Esteban the Bomb at Woodhill

Esteban the Bomb at Woodhill

Carissa McCall and Esteban MVNZ made their début in the premier league grand prix one to remember today at the Fiber Fresh Feed Premier Showjumping and Show Hunter Show at Woodhill Sands.

The Kumeu combination were the only double clear in the eight-strong grand prix.

“This has to be the most amazing day,” said McCall, who was quick to praise Mount View Sport Horses’ Wendy Keddell for “breeding such an amazing horse”.

They were a late entry in the class and waited until she had walked the Phillipa Howells-designed course before making a final call on whether to start or not, and it has been seven years since McCall last had her only other premier start.

McCall has had the 17hh chestnut for just a year.

“He has been steadily improving ever since,” she said of the eight-year-old. “He’s pretty spooky but has so much scope. He doesn’t really feel like he is trying.”

She and husband Mike first looked at the horse as a four-year-old. He did his first grand prix start at Pukaku early in the season and had his first win at Pukekohe a few weeks ago. He was third at Taupo but McCall opted not to start him in the jump-off. In recent months she has changed his feed and says it has made a huge difference.

McCall is hoping to take the horse to Australia next winter to get a few more miles under the belt for them both. l works in her a top soil business she shares with Mike.

“Mike has never ridden but he has sat in on all my lessons for the past 15 years and learnt so much along the way. He helps me every day in every way and without him I wouldn’t be able to do this.”

Esteban is known as Gherkin at home – a name given to him by German grooms at Mount View Sport Horses.

“Apparently gherkin is cucumber in German and they would call him that for how his neck used to be shaped.”

Just Esteban and rising teen talent Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) aboard AP Ninja came back for the jump-off today. The youngster having eight faults and coming home in 49.24 seconds, to McCall’s double clear in 52.17.

In the Country TV Pony Grand Prix, 24 started with four coming back for the jump-off. Ally Carson (Putaruru) proved too good for the rest of the field taking the quinella with Tiger Tale LS and Tony The Pony.

She was double clear on both, stopping the clock at 36.29 on Tiger Tale and 36.56 on Tony. Emma Watson (Morrinsville) and Fun House were third – also double clear in 38.03.
Results -

Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series: Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tiger Tale LS 1, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tony the Pony 2, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House 3, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Redcliffs Muchintuchin 4, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Phantom Warrior 5, Ella Poole-Crowe (Northland) Gizbo 6.

Excel Premier League Horse Grand Prix: Carissa McCall (Auckland) Esteban MVNZ 1, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 2, Vicki Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cassanova 3, Vicki Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cadet 4, Ryan Lim (Auckland) Pasir Ris 88 5, Sam Morrison (Tauranga) Biarritz 6.

ESNZ Seven Year Old Series: Edward Bullock (Auckland) High Jump 1, Rosie Commons (Auckland) Athena GNZ 2, Elle Phillips (Hamilton) Raibeart Bruis 3, Victoria Rattray (Pokeno) Versace NZPH 4, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Delta Riccardo 5, Ryan Lim (Auckland) SE Rumour Has It 6.

Let’s Bale Pro Am Rider Series: Jacqui Wright (Auckland) Matawai Sentana 1, Laura Stenberg (Helensville) Craighaven Nitro 2, Alexa Randall (Auckland) Louis 3, Edward Bullock (Auckland) Weiti Danneverke 4, Joanna Bullock (Auckland) Weiti Justice 5, Shelley Ross (Auckland) Coleraine Coaltown 6.

Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider Series: Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 1, Nakeysha Lammers (Northland) Waldorf 2, Laura Inkster (Auckland) Cabana 3, Laura Inkster (Auckland) Strathcarron Zaurak 4, Bryony Smith (Waimauku) Ngahiwi Warrior 5, Dominique Visini (Auckland) Don Perignon LI 6.

East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Series: Hannah Bodle (Morrinsville) Whakanui Homebrew, Bronte Sewell (Kumeu) Malibou Boy, Vicki Prendergast (Matamata) Sangster, Victoria Rattray (Pokeno) Larmani MVNZ and Kirsten McLeod (Gisborne) Melanie’s Choice =1.

Caledonian Amateur Rider Series: Anne Steiner (Cambridge) Random 1, Leisha Gent (Northland) Pole Dancer 2, Kate Hewlett (Northland) Capatino GNZ 3, Emma Buckingham (Kumeu) Dawn 4, Melanie Dudding (Auckland) Country Vogue 5, Melanie Dudding (Auckland) Country Zena 6.

Telford Junior Rider Series: Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 1, Lucy Bull (Taupo) Westhay Grace 2, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Kiwi Rocket 3, Laura Lush (Auckland) Ngahiwi Summer Salt 4, Brayden Aarts (Auckland) George Jetson 5, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Wasabi 6.

Mitavite Six Year Old Series: Charlotte Cotter (Auckland) Ngahiwi Best Wishes and Jeremy Whale (Cambridge) Aldivo 2 =1.

ENDS

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