Emma Sargeant flies to the top in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B and C qualifier at South View Equestrian Centre
Monday 17 February 2025
.JPG "Emma Sargeant flies to the top in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B and C qualifier at South View Equestrian Centre")
Emma Sargeant hit top gear on Mark Holland and Gemma Sargeant’s Maxima Z to take victory in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B and C Qualifier at South View Equestrian Centre’s Winter Classic in Cheshire.
“She’s a game little mare, a proper trier and gets so excited at a show, she loves the job,” said Emma.
Course-designer Gillian Milner tested the 27 starters with a 1.35m track and only six conjured up all the right answers to access the jump-off, locally based Keith Shore claiming two of the rides. Keith set the target from the opening draw with Fabuleaux De Riverland but was soon relegated by Annabel Shields aboard the eight-year-old Corrindubh Brother In Arms (Sligo Candy Boy x Pacino).
Julian Mincher chased hard to slip the Nonstop C Indoctro 11-year-old Johnson II into second, and the race was on.
Emma had already thrown a warning shot across the bows with victory in the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C on Maxima Z and there was no doubt to her intentions in the penultimate draw. Negotiating a tight rollback turn to the second fence, Emma cleared the following double and then let the handbrake off. On a flying pace down the next related line, she tightly angled across the penultimate vertical before galloping on to the final oxer, swiping an incredible three seconds off Annabel’s time.
“I watched Keith with his first horse, and he was quick, then others went faster! I knew I had to have a crack and she was so clever, landing and dropping straight into an inside line,” said Emma. “When you get to a show, she’s so keen and just wants to get on with it. She was quite strong in the Blue Chip B and C but settled once she had a spin round and was calmer for this class.”
The Mylord Carthago x Air Jordan Z 12-year-old lives at home with owner Gemma Sargeant, who bought her as a two-year-old, and only meets Emma at shows. Gemma’s partner Mark Holland broke the mare in and keeps her ticking over at home.
“She hasn’t done a lot this winter and has only jumped at the two Kelsall Hill Winter Classics and here at South View this week,” said Emma, who competed in last year’s Royal International B and C Final with this mare.
Delighted with the win and looking forward to attending the Royal International Final for the second consecutive year, Gemma, who runs a small breeding programme at home with Mark, is also looking at the future with ‘Maxi’.
“I’d love to see her competing for another two years, she’s always on a mission and has so much heart, and then I’d like to use her for breeding – she’s certainly got good credentials,” said Gemma.
South View Winter Classic – 15 February 2025
UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter Grades B&C Qualifier
1st Emma Sargeant & Maxima Z – 0/0 - 33.93
2nd Annabel Shields & Corrindubh Brother In Arms – 0/0 - 36.94
3rd Julian Mincher & Johnson II – 0/0 - 37.59
NB Results pending final grading
Image: Phil Hillier
