Trevor Breen lands the feature two-star Grand Prix at Wellington Riding International with Gonzalo
Tuesday 23 May 2023
Trevor Breen fired a fair warning shot across the bows with a 1.40m victory on Saturday with Gonzalo and, 24 hours later, the pair landed the top-billed world ranking Grand Prix at Wellington Riding.
A total of 57 competitors tackled course-designers Raf Suarez and Ben Townley’s 13-fence 1.45m track and 10 returned immaculate clear rounds to access the jump-off.
“There were great courses all week, lovely, flowing tracks I like. The Grand Prix looked big enough when I walked it but there were a few early clears. I think the course-builders thought they’d been too soft, but it evened out to the right number for a fast, exciting jump-off,” said Trevor.
Scott Brash set an early target with Lady Pauline Kirkham’s Hello Vittoria but Trevor eased ahead with the Viceroy T x Londontimes 12-year-old to win by 0.54 seconds.
“I got to watch the first few and Scott jumped a good round on a naturally fast mare so I went as tight as possible to beat him. Gonzalo’s in great form and finished fourth in a 5* 1.50m class at Royal Windsor the week before; he’s on a crest of a wave and it makes life easy,” added Trevor, who now aims for the sun at the Longines Global Champions Tour in St Tropez and Cannes.
Trevor and Gonzalo had edged ahead of James Smith aboard Cottee by only 0.03 seconds in a hotly-contended 64-strong 2* 1.40m two-phase the day before, ensuring they were in top form for the Grand Prix.
James enjoyed a bumper pay packet with five wins to his credit as British-bred horses featured strongly in day two’s 2* 1.40m speed. John and Laura Renwick’s home-bred Cottee topped the class for James, the Asterix E Z x Couleur Rubin 9-year-old beating 88 rivals by 0.24 seconds. British-based Irishman Anthony Condon guided the Hales Family’s home-bred SFS Mirage into second place.
James also commandeered the initial 50-entry 2* 1.40m two-phase as the nine-year-old Juno Rose 23 (Erdento x Nissan Caretano Z) answered every call to win with 0.79 seconds to spare.
The Renwick’s home-bred NFS Corluga (Cornet Obolensky x Heartbreaker) doubled up on wins in the 6-year-old classes, James guiding the gelding into a 0.43 seconds victory in day one’s 27-strong 1.20m two-phase and easing ahead in the speed class 24 hours later by 0.36 seconds.
James claimed the top two places in a 7-year-old 1.30m two-phase with two more of the Renwicks’ horses, winning on NFS Angelina (Arko III x Couleur Rubin) and guiding Labatt (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Orlando and full brother to Laura’s former team horse, Bintang II) into second, 0.67 sec separating the two.
Josie Symons secured victory in the 2* Silver Tour Final with Petitfours VD Wareslage. Five initial clears were joined by one on two time faults and six four-faulters to go forward to the jump-off in this two-round class with the two double clears striding out to win. Josie and the Corydon Van T&L x Feinschnitt 8-year-old beating Trevor Breen’s Kannendro by a handsome 3.76 seconds.
Chris Burton headed day two’s 31-strong 7-year-old 1.30m speed on Qatar B by 1.59 seconds and the pair went on to take the 7-year-old Final. The 1.35m track reduced the 30 contenders to 13 for the jump-off, British-based Australian Chris and the Quiran x Connor gelding jumping ahead by 0.57 seconds.
Georgia Wells lifted the 6-year-old Final with her home-bred Heart of Cicero. Six of the original 24 starters returned for the jump-off with Georgia and the Cicero Z Van Paemel x Heartbreaker mare claiming a 0.42 second win.
After taking the initial 46-horse 1* 1.20m two-phase on the Asca Z 12-year-old Ascon Z with 0.89 seconds to spare over Kayleigh Watts’ 8-year-old Whisper of Joy, winner of day two’s 1.20m, James Emblen left it until the final day for his second victory. Forty-three competitors contended the 1* 1.25m Final with 16 battling it out in the jump-off, James and the 11-year-old Highlight DN striding ahead to win by 1.35 seconds.
Image Credit: Lottie Elizabeth Photography
1svujitxhxur8.jpg "Great Britain command victory in the Pony Nations Cup of Compiegne")
.jpg "Thrilling Weekend Kickstarts the STX-UK Pony British Novice Championship Second Round")
