Grateful Bradburne tops competitive jump-off

Katie Bradburne seals victory with a pony who didn’t grow while Amy Capper nets a fifth Hickstead ticket

- SARAH RADFORD

SOME less familiar partnerships broke through at the final large pony premier of the season, with both days’ JA classics going to combinations who’d only been at this level for a handful of shows.

Katie Bradburne topped one of the most competitive jump-offs of the season on the opening day with eight-year-old Westpoint Foreign Affair, a Fruselli daughter she’s been riding since January.

While it’s typical for just one or two riders to make it through to the third round of this class, this showdown had five combinations – with four delivering treble clears and just 0.86sec dividing the top three placings.

“It was a strong field,” said Katie, who is campaigning three 148cm JAs in her final pony year.

Katie snatched the lead from Darcy Breen and One Sahara, then held off a bid from Lucy Capper and the stallion Oscar Van De Beekerheide.

Katie has had strong results from the off with Sophie and Gavin Johnstone’s mare.

“I’m so grateful to them for letting me ride her,” she added. “She was only backed as a five-year-old as she didn’t grow, which has turned out to be a good thing for me!