Ricker Ridge Rui was bred by Rei-Huia Sport Horses, and is the son of one of the Masterton stud’s most highly regarded broodmares, RH Patience. Superb paces and jumping technique led to this this Holstein-Thoroughbred mare (graded Holstein) being retained by the stud. She was bred by Rae Healey, whose daughter Louisa Broughton says, “Mum put a lovely Thoroughbred mare called Olive, by Oregon, to Corlando (Contango II x Lander). Olive had the most delightful temperament, plus she was an elegant, tall, old-fashioned type. We chose Corlando as we liked a lot of his lines from a good moving and jumping perspective.”

Patience was injured as a foal with ongoing consequences; she was broken in but only lightly ridden, says Broughton. “She has a four-year-old filly by RH Drum of the West (Westminster) in the paddock at the moment, which Mum is trying to decide what to do with… She sure is nice!”

Ricker Ridge Rui has had a number of good finishes this season, including sixth in the four-star at Horse of the Year and a win at the former three-star level at Arran Station. Lissington is currently 31st in the FEI rankings and is busy planning a move to the UK, but has not yet decided which of her talented team she will take with her. She has several competing at the new four-star level, including the Warmblood crosses RR Riley (Donnerubin), RR Sooty (Caretino) and RR Pico Boo (Pico Bello) as well as the Thoroughbred mare RR Divine Right (His Royal Highness xx x Centaine xx).

Second place at Kihikihi went to another NZ Sport Horse, also 10 years old: The beautiful mare Waitangi Pinterest (Cassiano - Amberlou x Aberlou xx). She was bred by Jos Bayly at Waitangi Sport Horses and is ridden by her owner Madison Crowe. Pinterest is in great form at present and was an impressive second in the four-star at HOY. Her damsire, Aberlou xx, did not race but had a sterling career as a sport horse sire, leaving many a champion jumper and eventer, as well as the influential stallions Back Chat xx, Abbas Lad xx and Zabalou xx.

Cassiano (Cassini - Zivia x Calypso II), Waitangi Pinterest’s sire, is an imported licensed Holsteiner from Stamm 6691 bred by Carsten Lauck. He stands at Xtreme Sport Horses, and also competes successfully in jumping. His progeny include this year’s Norwood Gold Cup winner Waitangi Surf (Cassiano - Whisper x Back Chat xx) – another outstanding mare from Waitangi Sport Horses. And, interestingly, the grandsire Back Chat xx (who was by Aberlou xx) has many other talented grandchildren competing here. Most of these carry Wendy and Robyn Jacobs’ Double J Sport Horse prefix: He is the sire of their two excellent broodmares Double J Remember Me and Double J Chatelaine xx, and grandsire of Double J Monarch, who finished fifth in the leading mare jumping series (see separate article)...