Winner Winner
Dani Maurer and Dicavalli Don Quattro who won the Prydes Easifeed Horse Mini Prix at Woodhill Sands. Photo by Cheleken Photography
Dani Maurer and her lovely stallion Dicavalli Don Quattro seem to have a thing about Woodhill Sands . . . and it notched them their first win at their first outing for the new season.
The Kaukapakapa combo took out the Horse Mini Prix 1.25m-1.30m at the Prydes EasiFeed Spring Grand Prix Showjumping Show at the weekend. Their speedy double clear saw them stop the clock at 34.05 seconds, just ahead of Laura McGregor (Auckland) aboard High Command who were also all clean in 34.70 and Sandra Stanford-Soons (Auckland) aboard El Vira in third on 34.85.
Just three of the 12 original starters came through to the jump-off. Dani was also fourth aboard Banderas C who picked up a single time penalty in the opening round. “I was lucky I was the last to go in the jump-off with Don Quattro . . . that made it easier.”
Dani and the rising 14-year-old Don Quattro are in their third season together and continue to strengthen a very solid partnership. “He is really settled in his routine and loves life,” she said. “He is very fast across the ground, so careful and he tries so hard for me.” At just 15.2hh he puffs himself out around anyone and everyone. “Just to make himself look bigger! He loves it at Woodhill Sands.”
The mini prix victory was one of two he had at the two-day show with a win in the Prydes EasiFeed Horse 1.25m-1.30m. Don Quattro has some promising babies from across the disciplines on the ground, including a number of eventers who have been sold offshore.
Dani is looking forward to the season ahead. She started half her team, who range in age from four through to 14, at the Woodhill Sands Show with the remainder of the string heading to Pukahu. Consistency is always the aim for this full-time rider.
Others to do well at Woodhill at the weekend were Sarah West (Matamata) who took the quinella in the Dunstan HorseFeeds and EquiFibre Junior Rider Series with LC Talent and Oaks Centurian and Keira Page (Waiheke Island) who did the same in the Fiber Fresh Feeds Pony Mini Prix with Redcliffs Colour Me In and Redcliffs Kodak Moment.
Ring one was designed by Danielle Watts. The show had tricky weather to contend with, from lovely sunshine to wind so strong it blew fences down, keeping the ring crew busy.
Woodhill Sands has just one more of its Spring Series Grand Prix Shows before heading into their full schedule.
Provisional Results –
Dunstan Horse Feeds and EquiFibre Pro Am Series: Bryony Smith (Kumeu, Auckland) Ngahiwi Warrior 1, Catherine Fawcett-McNaughton (Pukekohe) Golden Girl MVNZ 2, Rosie Commons (Auckland) Athena GNZ 3, Christine Cornege (Cambridge) Varekai SL 4, Laura McGregor (Auckland) High Command 5, Emma Buckingham (Auckland) Piccadilly Circus 6.
Dunstan Horse Feeds and EquiFibre Junior Rider Series: Sarah West (Matamata) LC Talent 1, Sarah West (Matamata) Oaks Centurian 2, Amy Moore (Rotorua) Cricklewood Banjo 3, Colleen Crous (Auckland) Orames Girl VDL 4, Nicole Lelean (Huapai) Valetto 5, Ben Weir (Auckland) SF Gryphon 6.
Hinterland Amateur Rider Series: Vanessa Veart-Smith (Ahuroa) The Notorious Fez 1, Amy Schischka (Waiwera) Rock It 2, Susie McLeod (Dairy Flat) Arrans Lad 3, Chloe Van den Boorn (Silverdale) Mirrabella Piper 4, Kady Prujean (Pukekohe) VPS Call Me Cash 5, Shelley Bridgeman (Auckland) Midway Smooth Dude 6.
Fiber Fresh Feeds Pony Mini Prix 1.10m-1.15m: Keira Page (Waiheke Island) Redcliffs Colour Me In 1, Keira Page (Waiheke Island) Redcliffs Kodak Moment 2, Madison Jackson (Pukekohe) Brenwood Sampsan 3, Madison Jackson (Pukekohe) Wilful 4, Lucas Bremner (Whangarei) Triple Star Picture Me Now 5, Liv Teixeira (Kerikeri) Spot The Difference 6.
Prydes EasiFeed Horse Mini Prix 1.25m-1.30m: Dani Maurer (Kaukapakapa) Dicavalli Don Quattro 1, Laura McGregor (Auckland) High Command 2, Sandra Stanford-Soons (Silverdale) El Vira 3, Dani Maurer (Auckland) Banderas C 4, Maddison Bult (Kumeu) Ngahiwi Original 5, Tessa Ranger (Tamahere) La Paz 6.