07/05/2026
Perfectly said and incredible to watch our riders navigate international flare 🔥 🙌🏼 Javier Ibarra for your spectacular tracks and we are so looking forward to Saturdays WCQ event
THE GRAND PRIX TEST AT THE RANCH EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
The Argentinian course designer, Ibarra Javier Fernando, set a test with teeth today at the Ford Makopane 1.50m SASJ Riders Grand Prix Tour.
Open, forward distances demanded that horses genuinely cover the ground, with a canter that had to open up and move, while still arriving at each fence with enough control to jump up and over, not at it. Time was tight throughout, tighter than we’re used to, and it caught a few of our combinations. Time penalties were a feature of the day, double clears were hard to come by, and nobody threw caution to the wind in the jump-off, prioritising achieving the double-clear.
It's a style of course-building we've seen before - similar in feel to the Waterwoods GP - and it fits with what's being said about the pace expected at the international level. The course wasn't built intimidatingly big, and riders were given options at many fences, but the forward ride was unforgiving!
The win went to Nicola Sime-Riley on Sunny Park Stables Insaghi DB. At 18 years young, he’s a seasoned campaigner, showing exactly what experience delivers under pressure and, of course, the value of a pro pilot!
A mention too for Sanne Klaassen and her 14-year-old mare, IB Piana by Perigueux (pictured here), finishing 5th in just her second 1.50m class. This is a huge achievement, particularly over such a testing track!
We're looking forward to seeing the action across the rest of the show. This promises to be a good one!
