The inaugural Equimillion last weekend at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre provided so many owners of thoroughbreds with a unique opportunity to compete for serious prizemoney with $30,000 offered on every class, so who were these horses that ranged in age from four up to 21 and in purchase price from free to a good home to $1million!
Over 240 horses competed in the showjumping and eventing phases of the event and the average age of these horses was 11, which is usually around the peak age for performance horses, who can remain at their top sometimes into their late teens if their general soundess allows.
It does highlight the necessity for providing thoroughbreds with a productive life after their racing career which is usually drawing to a close at age seven.
Geldings far outnumbered the mares at this event with the majority of commercially bred thoroughbred mares sent to stud, however it was a mare that won the top prize in the showjumping arena with Jess Bott (wife of Adrian) taking the open 1.10m class on her 12 year-old mare Raise an Angel.
Raise an Angel was a $6,000 Inglis Vobis Gold Yearling Sale purchase back 2013 and won one race at a track in Victoria called Moulamein (yes, I’ve never heard of it either!).
Raise an Angel is one of 48 winners sired by Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Floral Pegasus, a son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. She was the only horse competing at this event by Floral Pegasus, who covered 238 mares in nine seasons at stud and appears to be now retired.
She owes her grey colouring to her dam So Super Quick, an unraced half-sister by Octagonal to dashing Grey Group I winner Quick Flick.
The most expensive horse competing at the event was eight year-old Redoute’s Choice gelding Let It Be, who was bought by Paul Perry for $1million from the Arrowfield draft at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The half-brother to champion racehorse and sire Dundeel was slow in the extreme and failed to place in three starts earning himself a one way ticket to life as a gelding and a new career with young 16 year-old rider Makaylah Fenwick.
He was in top form at this event and was second overall in the 90cm open class and Makaylah Fenwick was able to win the 1m open jumping class with another Arrowfield Stud sired horse in The Garrett, an 11 year-old gelding by Manhattan Rain that was also trained by Paul Perry and won one race from 28 starts.
A $40,000 Inglis Easter purchase, The Garret has a big pedigree being from Hunters Heroine, a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Merlene from the family of another Golden Slipper winner in Capitalist.
The oldest horse competing in the showjumping at age 21 was Alon Bay ridden by Natashia Radford and he won the 65cm amateur division in a field of 27.
Alon Bay was a $90,000 Magic Millions purchase back in 2004 and raced as Classy Keys winning one race at Newcastle from two starts. He is a half-brother by the great Octagonal to Group III winner Lan Kwai Fong.
Judging by the below Facebook post, this horse is certainly living his best life!
Olympic equestrian Shane Rose had several horses competing and won the top eventing prize with versatile 12 year-old gelding The Bandit (Jpn), who was also second to Raise An Angel in the open 1.10m showjumping.
Bred in Japan, The Bandit won one race there before coming to Australia and won a further three staying races here and was also second in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington.
Another international eventing rider that has represented Australia in Europe this year is Shenae Lowings and she won the 95cm open eventing class on six year-old No Nay Never (USA gelding Yiyi, who won over $484,000 when trained by Chris Waller and had his final race in November last year.
Bred and sold by Coolmore, Yiyi was a $400,000 Inglis Easter purchase and is a half-brother to Group I ATC Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten.
