By Rebecca Harper
Christchurch’s Tegan Fitzsimon and Windermere Cappuccino now hold the full set of age series titles, completing the clean sweep in winning the Purepine Shavings Seven-Year-Old Series today.
Heading into the series final in Masterton there was nothing to separate Tegan and Lucy Fell with Faratona STS. Whoever finished with the highest placing in the final would also take the series.
It wasn’t to be for Lucy, who had an unfortunate rail in the first round. Tegan went clear and went on to post a clear in the jump-off, in the fastest time, to clinch both the finals class and series title in fine style.
The combination also took out the Dunstan Horsefeeds & Equifibre Horse Grand Prix last night, propelling them up to third overall in that series too.
Windermere Cappuccino, known as Vollie at home, has been phenomenally consistent, not only winning the series final and title, but also holding the HOY title, Nationals title, and South Island title.
“It’s not normal,” Tegan says. “He’s only had seven starts and has won every single Seven-Year-old start he’s been in this season. I broke my collarbone so we were a little behind on starts.”
The fulltime rider says Vollie is a one in a lifetime horse. “I won’t sit on anything as good as him, or I highly doubt I will.”
The horse is owned by the Parkes family, of Windermere Farm, who bred him. Vollie is Corofino II out of Vespa, which is by Voltaire II. “I’m very fortunate to have the ride on him for the breeder.”
When Lucy had the rail and there were just three coming back for the jump-off, Tegan thought she might as well have a crack.
“I just thought I would put the foot down and whatever happens, happens. He felt a little bit tired after yesterday, we weren’t going to start him in the Grand Prix but then he won at Woodhill and had a chance in the series so I thought we might as well have a go. I’m really proud of the horse, he deserves it. I wanted to win to top off the five, six and seven-year-old series. He’s been so consistent over the age series, he’s been super.”
Lucy finished fifth in the finals class and second overall in the series, while Duncan McFarlane and Be Mine NZPH were clear in the jump-off but slower than Tegan to take second place in the final and retain their overall third placing in the series.
RESULTS
Purepine Shavings Seven Year Old Series Grand Final: Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Windermere Cappuccino 1, Duncan McFarlane (Taupo) Be Mine NZPH 2, Georgina Dormer (Canterbury) Bravados 3, Katharine Van Tuyl (Bay of Plenty) Centavino 4, Lucy Fell (Longburn) Faratona STS 5, Julie Davey (Hastings) JD Ruby 6.
Purepine Shavings Seven Year Old Series: Tegan Fitzsimon (Christchurch) Windermere Cappuccino 110 points 1, Lucy Fell (Longburn) Faratona STS 98 points 2, Duncan McFarlane (Taupo) Be Mine NZPH 83 points 3, Robert Steele (Dannevirke) Delta Bue 59 points 4, Julie Davey (Hastings) JD Ruby 53 points 5, Katharine Van Tuyl (Bay of Plenty) Centavino 46 6.