New Zealand Performance Horses owners were purring after a stellar effort in the Five-Year-Old of the Year saw them take first, second and fifth places. NZPH rider Alex Loiselle steered Dakota NZPH to victory in the 24-strong class, going double clear in 69.89 seconds. He backed that up with second place on Dallas NZPH, finishing all clear in 69.08 seconds. Amy Roydhouse aboard Downtown NZPH took fifth place with her double clear rounds in 75.07 seconds. NZPH co-owner Warwick Hansen said they were reaping the efforts of many years of hard work. “We are very pleased and proud that NZPH is really starting to perform across all levels,” he said. Dakota NZPH will now head to Australia to be campaigned by Hansen’s daughter Birdy. “She has had her eye on the horse for a while and finally twisted her father’s arm!” Rider Loiselle was also chuffed with today’s results. “This is a class we have had circled on the calendar for a long time,” he said. “The horses stepped up for me today. Dakota is my best jumper, but I didn’t want to go nuts out there.”
Results – Five-Year-Old of the Year: Alex Loiselle, Dakota NZPH (by Pezetas du Rouet out of Oki Doki NZPH) 1, Alex Loiselle, Dallas NZPH (by Quintus out of United Blue NZPH) 2, Georgia Percy, Double J Image (by Repicharge) 3, Courtney Townsend, Adele (by Andretti out of Miss Victoria) 4, Amy Roydhouse, Downtown NZPH (by Quool de Bois Margot out of Truly Blue) 5, Melody Matheson, Enya MH (by Edward out of Grandessa MH) 6.