Peter Moloney lands the Audevard Winter Grand Prix at Arena UK’s Winter Classic II
Monday 20 January 2025
Peter Moloney was firing on all cylinders to land the Audevard Winter Grand Prix at Arena UK’s Winter Classic II with Lia Volk’s Nielson.
“He’s very competitive and careful and always tries,” said Peter.
Seventeen competitors came forward to face course-designers Neil Foster and Declan Perry’s 13-fence, 16-effort 1.40m track and five answered every question to return for the jump-off, including two Winter Grand Prix winners from the current 2024/2025 series.
Round two was hot from the start as Mark Edwards on his Hartpury winner Royale Tale set a sizzling target. Jess Hewitt immediately set off in pursuit with Arbitrage, winner of Arena UK Winter Classic I Grand Prix and the newly-crowned London International Evoke Under 25 British Champion, but despite a supreme effort, they fell short by 0.12 seconds.
However, that did not deter Irishman Peter Moloney as he urged Nielson into a gallop to snatch victory by 0.32 seconds.
Previously a winner for Tim Davies and Helen Tredwell, Peter took over the reins on the Bentley Van De Kapel 12-year-old Nielson in August.
“The first two were very fast but there very little in it, I think I was just a little quicker early on. This is only our seventh show together but he’s a very experienced horse,” said Irishman Peter, who set up his own business in Newmarket 18 months ago, having previously ridden for Team Harmony, Ridgway Farm Stud in England and Ashford Farms in Europe.
“We’re building up a strong of young horses and I do a lot of coaching,” added Peter, who is plan a two week trip to compete in St Tropez at the end of February before returning to England and the late Spring season.
Mark proved unbeatable in the 1.40m, sweeping up the top two places. Seven from a field of 16 reached the jump-off with Mark setting a sizzling target on the 10-year-old mare Royale Tale (Montreuxs Tale x Cavalier Royale). He was still leading by a good margin as he returned to the arena with his second ride in the final draw, and swiftly guided Dillinger NE into second place.
Holly Smith maxed on her final draw in the six-horse decider of the Winter Grade C 1.30m Qualifier to power into victory on Nike Van Het Singraven. Taking smooth lines, Holly effortlessly guided the Andiamo Semilly x Haarlem seven-year-old, a HOYS 2024 Newcomers and Foxhunter finalist, into a 2.80 second win. Early leader James Wilson was relegated to second on his Kelsall Hill UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding
Winter B&C winner Radjamerci Van De Vlasbloemhoeve with Louise Lovegrove’s UCS Double Lait MV Z in third.
Joe Trunkfield recorded a winning hat-trick. James again had to relinquish his early lead on Radjamerci in the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C as Joe used his final draw to maximum effect. Nineteen from a field of 33 posted first round clears over the 12-fence 1.25/1.30m handicapped course with Joe – who claimed two rides in this jump-off – jumped to the top with an early round on Corvette VH Reukenis Z. But he was soon relegated by James, who appeared to have set an unbeatable time as challenges came and failed to catch him. However, Joe sliced every corner to the quick without missing a beat on the 10-year-old Pitox V/T Dauwhof (Vannan x Hunter’s Argent) to cut the time by an incredible 2.51 seconds. James settled for second with Mark Edwards on Tinkers Touch in third and Joe also picking fourth aboard Corvette.
Joe’s final two wins came in the concluding two classes as he secured wins in the Winter Seven-year-old and Winter 1.35m.
The much thought of Corvette VH Reukenis Z came to the fore in the latter. Only two qualified for the jump-off with Joe jumping another well-judged clear on the Cicero Z x Corland eight-year-old to take the top spot, leaving Tom Dovkants in second place on K Sera.
Divine Secret stepped up to the plate in the Winter Seven-year-old for Joe in a six-horse decider, the Lancelot x Malt Striker mare recording a 1.55 second win. Freya Barry steered No Nonsense Solier HB into second with Adam Botham filling third riding Satisfaction Van Den Ambacht Z.
The youngest rider in the class, Honey Bowes,13 – a regular in top 138cm and Children-on-Horses classes – outpaced her older counterparts to take the Winter Six-year-old Qualifier with 0.33 seconds in hand in a nine-horse jump-off on NFS Tiloubet. The gelding, current National Five-year-old champion and ridden by Honey for the past two months, has Taloubet Z x Otangelo bloodlines and was bred by John and Laura Renwick out of a full sister to Laura’s former top ride Bintang II.
Caroline Barnes jumped CH Special Q (I’m Special De Muze x Kannan) into second and Tom Dovkants claimed third with Bonita 1 (Galerius x Classic VDL).
JP Sheffield claimed the win in the Winter 1.25m to qualify for the Blue Chip Championships on Jane Heerbeck’s Mydonatus K. Fifteen of the original 33 competitors qualified for the jump-off, JP finding the quickest route on the Arezzo VDL x Gran Corrado eight-year-old to win by 0.36 seconds. Holly slipped NPS Jaliska into second spot with Seven Hadley filling third place with Quantino IV.
Michaela Scott jumped to the top in the Blue Chip Calming Performance Qualifier on the eight-year-old Anne Minka MB Z (Aganix Du Seigneur x Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve).
Only five of the 26 starters qualified with initial clears for the jump-off, Michaela the sole provider of a double clear to take the win. Four faulters Heidi Coy (Zirocco Van De Eijkhof Z) and Eleanor Perrin (Flashlight SDW Z) finished second and third respectively.
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