Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse classes

Four Year Olds

Ginny Turnbull produced both first and second placed four-year-olds. Special K won by six points, ahead of stablemate Jesmond Renard. However, with Special K already qualified for the Championship at Burghley in September, Jesmond Renard was awarded the qualifying ticket.

Special K, by Up to Date, scored most highly in both the dressage and jumping phases, and equal highest for conformation, so headed in to the final ‘suitability and wow factor’ phase, judged by David Merrett, with 85 points. This was enough of a lead to secure victory despite being awarded on three points by David.

Jesmond Renard, by Royaldik, had 73 points before the final phase, but picked up an additional nine to claim his qualifying ticket. “He had three lovely paces, if a little understated,” said David.

In third place was David Merrett’s favourite; he awarded Kelly Aldous’ stallion Kansas, by Quasimodo Ven De Monendreet, the top mark of 10, saying: “He was really eyecatching, and moved beautifully.”

Five Year Olds

Just as with the four-year-old class, it was two horses produced by the same rider which took the 1-2 in the five-year-old class. JP Sheffield’s Julia, owned by Jane Heerbeck, took the spoils on the same score (83) as runner up Serengeti, by Supertramp and owned by Alison Walton.

Julia, by Biscavo, had scored more highly in the jumping phase, claiming the advantage despite David Merrett favouring Serengeti with the maximum 10 points for ‘wow’ factor.

Making it a clean sweep of podium places for mares was Jalifia, by Apachie and ridden by Will Furlong. It was Jalifia who David pulled in second in the final phase and, with Serengeti already qualified for the Championships, Jalifia also earnt her ticket to Burghley.