying to victory to beat their 30 rivals with 0.57 seconds to spare.
James also picked up second in the 2* RUAS 1.45m Winning Round with Tayvale Hunky Dory. Ten of the original 33 starters returned for the jump-off, James guiding the Balou Du Rouet x Master Imp 14-year-old into the runner-up position 0.69 seconds behind the pace.
Guy Williams is on the podium on the Hamburg Al Shira’aa Derby Tour
Guy Williams claimed podium places on the Al Shira’aa Derby Tour in Hamburg, Germany.
In the early 4* 1.45m speed, Guy slotted the 11-year-old mare BH Gringos Legacy into third as 52 riders raced around 1.45m track for the first of the German Jumping Derby qualifiers to finish 2.34 seconds off the pace.
Two days later, Guy moved up one place for second in the second of the Derby qualifiers. On this occasion, 47 competitors jumped over a 1.50m speed course with the 11-year-old Crumbgraft (LB Crumble x Landgraf I) 2.39 seconds behind the winner, British-based Irishman David Simpson on Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve and only 0.01 seconds ahead of third-placed Charles Hubert Chiche (LUX) on Andain Du Thalie.
Guy’s luck ran out in the actual Al Shira’aa 95 German Jumping Derby itself, where only two clears were realised, Guy and BH Gringos Legacy coming home on four faults in the first round to take fifth place. William Whitaker also finished on four faults for sixth with Flamboyant III.
Chad Fellows picks up money in Italy
Chad Fellows was in the money in Bedizzole, Italy, with the consistent Creevyquinn Pearl.
Placed second in an early 57-strong 2* 1.40m two-phase Grand Prix qualifier 0.45 seconds off the pace with the 12-year-old Cardento daughter, Chad went on to feature in the 2* Grand Prix.
Seventy-nine competitors faced the 13-fence, 16-effort 1.45m track but only nine conquered the first round to access the jump-off. The clock played a major part as five of them left every fence intact. Chad again was unable to beat his nemesis from the first class as Ireland’s Naill Talbot galloped ahead to take victory by 1.77 seconds on FTS Elliot, leaving Chad in second spot.
Image: Sam Hutton Instagram
