New Zealand Teenager Takes Country's Final World Cup Class

Taupo teen Annabel Francis grabbed an impressive double today taking out both the POLi Payments FEI World Cup (NZ) final and series in an action-packed class at a very gusty and sometimes squally Giltrap Audi World Cup Festival at Woodhill Sands in Auckland. She is one of the youngest to ever win New Zealand’s highest-ranked international series.

“It is so unexpected,” said a rather emotional Annabel. “I am very happy and it amazing to have won.”

It was the third World Cup class she has won this season, but in the other two she nominated the wrong horse so didn’t get valuable points. “I knew I just had to jump a clear round in the second. He has felt good all show and really wanted to win today.”

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Nine stepped up to tackle the Gerrit Beker-designed course for the two-round competition. Emelia Forsyth (Clevedon) started the class with a bang, with a stunning clear aboard Henton Faberge. Olympian Samantha McIntosh (Cambridge) and Takapoto Alaid de Chez Nous were unlucky to be stopped mid round when massive gusts of wind knocked several fences down.

The combination had quite a wait while the ring crew worked to secure the jumps before getting the nod to restart her round part way through the course. An early rail on that restart saw Samantha tip her hat to the judges and retire.

Annabel picked up four faults apiece with both Carado GHP and La Quinara, as did Melody Matheson (Havelock North) aboard Cortaflex Graffiti MH. Logan Massie (Dannevirke) aboard the stallion Bravado Ego Z and Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) with Fiber Fresh Veroana had eight faults each.

“It was certainly stressful having that rail as I knew there were a lot of good combinations coming back,” said Annabel, who is trained by Jeff McVean.

Judges brought back six combinations on eight faults or less for the second round. Missing out was series leader Tegan Fitzsimon (West Melton) who picked up eight jump faults and a single time penalty for a total of nine aboard Campari in the opener. At just eight, Campari was the baby of the field and Tegan was unable to start her two-time series winner Windermere Cappuccino due to injury.

“It is just such a shame I couldn’t start Vollie (Windermere Cappuccino),” said Tegan. “Campari tried really hard and it was a big track for an eight-year-old. It is bittersweet.”

Also missing the cut for the second round was two-time final winner Brooke Edgecombe (Waipukurau) and LT Holst Andrea having an uncharacteristic 12 faults after dropping three fences.

In the second round Annabel knew she had to go clear on Carado GHP to secure the series, and they did just that, notching the only clear of the second round. “I thought I had the first rail but he just jumped amazing. I just tell myself to focus and keep calm . . . and not to crack under pressure.” She has plenty of love for her Australian-import. “I love his character. He adores a crowd and likes to know everyone is watching him.”

Melody and Cortaflex Graffiti MH were awarded the Cornege Photography best presented combination from this morning’s trot-up. She was very pleased with her mare. “She is probably feeling the best ever and has been so consistent this season. She feels like she is meant to be jumping this height. I was just hoping for a podium finish, so this is great.” As well as the best presented, they placed second in the class and third in the series.

Today’s World Cup final is the last to be designed by Gerrit Becker who is bowing out at the end of the season.

The six-round series has been held across the North Island, with just the top four counting towards overall standings in the series. The winner of the New Zealand league usually has the chance to represent the nation at the Longines FEI World Cup Final which is scheduled to be held March 31-April 5, 2021, in Gothenburg Sweden, but with a global pandemic whether it goes ahead or not is uncertain.

Annabel says she will wait and see what pans out before making a final decision on whether she would go to the final or not.