The First of the HOYS International Showjumping Classes

Irish rider Commandant Geoff Curran produced a dominant display to win The Dick Turpin Stakes as international competition began at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham.

Puissance champion at HOYS in 2022 and 2023, and bidding for a hat-trick this year, he added another title to his collection by landing the one-round speed class aboard DHF Alliance.

Their time of 56.86 seconds proved more than two-and-a-half seconds quicker than runner-up Paul Barker with Strides Maureen, while William Whitaker and Active Spirit finished third.

“She won it very well,” Geoff said. “She is a very fast mare naturally, and if I do my job and keep it smooth, she is faster than most.

“I have every confidence in her. That’s the way she likes to go, and normally when I interfere with the way she likes to go she doesn’t like it, so I leave her go at her own pace.

“She is relatively green in terms of indoor competitions, so I am really chuffed with that. It was a good atmosphere – quite an experience for her – and she handled it really well.”

French rider Julien Anquetin, meanwhile, had a Horse of the Year Show debut to savour in the opening international class – The Grandstand Welcome Stakes.

Not only was it his HOYS debut, he marked it by winning a thrilling race against the clock in the two-phase class on his first competitive ride aboard nine-year-old mare Fulldollar De Raygade.

British showjumping icon John Whitaker, who first competed at the Horse of the Year Show in 1971, set a scorching pace with Sharid from an early draw, clocking 29.45 seconds.

But Julien clipped six hundredths of a second off that time, and he proved uncatchable as Joe Stockdale and Millfield Counterfeit completed the podium places in 29.67.

“It is my first time here, my first win and first ride with this mare,” Julien said. “I didn’t know what to expect, and each time I win in front of a legend like John, I am really happy.

“I had heard so many times what a good show this is, and it is lovely with such a nice atmosphere.”

Listen to the Lloyd Bell with Commandant Geoff Curran, winner of The Dick Turpin Stakes

ENDS  

For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2024, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk