Photos by Julie Wilson
Sydney Royal, as always, a fabulous show. Yes, it is expensive to do, but the prizemoney is fantastic, the best of any of the Royal shows, and the facilities are world class. The bit of rainy weather that otherwise spoiled the beautiful autumn weather didn’t affect things too much, as there is no mud anywhere! The warm up is indoors, that footing often being an issue, but this year seemed a lot more stable. The footing in the main arena is simply amazing, no matter what the weather or other attractions shove on it, it is fantastic to jump on.
The courses for the last few years have been designed by one of Germany’s best, Werner Deeg, and this has been a hugely popular initiative of the RAS. Having an International Course Designer really gives a show a special feeling, and it’s great to have an outsider come in and test the riders and educate the local Course Designers. However, as in anything, there is always a ‘use by’ date, and maybe Werner has reached that?
Although I shouldn’t complain, as I had a wonderful show with Congo, but I found Werner’s courses this year a tad boring, for example, at no stage was a liverpool used, or any sort of water jump. It’s not like they are not used everywhere else in the world, like they were everywhere in the tracks at the indoor World Cup Final at Gothenburg(!), so why not Sydney Royal? Perhaps it’s time again to use a fresher face, such as up and coming course designers that haven’t done a Royal. Mark Atkins, Gavin Chester and Brad Longhurst spring to mind… one of the best Sydney Royals ever was when the then CEO Andrew Cooper used the then unknown in Australia Leeson Sirrett.
Jon Doney, who was then the main course designer at Hickstead in the UK had been originally invited, and he suggested to Andrew to use Leeson, as Leeson had been Jon’s second in command for years at Hickstead, and he was now living in Australia. Leeson had sent his credentials to the Victorian EA on his arrival, but had heard nothing, so hadn’t course designed for quite a while until Andrew contacted him. The rest is history as Leeson’s tracks were a breath of fresh air, and he subsequently has been one of our foremost CD’s for years since.
The early selection criteria still produces uneven, diverse groups in all sections. Such a shame the Royals can’t be like European shows where riders can apply, through Nominations then later Definite entries, up to 3 horses of their choice to ride in the 3 groups. But that would be really bucking traditions… the standard was, of course, generally a bit lower than normal due to the absence of many of the top riders who had headed to Europe with Olympic dreams. But there still was a good amount of depth, and Werner was still able to have a good size to all his tracks, although they were then necessarily reasonably straightforward (read boring…. nothing too technical) and reasonably generous times.
James Hetherington and Jaybee Caribus
James ‘Bruiser’ Hetherington was the popular and deserving winner of the final Grand Prix with one of only 2 double clear rounds on Jaybee Caribus, a horse that was bred by Bev Chugg, who had a sensational week, when the son she bred, Chris, had an amazing 10th place result on the Gabi Kuna owned Cristalline. Cristalline, at 8 years of age was the youngest horse in the World Cup Finals, and was beautifully ridden and nursed by Chris for a sensational result for Australia. Unfortunately too young for the Olympics(!) it’s going to be very hard for those guys to retain this mare with the chequebooks being flashed in their faces.. 
Vicki Roycroft and Congo Z
But I digress, CP Aprilla was the only other double clear round, looking super for Sharon Slater. My little superstar Congo Z was the Champion Part 1 horse, winning the inaugural David Asimus Memorial Trophy, by winning two classes. The EFA Cup went to NZ with an unbelievable jump off from Lisa Cubitt on Amaretto, and Clem Smith won the first class on Guru. 
Sharon Slater and CP Aprilla
Not sure why the RAS has added another Part 1 class again; it really is too much jumping for these horses that are expected to jump 1.50/1.60, five days out of six, with the last three classes being three days in a row, and all jump off classes.
Even for Part 2 it’s quite tough, but at least they are jumping 1.40/1.45, with the final Mini Prix being 1.50ish. Savanna Hopkinson, with the imported Barrichello was Leading Part 2 horse, with Sav capping off an amazing show for a 17 year old by being declared Leading Rider. Her other horse Zenzation (also imported from Stal Tops) won a Part 2 class, with the other 2 classes being won by Ally Lamb on Diamond B Corsica (another Chugg family bred one, this time Chris and Helen), and Rhys Stones the Table C, on the Oaks Sporthorses bred Oaks Altador. 
Savanna Hopkinson and Barichello
The Mini Prix was won by last year’s Champion Jumper, Emily Riley’s fabulous Denis Crane bred mare Rhapsody in Blue (by Mr Blue out of a Daley K mare) from Emma Smith riding the Winnings’ Yandoo Zenzel, originally purchased in NZ from Katie Laurie. This year’s Champion Jumper (and Champion Part 3 horse) was Mary Lou Potts’ CP Aretino (by Ulixes out of Argentina) ridden by Amber Fuller. That’s two years in a row that the Champion Jumper has been won by a Part 3 horse. Not taking anything away from these talented horses and their jockeys, but it would seem fairer if the system to decide Champion Jumper was a bit more weighted, so the Part 1 and 2 horses, who are doing more of the tougher jumping, got more points, especially if, as it should be, one of the Part 1 classes were dropped to save the good horses. Aretino actually didn’t win a class, but was 2nd three times, and 4th. Part 3 winners were Andrew Inglis and Licaviv (by Vivant out of Licara), Ally Lamb and Denison Park Combat, Clint Beresford and SL Donato, and one of the few remaining Thoroughbreds kicking around, the very athletic Rothswaite Grumfus and Milly Clarke.
Emily Riley and Rhapsody In Blue
Second week saw Juniors, Young Riders and Amateurs, and while the Juniors didn’t seem substantial, the Young Riders classes looked pretty strong. Cade Hunter was the most Successful Junior Boy, while Jessie Rice-Ward got the female title. Winners were Jessie winning two with another Thoroughbred, Bonaventure, Cade one with Kelstar, and Charlie Kinder on Regents Park Legacy.
Best Young Rider was Madeline Sinderberry on the adorable Fernhill Zin Zan, a full sibling to CP Aretino from memory, but for sure out of the same mare, the wonderful Young Rider mare of Emily Blinkworth, CP Argentina. Madeline won a class as well as the Junior/Young Rider Six Bar. Other classes were won by Cade Hunter and one more Thoroughbred, Midnight Rock, Brooke Langbecker and Flowervale Diamond, and the YR Grand Prix won by Jamie Priestley on another Vivant, KS Optimus.
Ammies were again a popular division, and both classes were won by the very competitive Adena Williams on Broadway Jitterbug. The other always popular class, the Open Six Bar was won by Leon Carroll and Delisch. In both classes, open and Junior/Young Rider, 1.80 was jumped in the final round.
So again, many, many thanks to the RAS Committee for making this one of the best shows in the country, and for sure the best Royal Show, and also thanks for addressing the issue of the harness classes with the senior jumpers. Not sure how it was done, but they seemed to be far less obtrusive this year than previous years? Maybe something to do with the new Ringmaster, John Bennett, son of Olympian Merv Bennett, and an all round good guy. It is now a not-to-be-missed show! – Vicki