Samantha McIntosh was in a class of her own today (Saturday) taking the quinella in the Bayer FEI World Cup round at the Fiber Fresh Taupo Christmas Classic. The former Olympian and World Champs representative won the class aboard her sometimes feisty mare Estina (owned by Lakeridge Equestrian, sold by Tal Milstein Stables), backing up their victory in the world cup round at Feilding earlier this month, and was second on Argento, who was having her first world cup start. Her efforts saw her jump from third on the leaderboard to first. “What a nice Christmas present,” said the 38-year-old full time rider. “They were both so on the job. Estina is as brave as a lion and just knows when to step up.” It was a bit of an unknown with 10-year-old Argento as McIntosh has never jumped her in a class as big. However, she needn’t have worried – the mare was clear in both rounds, and picked up just a single time fault in the last. “They both made my job very easy today.” McIntosh feels there is still plenty to come from nine-year-old import Estina. “Now that she has her mind on the job, she is stepping up in leaps and bounds. I am just rapt with the pair of them.” The Roger Laplanche (Timaru) course was built big and technical, proving plenty of challenges for the 12 starters – three of whom retired in the first round. The class was also a qualifier for the World Equestrian Championships in France next year, the first step to being available for selection for the New Zealand team. The first round produced just two clear rounds from McIntosh and her two mounts, with three combinations retiring. The others rallied a little in the second round, with former series winner Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) and Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark (owned by June Berrington) going clear, along with Luke Dee (Ocean Beach) and Ombudsman. Logan Massie (Dannevirke) will be chuffed with the efforts of his horse Kiwi Ludo. The pair finished fifth in their first ever world cup start. There are just two rounds remaining in the New Zealand World Cup series, with points from the best four to count. The final is at the Waitemata World Cup Final Festival at Woodhill Sands on Sunday, January 12. The series winner has the opportunity to travel to Lyon, in France, for the world final in April. © press release
