Yazmin Davis scores a handsome double victory with Zanbowa Z at Arena UK’s Winter Classic
Tuesday 21 November 2023
.JPG "Yazmin Davis scores a handsome double victory with Zanbowa Z at Arena UK’s Winter Classic")
Yazmin Davis hit sizzling form with Zanbowa Z to take the feature Grand Prix and Winter 1.35m at Arena UK’s Winter Classic in Grantham, Lincolnshire.
“He’s been in great form and finished second in the Chepstow world ranking class and fourth in the world ranking class at Bolesworth,” said Yazmin.
Six competitors answered every question around the Winter Grand Prix track to go forward into the jump-off.
“I was fifth to go and the first four went clear! But later riders met difficulties, the track was quite technical and the fences came really fast, if you made one mistake it led to another,” said Yazmin.
In the jump-off, Yazmin was quick off the mark on the Zandor Z x Calvaro Z 14-year-old to secure victory by 0.32 seconds. Ronnie Jones produced the only other double clear on Kaleche to take second place. Jessica Hewitt on Arbitrage and Michael Whitaker aboard Karamel Du Mauretus Z both returned four faults for third and fourth respectively.
“I went inside to the double and Ronnie went round,” said Yazmin, who has ambitions for 2024 – “We’ll aim for International shows and world ranking classes again and I’d love to get on a team with him.”
Earlier in the week, Yazmin and the consistent gelding topped the Winter 1.35m. Thirty-three competitors initially came forward in this class with 17 supplying first round clears to qualify for the jump-off. Five posted double clears, Yazmin relying on the speedy, fleet-footed 14-year-old to gallop through the finish with 0.37 seconds in hand. Sandy McLean on Eagele Z had to settle for second and Kerry Harris slotted the evergreen but ever-eager 20-year-old Wellington M into third.
“I won it with the turn to the last, I almost went too tight but he took it on,” added Yazmin, who will return to Arena UK for their second Winter Classic of the calendar. “Then he’ll have a short break and will start again in January.”
Fraser Reed proved the best in the Under 25 British Championship qualifier to take the top qualifying spot for the London International Horse Show at the ExCeL arena with Westbank Rio.
Thirteen of the 32 starters contended the jump-off but the clock proved too much of a lure and only two double clears were realised, Fraser and the Irish-bred 10-year-old gelding winning with 1.13 seconds in hand. Madison Heath claimed second on the 10-year-old Don VHP Z daughter Ivory and Amy Morris posted the fastest time of the class, but four faults dropped Up To Date Show Girl into third.
Keith Shore landed a double victory with the French-bred Fabuleux De Riverland, scoring in both Winter Grade C and Blue Chip Dynamic B and C qualifiers. Keith headed the 11-horse decider of the Winter Grade C qualifier, the Qlassic Bois Margot x Quatro De Riverland 8-year-old winning by 0.45 seconds. Josh Hutchins slipped Peace DK Z into second and Michaela Scott’s Eddie G Z filled third spot.
Keith and the consistent Fabuleux went on to take the concluding Blue Chip Dynamic B and C qualifier, edging ahead of Jessica Quine’s Lalu Tw by only 0.08 seconds. Derek McCoppin supplied the only other double clear for third aboard Permission To Land II.
Tom Harrison outpaced his 17 jump-off rivals to take the 1.25m Winter Championship qualifier with Glenard Askalot. Tom and the Askari x Cashandcarry 7-year-old flew into the top spot by 1.10 seconds at only their third show together. Ava Vernon slipped Volnay De Choc Z into second with Madison Heath filling third spot on Ivory.
Sandy McLean captured the win in the Blue Chip Karma Performance at his favourite show with SES Jumeirah. Only five of the original 44 competitors returned for the jump-off, Sandy proving the fastest of the four double clears to take the win by 3.15 seconds on the Diamant De Semilly x Ard VDL Douglas 6-year-old. Daniella Johnstone slipped Action Annie into second ahead of Holly Smith in third on Premier Balou Boy.
.jpg "Joe Trunkfield lands the first Winter Grand Prix of the season at the AW Jenkinson Winter Classic at Aintree International Equestrian Centre")
