With Tim having 5 horses in the 4*Short at Thoresby a couple of rides due on the Thursday dressage were inevitable so the team drove up to Nottingham from Dorset on Wednesday afternoon with 7 horses to stable on site and the first international event of 2025.
Thoresby replaced the much loved Belton in the spring calendar so it is relatively new which also means that it has never run in anything less than bottomless mud as we haven’t had a dry March since Covid. Which was also notable for the fact that all the events were canceled in mid March and April in 2020! Not only did Thoresby have its first ever great footing it also had sunshine and Stuart Buntine had reversed the track which seemed to make the flow better according to a fair few of the riders.
It was a big few days for Tim who has no less than 5 horses heading for Kentucky and Badminton five stars in his biggest show of depth in his career. This was their baseline run after a couple of nice OI starts and quite a bit of pressure for Tim over three days as he tried to do justice to all 5. Today was particularly busy with around 25 mins between each horse showjumping and then cross country with 2 sections of 4 star running concurrently and despite the better weather Tim commented at the end of today ” it was quite warm on Thursday and, yes, it didn’t rain but it was pretty cold and windy the last couple of days” which is Tim speak for being tired at the end of a big few days! It’s a huge deal mentally to tune in to 5 different horses on 10 phases in one day at that top level and they are very different characters!
Jonelle just had her 2 hot mares up at Thoresby, both in the Grantham Cup section, and she had time to do some office work in between riding them. Hiarado (Jools) posted a 34 in her section which Jonelle thought was a bit harshly marked and Grappa Nera ((Grape) a 35.9 which is seriously impressive for pretty wild Grape in March.
Tim was No.1 to go in the hot as hell Grantham Cup 4*S section with Vitali. Thoresby run two sections of 4 star which they divide by points earned to date so it was the experienced duo of Vitali and Falco who fronted up in this section. Jarillo (Milo), Viscount Viktor and Happy Boy were in the BEDE section of up and coming horses. Vitali put in a superb performance to score a 27 to kick the class off and he was only headed by superstars London 52, Lordships Graffalo and JL Dublin. Who all happen to be Brits and Paris Olympians.
Falco was uber relaxed and Tim was delighted with him in his test. He had a bit of a stumble before a flying change but recovered his balance to execute it perfectly but since it was just past the centre line perhaps the judges penalised him for it. He sat on a 30 which is not really reflective of the performance he put in.
In the BEDE section both Viktor and Happy were on brilliant form to score 28.5 for equal second place and they did put a smile on Tim’s face. Happy has always been able to wow the judges but Viktor can suffer from imposters syndrome so it was good to see him strut his stuff in the ring with the aplomb he always has at home.
Milo is super fit as he heads for his first 5 star in Kentucky and that is a bad balance with his horse shy issues! He has so much energy he doesn’t really know where to channel it as well as the anxiety he has about warm ups. He scored a 34 which wasn’t particularly undeserved but does show how much easier the long format is for him with its structured ‘final arena’ warm ups which are so much quieter than the relative chaos of a short format.
Jonelle had a fun morning showjumping Jools, who posted her usual enthusiastic round for zero points added with her ears flat back in concentration and Grape, who was just as enthusiastic for 4 faults.
Tim and Vitali showed the rest of the field the ropes with a lovely clear, adding just a couple of seconds of time for 0.8. Milo is a great show jumper but he just shut down behind for 4 faults over a single fence which, as Tim said, was better here than Kentucky. Viktor has struggled with this phase in the journey to becoming a 5 star horse at times but today he was exemplary apart from a major mistake on take off at one fence which resulted in him totally trashing it before recovering his composure to jump the rest of the round perfectly. Viktor is a complicated chap who undoubtably is on the spectrum with some form of ADHD but he is also an unbelievable talent. Not many 11 year olds head for Badminton with Pau, Luhmuhlen and Burghley already under their belt. He’s a bit like one of those child prodigy’s….super clever, weird and destined never to have a normal relationship with his parents.
Tim was first out on Vitali and gave his usual masterclass on how to jump around a big track. They were foot perfect everywhere and virtually schooled around the track showing all of their 5 star experience and unique partnership. Tim never had any intention of winning prizes at Thoresby, it was always about the prep for Badminton or Kentucky and it was a super run.
Jonelle was next with Jools who bounded around the track like a labrador puppy. They do have a somewhat unusual “portable” bank at Thoresby which last year was nearly Grape’s undoing as she mis read it, tried to jump it in one and ended up on her face in the dirt which made the arrowhead three strides later unjumpable and necessitated a trip to Burnham Market for Badminton box ticking! This year it was in a different position with no arrowhead but it was Jools who decided she was superwoman and gave Jonelle a heart stopping moment as she also contemplated jumping it in one before a last moment touch down which was pretty hairy to watch!
Grape was fabulous everywhere including the bank which she respected with the air of someone who will not be fooled twice. They might have moved the fence but Grape is one smart chic and never forgets a thing and if anything her expression as she jumped it was one more of distain than acceptance. Badminton beckons with good vibes.
Tim was now on phase 8 of 10 and the sun is starting to flag a bit and the wind is pretty cold. But it’s Falco and he and Tim canter around the track like it’s a pony club exhibition. Falco is 16 now and it is simply a privilege every time he runs to watch him and Tim and their incredible partnership together. His footwork is something else and they are uniquely attuned to each other in the way that all the great partnerships are.
Milo was in his happy place when he headed out of the start gates and had some space for himself and his energy. He jumped a great round which only cemented his status as ready for 5 star to all and sundry. It was a windy few days which Milo hates, he has been on edge for a few days but he finished up with a solid performance in the most important phase of all. The ‘perfect prefect’ child is on track for Kentucky.
And Happy….. well, Happy continues to ensure that despite winning Le Lion d’Angers, Blenheim and Boekelo he is never going to be on the transfer list. He backed up his great test with a superb clear showjumping where Tim said he really used his body to its best advantage. He got as far as fence 6 cross country,( a brush arrowhead as part B of a combination in a dip with the arrowhead on the rise) before running off it at attempt one. He then also ran off it on attempt 2 and 3, and Happy is well aware that means the leisurely walk home on a long rein. He also made sure the camera stayed on him with some fancy trot work in between attempts where he showcased some passage and piaffe just to keep the audience entertained. He really is the equine equivalent of Robbie Williams… superb talent with an ability for self destruction that can only be marvelled at. Happy knows the drill the way that Robbie knows when he is heading for rehab…..Cross country schooling at Rosamund Farm beckons before he gets on his first plane trip and leaves the horsebox behind on the tarmac.
Me thinks he will like that. Very much. Falco is about doing the job with the most aplomb. Vitali wants to win a 5 star. Milo wants some space to call his own and Viktor lives in Viktor World. Happy is all about the look and the Insta likes. He’s not unalike the Orange President….very, very unpredictable but despite all the odds a winner when it matters. Let’s make Happy Great Again could make him the longest backed winner of Kentucky ever.