As usual, Thoroughbreds were the dominant breed across all the classes, though there were international bloodlines on every starting list. Only one sire stands out among the various families, and that is Aberlou xx. This unraced grey Thoroughbred died many years ago, but is still a major force in New Zealand jumping pedigrees. He is in the blood of the four-star winner, the best four-year-old, as well as one of the two-star placegetters.

Two horses finished with identical marks in the CCI four-star national championship, so cross-country times were used to decide the eventual winner. The outcome was an exact reversal of 2019’s horse of the year: a New Zealand Sport Horse mare, runner-up at HOY, claimed the win, and the HOY winner, a Thoroughbred gelding, finished second.

The mare, Waitangi Pinterest (Cassiano - Amberlou x Aberlou xx) has been tapping at the door of a big win for the last couple of months, with her second place in the HOY four-star, second in the four-star at Kihikihi, and second in the three-star (old format) at Puhinui. She also enjoyed top wins at the old two-star level, including the national CCI two-star championship at Taupo in 2017, which she led from start to finish. She is a beautiful young horse, still only 10 years old, and is ridden by her owner, Madison Crowe.

Pinterest was bred by Jos Bayly at Waitangi Sport Horses in Northland, and has terrific jumping lines. Her sire Cassiano (Cassini I - Zivia x Calypso II), is an elite Holsteiner imported from Germany. He was bred by Carsten Lauck and has a number of very good young progeny here. He stands at Sharlene Workman’s Xtreme Sport Horses in Otaki.

Pinterest’s dam, Amberlou, is a Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse cross by Aberlou xx, one of the greatest sires in New Zealand eventing history (see more about him in the young event horse section).

Second place in the four-star went to 2019’s eventing horse of the year, Just Kidding xx (Fusaichi Pegasus xx - Gypsy Princess xx x Sadler’s Wells xx) and his owner/rider Amanda Pottinger. These two won this title at Taupo last year – when it was the former three-star event – and in 2016, when the gelding was only a nine-year-old. They finished third in 2017...To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber