Sandy McLean proves unbeatable in the feature Voltaire Grand Prix at Northcote Stud’s Winter Classic
Tuesday 07 November 2023
.jpeg "Sandy McLean proves unbeatable in the feature Voltaire Grand Prix at Northcote Stud’s Winter Classic")
Sandy McLean raised the bar high at Northcote Stud’s Winter Classic to land the top two places in the feature Grand Prix, winning with the super-speedy Gino F.
The pair were a force to be reckoned with in the 2022/23 Winter Classic Grand Prix season with two wins and a second place to their name. Their form looks to continue as Sandy set a sizzling opening standard which no-one else could come near, let alone match.
“I was first to go and I had to get kicking! Gino comes out and does his thing, he’s so reliable, but I had to wait to see if I’d done enough,” said Sandy, who had made the eight-hour journey from Edinburgh as a day trip – “I’ve been too busy for the whole week, which is a shame as I love Northcote but I just couldn’t get away, so I went for just one class and it worked out well.”
Eight of the 21 starters bested course-designer Nigel Jess’ 1.40m track to qualify for the jump-off, Sandy already showing his form by claiming two of the rides. Determination poured from every pore and the Ultimo II x Grannus 12-year-old Gino matched Sandy’s fervour as they cut corners to the quick. The crucial inside turn to the vertical at fence three was expertly negotiated, Sandy trusting the careful Gino to jump from barely a stride off the fence.
“Gino won the Arena UK Grand Prix at the end of September but my horses have had a quiet time since as my time was committed elsewhere. They have come back fresh and ready and Gino was flying,” said Sandy.
Riders chased hard but fences fell in consequence, and the closest rival proved to be Sandy himself on second ride Zoey 12, the Quality 9 x Concetto 12-year-old slotting into the runner-up spot 1.49 seconds in arrears.
“I’ve only ridden Zoey for a few months and it was her first Winter Grand Prix with me; she jumped very well and I was pleased for her owners,” said Sandy, who is splitting his time between Edinburgh and Sussex.
“I was asked to ride a few horses for Matthew Pike at Arena UK when Nicole Pavitt broke her collar bone in a fall. Nicole was obviously off recovering but there are so many horses, Matthew needs another rider – it was all by chance. The logistics aren’t great as we live at opposite ends of the country, but we’re making it work,” said Sandy.
Jessica Hewitt jumped into third place on Kann Be Lucky and Jordan Thompson supplied the only other double clear for fourth aboard Imperium RJ.
Jordan and Imperium claimed victory in the Winter 1.35m. Thirty-two competitors came forward in this qualifier for the British Showjumping Spring Championships but the testing track reduced the numbers to four for the jump-off. Three double clears were evident, Jordan supplying the quickest round on the Dakar VDL x Quick Star 10-year-old to edge ahead by only 0.12 seconds. Zoe Smith slipped Avanna into second with Lara Whiteway in third aboard Tullabeg Flynn.
An on-form Sophie Evans claimed two of the three qualifying places on offer in the Under 25 London Excel competition. Thirty-four competitors bid for the coveted qualifying tickets and, after several hard-luck stories, only three posted the required clear rounds over the track at a starting height of 1.40m – Sophie claiming two of them.
After making one mistake on first ride Caprice D’Elle, a handsome 11-year-old Arko x Papillon Rouge stallion and new ride of only three weeks, Sophie returned in the final draw with the 13-year-old mare Florida Van Maarle (Diarado x Kashmir Van Schuttershof), an established partner of almost three years. She saved the best until last to provide the only double clear to win the class. Fergal Holohan slipped Kan Annie into second place, also on four faults but slightly quicker than Caprice D’Elle.
Glain Watkin Jones scored a victory double in the Winter Grade C and Blue Chip Karma Performance qualifiers. La Vie Est D’Or stepped up to win the Winter Grade C for Glain. Eleven of the 26 starters posted clears over the 12-fence 1.30m track and made their way into the jump-off. Glain and the Dakar VDL x Kreator 7-year-old mare claimed a 1.02 second win over her brother Dafydd, in second on SHW Candies C.
Glain also headed the Blue Chip Karma Performance with Calimera I, the 8-year-old easing ahead by 0.86 seconds in the eight-strong decider. Jessica Quine and Lalu TW gave an inkling to their form with second; later taking second in the Unibed High Performance Equine Bedding WinterGrades B and C qaulifier to secure their place in the Hickstead Final.
Emily Ward emerged triumphant in a strong 16-horse decider to take the Winter 1.25m Championship Qualifier on Millfield Lottery, the Plot Blue x Quinar 6-year-old mare winning by 0.83 seconds. Simon Buckley clinched second and fourth on Calixte Heartbreaker Z and Millfield Hickison, sandwiching Madison Heath’s Ivory into third.
Keith Shore topped the 1.40m with the 12-year-old Leila Van Het Lindehof (Heartbeat VD Bisschop x Bon Ami) with only 0.30 seconds in hand over Rebecca Marsh’s Stevie G in a six-horse decider.
Ben Raistrick, who is based at Northcote Stud, supplied the only clear rounds in the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C and opted to withdraw from the jump-off and share the win on his three rides – La Passe B, Kremonini S and Kappuccino TN, all from the Grade C section.
Image: Sandy McLean and Gino F. Credit - Majestic Photography
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