Max Routledge takes a step up the ladder to stardom with Ascadina PP Z
Sunday 06 August 2023
tifwgbe1zkkx.jpg "Max Routledge takes a step up the ladder to stardom with Ascadina PP Z")
Max Routledge returned victorious in the Foxhunter Masters with Sue and Tim Evans’ talented 7-year-old Ascadina PP Z.
Quality was abound as 17 of the original start list reached the jump-off over course-designer Jason Abbs' track starting at 1.30m with several focused on the four HOYS qualifying passes on offer. The pressure was off Max as this Asca Z x Ginus mare had already achieved qualification and he posted a smooth, deceptively quick round to take the win by 0.47 seconds.
Max bought this scopey, careful mare as a 3-year-old four years ago.
“As a 5-year-old, she started competing at a few shows and I could see she was very special. I was already riding a horse [Janeiro] for Sue and Tim and approached them about buying her to secure her future. They stepped in without even seeing her, trusting my judgement,” said Max.
“This is the first year she’s been competitive and she’s stepped into her own. She’s very sweet but spooky, more at things around the outside of the ring than the fences, but she’s started to settle, it’s just taken time to get her confidence. Sue and Tim are more competitive than me – I want to win but a grand prix, not age or novice classes – and they have been so patient and trusted me to produce the horses my way. They have been so supportive, if they hadn’t have stepped up, she’d have been sold, for sure,” added Max.
As Sue’s other horse Janeiro is a handsome stallion already jumping 3* grand prix, there is already a yearling colt via embryo transfer from Ascadina – “It’s a lovely present for Sue,” said Max.
Mark Bunting claimed second on Kiaminka with Liz Forrester slotting Kensington into third, James Wilson jumped Vuitton of Picobello Z into fourth and Hollie Pearce claimed the final HOYS qualifying ticket with James O Hara H.
Phoebe Farman thought she faced an uphill task in the National 1.30m Championship against several speedy rivals in the jump-off but she pulled it out of the bag on Asena.
“There were lots of clears and good riders in the jump-off and they were taking out strides everywhere, I thought it was impossible to win but went in there determined to go as fast as I could,” said Surrey-based Phoebe, 17, “She has such a big stride it was easy to go less down every distance – she was on it!”
Sixty-five competitors came forward in this class and with 27 in the jump-off, winning was not going to be a fluke. The lead changed several times before Phoebe entered the ring and she was determined from the off, cruising ahead to edge out in front by 0.15 seconds.
The 8-year-old Corland daughter – who is out of Gypsy De Bacon, a former international ride of Robbie Power and Cameron Hanley, joined Phoebe a year ago.
“I haven’t done much with her as I’ve been concentrating on my older horses, she’s been on the backburner but she jumped her first 1.45m this week in the Young Riders. I know she has a lot of talent and aim to get in a few world ranking classes,” said Phoebe.
Asena is somewhat of a character.
“She’s really cheeky and the naughtiest horse I’ve ever met, she keeps us on our toes but she’s absolutely gorgeous to ride, tries her heart out and is the Queen of the yard,” added Phoebe.
The Leicestershire team outpaced their rivals in the National Team Jumping to take the top spot on the podium. Ten teams battled for supremacy with Leicestershire standing at the top of the leaderboard with Somerset on eight faults at the end of the two-round competition, forcing a jump-off.
Steve Garrod on his BHF Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C and Events Through A Lens Talentseekers finalist Ufonzo and Isadora Wadd with Tullibards Watson posted double clears to put them well in contention and were joined by Hayley Stevens riding Minea Fields and Jessica Chadwick Thomas aboard Ballyheerin BH with a total of eight faults after the two rounds.
One nominated rider was selected to represent their team, Steve and ‘Mr Consistent’ Ufonzo posting another clear to take the win.
Image: Max Routledge & Ascadina PP Z Credit 1st Class Images
