Young talent comes Goode

Tom Goode snatches grand prix victory by a whisker, while a mare who's had six months out of competition makes a winning comeback

- HELEN TRIGGS

THE grand prix went down to the wire, with Tom Goode and Furstenrausch PS emerging the winners with a 0.6% margin over second-placed Richard White and Lusitano gelding Heroi Do Seixo. Both scored over 70% and produced pleasing, accomplished tests with no major mistakes.

Furstenrausch (Fürstenball x Festrausch) is a beautiful nine-year-old with a precocious talent. This result follows a second place at Hartpury Premier League in July.

Furstenrausch was sent to Emile Faurie by breeder Paul Schockemöhle as a five-year old and was bought by Richard Jackson for Tom to ride.

“He’s very natural in the collected work and finds it easy,” explained Tom. “He was very hot when he was young and needed his mind occupying. We started the season at inter II and I felt he was ready to do grand prix but there’s no pressure on him.

“He feels more and more established at the level and his test today was the most relaxed he’s been in the walk, which is something I’ve been working on. He’s feeling stronger and getting more confident in the ring.”

Sadie Smith’s inter I and inter I freestyle winter champion Swanmore Dantina continued a winning streak to land the inter II class. The British-bred Dante Weltino mare won convincingly, more than 5% ahead of her nearest rival. The pair have completed three tests at the level now – all of them scoring over 75% – and head to the nationals in a strong position.