Peter Moloney captures the top-billed 2* Grand Prix at Wellington Riding with Nielson
Tuesday 27 May 2025
Peter Moloney outpaced his rivals to land the feature 2* Grand Prix at Wellington Riding in Heckfield, Hampshire, with Nielson as British-based Irishman lifted the top two places.
“He ended up quick enough, we were very fast to the double even though some [competitors] took a stride less, but he is naturally fast,” said Peter.
Course-designer Jason Abbs set a 23-fence 1.45m track for the 43 riders forward in the World Ranking Gold Tour Grand Prix with 11 mastering the course to access the jump-off – two Irishmen pitted against nine Brits.
“The first round was pretty fair, it hadn’t got a massive feel to it and didn’t have a crazy fast time, and he got the right result,” said Peter.
John Whitaker set an early target with Sharid but the times became progressively faster as riders dared with the lead changing frequently. But Peter Moloney had it sussed from seventh draw, guiding the deceptively quick 12-year-old Nielson (Bentley Van De Kapel x Indecis Des Six Censes) to top the leaderboard. Fellow Irishman Shane Breen immediately challenged on BP Arctic Blue but could only come within 1.04 seconds to slot into second place, leaving best Brit Joe Fernyhough and Calcourt Countdown in third.
“Nielson had an easy run on the first day and was unlucky on Friday not to win the 1.45m, he had the second last down. He’s not jumped since Chard where he had the last fence down in the jump-off – he’s been knocking on the door for a win,” said Peter, who has planned Hickstead and Bolesworth as his next targets in June. “I’ve only jumped him up to two-star level, so we’ll see how it goes, but he has plenty of experience.”
Alex Barr emerged triumphant in the 2* 1.45m speed on Preben Van De Doorknakkers. Fifty-eight competitors started in this Grand Prix qualifier, Alex and the 10-year-old For Pleasure x Nabab De Reve stallion using their mid-draw to record a 1.37 second win. John Whitaker steered Sharid into second with Jessica Hewlett claiming third on Ilmar HBC.
James Wilson headed the first 2* 1.40m with the nine-year-old mare Radjamerci Van De Blasbloemhoeve (Dieu Merci Van T&L x Wandor Van De Mispelaere), tackling this two-phase track with gusto to post an unbeatable time to win by 0.94 seconds. Joe Fernyhough – fresh from his leading rider award at Balmoral – had to settle for second on Calcourt Countdown and Emily Ward eased Millfield Lottery into third.
Robert Whitaker held the top spot in the penultimate day’s 2* 1.40m speed, easing nine-year-old Russel x Granulit mare Forrests Rose Gold into a 0.91 second win. Tony Pearson snapped up second place on Wyoming 19 and Robert’s father John slipped Cornets Olona into third.
Alfie Bradstock outclassed the opposition in the Six-year-old series, heading two of the preliminary classes and scoring victory in the Final with Balou’s Boy Terma G Z. They started off the show with a win in the Six-year-old two-phase with more than three seconds in hand and made an even bigger margin 24 hourse later in the 1.20m speed with almost six seconds to spare.
Five of the original 15 competitors jumped clear over the 1.25m track returned for the Six-year-old Final jump-off, Alfie and the consistent Balou Du Rouet x Guidam gelding edging ahead to win by 0.10 seconds. Emma Stoker settled for second place with the Zambesi TN gelding Ocean.
Emily Ward doubled up in the preliminary Seven-year-old classes with the home-bred mare Wild One HF, heading the initial 1.30m two-phase by 0.29 seconds and the 1.30m speed 24 hours later with 1.01 seconds in hand. Four faults kept them out of the Seven-year-old Final jump-off.
Shane Breen claimed the Seven-year-old 1.35m Final by 1.34 seconds in a five-horse decider on Killard Be Mine (Brantzau x Taloubet Z) with Lauren Edwards in second and third aboard Andrew Doswell’s Decadist and Deputy.
Liz Forrester made Saturday a memorable day with a winning double. The 2* Silver Tour Final fell her way as 40 riders vied for glory over a 1.35m track with 10 making it through to the jump-off. They were no match for Liz on the 10-year-old stallion Kensington (Etoulon VDL x Indoctro) as they swept through the finish line with 1.65 seconds to spare. Jessica Hewlett claimed second on Mossandro Van Perbeemd with third awarded to James Emblen’s Carl 61.
Liz also topped the 1* 1.20m two-phase with 2.62 seconds in hand on the 11-year-old Blackson O’Jack Z (Black Jack x Crown Z).
Joe Fernyhough was a force to be reckoned with in the 2* Silver Tour 1.30m classes with a victory double on Calcourt Supersonic. He beat 52 rivals in day one’s two-phase, the nine-year-old claiming a 0.53 second advantage. They also mastered day two’s 52-strong speed, flying ahead to win by 0.34 seconds.
James Emblen scored a hat-trick of wins with the consistent 10-year-old Casalla, heading day one and two’s 1* 1.20m by two seconds and three seconds respectively, and going on to take the 1* 1.25m Final. Six of the original 23 starters accessed the 1.25m Final jump-off, James and the Casallco x Cornet Obolensky mare maintaining his 100% score by 0.32 seconds with Bryony Crippen in second on Centuro Z.
Flo Norris returned triumphant in the 1* 1.15m Final with Kammerherre Garden Sirius in a seven-strong jump-off, the Stakkato Gold nine-year-old stallion just 0.19 seconds in front to take the win from Kirsten Robins on Nova AEG, the only other double clear.
Image: Charlotte Bury Photography
