IN the highly competitive GFS Saddles CCI4*-S for eight and nine-year-olds at Blenheim Palace, New Zealander Samantha Lissington coasted to victory with Quantas R on the leading dressage score of 22.4. Lissington came home right on the optimum time as the only combination to finish on a clean sheet.

Gemma Stevens (GBR) was runner-up on Cooley Park Muze (ISH by Pollux), thanks to another exceptional cross-country performance with just 2.8 for time to add to her dressage score of 22.9. Sarah Bullimore (GBR) was third with Coromiro, 4.5 penalties adrift.

“I really wanted to win this and I knew he was capable, but it’s one thing saying it and another delivering,” Lissington said. “So I’m really happy I’ve got him to the place where he can show off in the dressage.

“There was a lot of pressure in the show jumping, where it could have been won or lost, and then being last to go cross-country. Knowing Gemma is fast, I had to assume she would be inside the time on her top horse and I only had one second to play with.

“It’s been about getting the rideability with the power, jump, speed and everything. He’s sharp and can spin - he spent one winter getting me off every day, three times in one week. He has a quirky side, but he’s becoming the ultimate professional.

“He’s got to be a strong contender for the World Championships.”

Stevens was also delighted with ‘Rex’. “We’d had a crack at four-star at Hartpury and we had the wrong bit and it caught me out,” she said. “I’ve changed from a soft nathe running gag to one with a lozenge with sides and that small thing makes such a difference, as I now have more control over his stride, and he was absolutely wonderful. He got a little bit tired at the end and he used to give up a bit, but today he dug deep.”

Ireland’s Austin O’Connor was going brilliantly in ninth place in this competition until an unlucky tumble with Diamond Mistress (ISH by Diarado) after the ‘Narrow Ditch’ at 14a left him with a nasty gash on the chin.

Making light of it later, O’Connor said: “We’ve had a brilliant season so far and as we all know every good day can be followed by a ‘bad’ one in this sport, which is why you always have to celebrate the good ones! Today was just a smidgen of back luck… we just have to ‘take it on the chin’! Thankfully, we are both fine and I’m very excited to have Diamond Mistress back here next year!”

The best-placed Irish rider in this class was Danielle McCormack, who finished both 16th with Hildare Regardez Moi and 22nd with MGH Hildare Harlequin, an ISH gelding by Firkov du Rouet who was bred by European team silver medallist Padraig McCarthy.