Holly Smith and the exciting eight-year-old Nike van het Singraven continued their sensational run of form on the opening day of Week Two of the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International, producing the only double-clear performance to win Thursday’s CSI4* 1.50m Longines Ranking Grand Prix Qualifier, sponsored by CG Professional.
Defeating an all-star field that included current world number nine Laura Kraut, multi-Olympian John Whitaker, Irish star Billy Twomey, reigning Al Shira’aa Bolesworth CSI4* Grand Prix champion Laura Renwick and a host of Olympic riders, European medallists and Nations Cup winners, Smith (currently ranked 740th in the FEI world rankings), produced two flawless rounds to secure back-to-back international Longines Ranking victories at Bolesworth.
The 48-strong field, representing six nations, were all chasing valuable Longines Ranking points and a share of the impressive prize fund in Rafael Suarez and team’s 16 effort track that sent four combinations through to the jump off.
USA’s Sterling Malnik, who qualified for last week’s CSI3* Al Shira’aa Grand Prix jump-off, was first into the International Arena aboard Calgary Tame but incurred 12 faults.
The first British combination, local rider Hannah Sims, based just eight miles from Bolesworth, partnered the stallion Kingfisher, fresh from contesting this year’s Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby. The pair added four jumping faults and a single time penalty.
Guy Williams looked on course for a clear after producing a smooth, flowing round before a late rail denied him, while reigning CSI4* Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Grand Prix champion Laura Renwick and Marseille saw two fences fall despite producing one of the quicker rounds of the day.
It was Smith who finally cracked the course, delivering the first clear aboard the hugely talented Nike van het Singraven before Ireland’s Billy Twomey and Ace of Hearts Z quickly joined her with another faultless performance.
Multi-Olympian John Whitaker and Equine America Unick de Francport looked set to make it three clears, only to agonisingly pick up a single time fault, while Laura Kraut ensured three nations would contest the jump off after guiding Carquilara PS home inside the time allowed.
Just four combinations progressed to the deciding round, with Smith joined by Billy Twomey, Sally Goding and Laura Kraut.
First to return, Smith knew she had to lay down a target and did exactly that, producing another immaculate clear in 39.70 seconds.
Twomey chased hard, but a single rail left him to settle for second, while Kraut’s fast four fault effort secured third. Goding also picked up faults, leaving Smith and Nike van het Singraven as the only combination to produce two clear rounds.
The victory capped a remarkable fortnight for Smith and the eight-year-old, who became the only rider to win both of the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth International’s Longines Ranking classes, underlining the emergence of one of Britain’s most exciting young horses.
Speaking after her win, Smith said, “I couldn’t be more pleased with the horse – he obviously likes it here.”
“Not only is it special to win another ranking class after last week, but one of his joint owners, Liz Astall, was here to watch him for the first time, so it was really lovely to do that in front of her.”
Smith admitted she wasn’t confident that they would pull off a top placing today. “The class was tough today with only four clears, and I was drawn first to go, so I didn’t really fancy myself with the people I had coming behind me. I just did my usual round and hoped it would be good enough.”
Explaining where she felt she made the difference, she added, “I actually went a stride extra than I wanted from fence three to four, then I thought I really needed to take a chance to the double, which I did. It’s naturally quite a quick course and I thought that just put enough pressure on that it forced people into mistakes.”
Smith has produced Nike van het Singraven since he was a five-year-old and believes the partnership they have developed is now paying dividends at the highest level.
“I’ve spent all of my time with that horse – nursing him, producing him – so I think that’s why he’s coming to this level as quickly as he has. He also has an exceptional temperament. He’s super friendly and definitely thinks he’s quite entitled!”
Competition continues on Friday before Saturday’s feature CSI4* Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Grand Prix.
Results here.
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