Jodie Hall McAteer gallops to a Mistletoe Speed Stakes win
Monday 18 December 2023
Jodie Hall McAteer made dreams come true with victory in the Mistletoe Speed Stakes on Kimosa Van Kritrahof to clock up another British win on the final day of the London International Horse Show at the ExCeL Arena.
Jodie, ambassador for the show and awarded the Leading Rider of the Show last year, went one better than 12 months ago after finishing second in the 2022 Mistletoe Stakes. But it was no mean feat.
Early drawn Matt Sampson fired up Isabel Cox’s MGH Candy Girl and hit the turbo button to fly round the 11-fence 1.45m track and claim the lead by 1.47 seconds. But Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs, ranked number 5 in the world, found a shorter inside route to the midway water tray vertical on Viper Z to wipe 0.42 seconds from the time.
It seemed a win would go home to Switzerland, but undaunted, Jodie showed no fear and utilised her late draw on the Chatman x Eros Platiere 13-year-old to cut every turn option to the quick and gallop home to the last to secure a 0.43 second win.
“I was able to watch Martin Fuchs, which was an advantage. His horse has a bigger stride than mine, so I had to use my pace a little bit more.
“She’s naturally quick, knows her job and knows what she’s doing,” said a delighted Jodie. “I had a good plan and stuck to it. I could have gone one less to the last fence but I played it safe.”
Jodie has been coming to the London International Horse Show for many of her young 23 years and spent dreaming of a day like this.
“I canter into the ring to try my best and give it all. I’ve dreamed of being here today and to win is beyond words.”
Ben Maher's supreme effort lands second in the London Grand Prix
Ben Maher so nearly made it a magnificent double but had to settle for second in the London Grand Prix following his stunning FEI World Cup win just 24 hours earlier at the London International Horse Show.
His World Cup winner Enjeu De Grisien was left in the stable to enjoy some downtime as Ben brought out Ginger-Blue – a winner earlier in the week – to battle it out in the Grand Prix.
Twenty-nine riders faced course-designer Guilherme Jorge’s (Brazil) 13-fence 1.60 masterpiece of a track which asked questions on scope and rideability. Eight came up with all the answers to access the promised hotly-contended jump-off.
Jur Vrieling set the standard with a good clear on Griffin Van De Heffinck but two horses later, Daniel Coyle – third in the FEI World Cup – was determined to set a sizzling, unbeatable time with Legacy this time. And he didn’t disappoint. The spectators were left gasping as he scorched through the tightest of lines and launched into a gallop to the final fence, wiping 2.36 seconds off the time.
Ben immediately followed, hoping for a repeat of his World Cup tactics and results, and set off at optimum pace, negotiating the same tight lines on the 12-year-old Plot Blue x Royal Bravour mare. He came so close. All eyes were on the clock as he flashed across the finish line, but it stopped 0.08 seconds outside Daniel’s time.
Scott Brash was the other British contender but four faults on the fairly inexperienced nine-year-old Hello Valentino dropped them to seventh.
“I’m delighted with Hello Valentino’s performance so far, it’s one of the biggest courses he’s done – he’s still a young horse. Every horse is different, they are all individuals and they have to get used to competing on a stage like this, but I’m very pleased with him so far,” he said.
Daniel was naturally ecstatic to win.
“I couldn’t have done any more. These guys [Ben and Scott] are pushing the limits. I thought I’d at least be in the top two [in the World Cup] and I was third, so I was really hungry for the win today and Legacy was amazing – she deserved it,” said Daniel, who was on tenterhooks as Ben chased his time. “Ben gave me a bit of a fright again tonight, he’s such a fast rider – he’s the reigning Olympic champion, after all – and I’m delighted to be a part of them; I want them to know I’m here to play, not just be here.”
Daniel is another awestruck by the history of this iconic show.
“My brother and I grew up watching it on TV. It’s very, very good to be here and to win the Grand Prix! It’s got a lot of history and hopefully now, I’ll be part of it,” he added.
He ran out of luck in the Grand Prix, but Matt Sampson’s consistency over the show, including a win, a second and sixth in the World Cup, earned the popular rider the Leading Rider of the Show Award.
More speed from Moore in the Markel Jockeys Jumping
An all-star team led by Ryan Moore, who last week was crowned Longines World’s Best Jockey for the fourth year in a row, won the Markel Jockeys Jumping in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund. Moore’s team, consisting of Tom Scudamore, Joanna Mason, Sam Twiston-Davies and Harry Skelton - son of Olympic gold medalist Nick - completed the course in a cumulative time of 124.28 seconds.
With two equestrian champions providing their invaluable expertise as team coaches - Pippa Funnell and Nick Skelton - it was a tightly contested battle with just eight seconds between the two teams. Moore’s rivals, led by 20-time champion National Hunt jockey Sir Anthony ‘AP’ McCoy, also featured former champion Flat jockey Jim Crowley, Harry Cobden, Lilly Pinchin and Kielen Woods.
The Markel Jockeys Challenge takes place in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, an invaluable resource for the racing industry. The Injured Jockeys Fund has been going for 60 years and provides much needed help to injured jockeys and their families.
Image: Jodie Hall McAteer and Kimosa Van Het Kritrahof Credit: Peter Nixon
