Jonathan Dixon lands the Winter Grand Prix at Morris Equestrian Centre’s Winter Classic with Jack JL
Monday 18 November 2024
Jonathan Dixon lifted the feature Winter Grand Prix with Michael and Candice Reilly’s Jack JL to conclude the Winter Classic at Morris Equestrian Centre in Scotland.
“He has big scope and a big stride and he’s so reliable,” said Jonathan, who has enjoyed a run of success of late, winning the Aintree Young Horse Grand Prix, taking third in the HOYS Events Through A Lens Talent Seeker Final and fourth in Aintree’s Winter Classic Grand Prix.
In the Morris Winter Classic Grand Prix, seven from a field of 20 competitors provided initial clear rounds over course-designer John Bedford’s 13-fence 1.40/1.45m track but only two riders returned clean rounds second time out.
“The course was, strong, big but fair, it was a good course and very well set out,” said Jonathan, who is based in Cumbria.
Drawn first in the jump-off, Jonathan used tactics to set an unbeatable target, on the Quasimodo Z x Astrello Z 10-year-old year-old Jack.
“I played a little bit safe and went seven strides down each of the two early distances. He has such a big step, I could have taken six strides each time, but I took advantage of his scope at the second last and turned a lot tighter than anyone else. You needed a big, scopey horse to do this and he has it,” said Jonathan.
Last year, Jonathan and Jack finished third in the HOYS Speedi-Beet Grade C Final and Michael and Candice Reilly stepped up to buy a half share.
“It meant I could keep the ride, and when a big offer came in, Michael and Candice bought the other half share to keep a horse of this calibre in the country,” said Jonathan, who has ambitions for Jack – “I’d like to aim for Nations Cup teams with him, he has it all.”
Only Nigel Coupe was in with a shot with the only other clear on the eight-year-old Action Blue daughter Air Queen II to come within 0.55 seconds for second place. Although he posted the fastest time of the class, Miles O’Donnell came home on four faults to drop Jackpot DS to third.
Ella Dalton had a busy 1.40m with three horses competing and claimed the top two places. Nineteen contended this two-phase class with Ella setting a fast target from the front on the 10-year-old Orya Van Koekenhuyze. She was still ahead when she returned on second ride, the 12-year-old Hurricane VDL (Zirocco Blue VDL x Indoctro), and stormed into the top spot, beating her own time by 1.25 seconds. Ella remained ahead despite several challenges, a late round by Miles the closest to take third on Jackpot DS.
Only two clear rounds were realised in the first round of the National Winter 1.35m and both ladies opted to share equally – Zoe Smith on the 14-year-old French-bred mare Avanna and Emma Crawford with the nine-year-old King Louie III (Zacarov x Lansing) filling the top spot.
Zoe enjoyed a bumper show in Scotland and, 24 hours after qualifying for Hickstead in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter B&C with Keep In Mind and winning the Winter 1.35m, she galloped to victory in the Winter 1.25m riding Avanna.
Eight of the 31 starters over the 12-fence course qualified for the jump-of with initial clears, the on-form Zoe claiming two of the rides. Zoe claimed an early lead on the eight-year-old I Lexus Z but, by the time she returned to the ring with Avanna, she’d been beaten into second by Ella Dalton’s Quality Rubies N Diamonds. She hit the turbo button with Avanna, edging into the top spot by 0.15 seconds to take another win.
Declan Irvine was another to clock up a winning double, topping the Winter Grade C qualifier and the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C with the consistent Duplicate II.
Winter Grade C contenders tackled a 1.30m track, with five coming through to round two against the clock. Declan was in fine form, taking the win from the penultimate draw on the seven-year-old Duplicate II (Diamant De Semilly x Grandilot) with 2.63 seconds to spare. Aimee Bell slipped Malibu Bella MFS into second place and last-to-go Courtney Crawford returned the steadiest of the double clears for third on Killarney JL.
Twenty-four hours later, Declan and Duplicate also captured the top spot in the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C handicap qualifier. Clears came thick and fast in the first round with 17 from the field of 30 answering every question on the 12-fence 125/1.30m track, 14 Grade C horses pitted against three more experienced Grade Bs. The top two both came from the Grade C sections, mid-drawn Declan finding the shortest route and easing Duplicate into the top spot with 0.43 seconds to spare. Aimee Bell steered Malibu Bella MFS into second and Mischa Irving used her final draw to take third on the Grade B I Sir Marcus.
Taylor Grier used her penultimate draw to maximum effect in the four-strong decider to take the Blue Chip Calming Performance qualifier on the nine-year-old mare Kaloubet Van De Vallei. Zoe Smith’s standard-setter on Mahan VDH had to settle for second 0.38 seconds behind the pace and Rachel Williamson was only a fraction in arrears for third on Kill Bill JX.
NB Results pending final grading
Image: Jamie Agnew Photography
