Phantom flies to victory

An Olympic rider claims his first four-star win, while two horses score victories after coming back from a spell on the sidelines

- GEMMA REDRUP

Aston-le-Walls, Northants

DUTCH rider Andrew Heffernan said that he is “appreciating horses and competing more than ever” following his win in the Dassett Eventing CCI4*-S with Harthill Phantom.

“I think having my Dutch eventing team coach job has taken the pressure off my riding and I’m really enjoying it,” said Andrew, for whom this was a first four-star victory.

Harthill Phantom, who Andrew owns in conjunction with the Top Eventers Syndicate, “surprised” his connections when topping the leaderboard in a section with over 100 starters.

“He has a massive heart and is a real trier, but he’s not a big-moving horse and he doesn’t have a natural jump, meaning he doesn’t find it as easy as some, so I didn’t expect him to win,” said Andrew, who will now aim this 13-year-old by Hollins Hall for Burghley.

“He did a great test for him to score 28.3 and then show-jumped well for one second over the time,” said Andrew. “I’ve always found him strong across country, but he was better today and perhaps his last run in the CCI4*-L at Millstreet has helped him grow up a little bit. He has always been fantastically brave and straight, but he was much more rideable today.”

Andrew bought Harthill Phantom from Richard Long in 2019, when he had done a handful of intermediates.

“He reminds me of Millthyme Corolla, who took me around some of the biggest events in the world, including the 2012 Olympics, because I love riding him and he really tries for me.”

It was almost a truly exceptional weekend for Andrew, who would have finished first and second had it not been for a missed flag penalty with Gideon II, who still managed to finish 10th.