Super Special Win for Former Race Horse

It was third time lucky for ULTRA•MOX World Cup Qualifier winner Tash Brooks and her horse Kapattack today at the Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Showjumping and Show Hunter Championships in Dannevirke.
In their third start in the prestigious league, 21-year-old Brooks was just happy for a clear round and hadn’t even realised that would give her the win until it came over the loud speaker.
Nine started the class, with four on four faults after the opening round of the Roger Laplanche designed course. Brooks, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) on Dunstan Breeze, Olivia Robertson (Christchurch) aboard Ngahiwi Cisco and Sam Morrison (Tauranga) on Biarritz.
Eight came back for the second round where Brooks and her 10-year-old former racehorse were clear in 67.51 seconds. Laurie and Dunstan Lucca were the only other combination to go clear in the second round but were already sitting on eight faults.
“He has been going really well and I have felt we have been close for a long time,” said Brooks. “He deserved a nice win. We were both on our A game today.”
She got the horse – who is by Kapstaad – six years ago.
“A friend rang and said he had a horse for me. He was too little for (my brother) Nick (who events) and we’ve just built our way up together. We’ve got out own little way of doing things but it all works.”
Today she had plenty of help too from good mate Katie Laurie and Jeff McVean.
“This win is so crazy special . . . even more special because I have had him forever and done everything on him. It has taken a long time to get her so it is definitely the coolest thing to have ever happened to me.
“I just wanted to jump clear – that was my main goal. I didn’t even realise that if I went clear I would win.”
Brooks was chuffed to see a handful of young riders all stepping up to the league at a similar time.
“This is the future of New Zealand showjumping.”
Brooks said the victory was a culmination of hard work and lots of support, particularly from her parents Amanda Vosper and Glenn Brooks.
“It is massive for mum and dad. With Nick eventing, we have to have two of everything. I really threw a spanner in the works when I decided to showjump and not event.”
She did try eventing, but didn’t really enjoy it and when she hit 1* level – her “Olympics” – she switched.
Now she is looking towards the Farmlands Horse of the Year Show where she hopes to start Kapi in the Olympic Cup – the pinnacle of showjumping in New Zealand.
“We’ll just see how things go and jump some of the earlier classes in the week and hopefully give it a crack.”

Results -
ULTRA•MOX World Cup Qualifier: Tash Brookes (Cambridge) Kapattack 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Breeze 2, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Lucca 3, Olivia Robertson (Christchurch) Ngahiwi Cisco 4, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Biarritz, Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) Carnutelabryere 6.
Country TV Pony Grand Prix: Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tiger Tale LS 1, Olivia Dalton (Auckland) Simply Samantha 2, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Mighty Maximus 3, Ally Carson (Putaruru) Tony The Pony 4, Emma Watson (Morrinsville) Fun House 5, Parys Marshall (New Plymouth) Spot You Later 6.

Main Events University Series: Tayla Mason (Paraparaumu) Silver Star 1, Rebecca Porter (Hastings) Mr Harrison 2, Denver Ingram (Dannevirke) Ratu 3, Claudia Porter (Hastings) Mr Wiggle 4, Freya Gordon (Havelock North) Leo Chocolat 5, Melody Matheson (Hastings) Cheltenham 6.
Canterbury Equestrian Young Rider Series: Olivia Robertson (Christchurch) Ngahiwi Cisco 1, Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) Frangipanne de Toxandria 2, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) AP Ninja 3, Denver Ingram (Dannevirke) Ratu 4, Olivia Robertson (Christchurch) DHS Ceniki 5, Georgia Massie (Dannevirke) Larinium LS 6.

Telford Junior Rider Series: Georgie Massie (Dannevirke) Kiwi Ironheart 1, Deanika Vink (New Plymouth) Master of Hossack 2, Nicholas O’Leary (Wanganui) Obeone Kanobe 3, Brayden Aarts (Pukekawa) George Jetson 4, Will Moffett (Napier) Centrico 5, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Yandoo Lady Gold 6.

Caledonian Amateur Rider Series: Graeme Isaacson (Dannevirke) Pokere 1, Carol Stewart (Tokoroa) Hit Parade 2, Diana Cottle (Levin) Morpheus Rising 3, Patricia Pearce (Marton) Joan Jet 4, Desiree Foxley (Hastings) Blue Mistress 5, Andrea Sayers (New Plymouth) Marokopa Blaze 6.

Let’s Bale Pro Amateur Rider: Kim Best (Otane) Giggles 1, Katharine Van Tuyl (Palmerston North) Double J Sunshine 2, Sally Clark (Dannevirke) Victoria’s Secret 3, Chloe Akers (Opiki) Kiwi Motto 4, Claudia Porter (Hastings) Joia Hara 5, Geordie Bull (Taupo) Forest Hill 6.

ESNZ Seven Year Old Series: Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Velocity NZPH 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Eye Catcher 2, Carol Stewart (Tokoroa) Hit Parade 3, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Dorothy 4, Josh Barker (Auckland) Lanius GNZ 5, Robert Steele (Dannevirke) LT Holst Bernadette 6.

Mitavite Six Year Old Series: Daniel Blundell (Ocean Beach) Athena NZPH 1.

East Coast Performance Horses Five Year Old Series: Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Bluewater, Danielle Maurer (Auckland) Le Bam, Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Be Mine NZPH, Monica Oakley (Waipukurau) Capital, John Maclennan (Waipukurau) Ngahiwi Para, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Coro Club, Wendy Jacobs (Takapau) Double J Breeze On, Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) Equador MW, Brooke Zander (Waipukurau) Meeanee WTF, Katharine Van Tuyl (Palmerston North) Centavino, Julie Davey (Hastings) JD Ruby and Danielle Maurer (Auckland) Henton Exchequer =1.

Written by D Dobson