Maurer and Blue Rinse Continue Good Form

Danielle Maurer and her lovely roan Blue Rinse look to be the ones to watch in the New Zealand young rider series taking the class with ease at the Annandale Christmas Classic in Taupo Friday.

The Auckland combination were the only ones of 16 starters to leave all the rails in place in the opening round of the class, although they paid for their caution with three time faults.

Rachael Bentall (Hastings) on Kiwi Brave and Hannah Burnett-Grant (Taupo) on Winston Darco V each had a rail and time fault, but time gave the Hawke's Bay combination second place, with the latter in third.

Earlier in the show Luke Dee (Gisborne) reaped the reward of a catch ride on Jordyn Becconsall's Lowenbehold, taking out the junior rider series as well as the equitation component of the class.

Robert Steele (Hawera) and Gospel rained on Bernard Denton's (Gisborne) parade when he took the 1.4m class in an exciting jump-off. Denton and Suzuki looked to have the class in the bag going clear in the jump-off in 41.55 seconds, but Steele and Gospel snaffled .02 of a second off that time to take the honours.

The Christmas Classic has attracted more than 800 combinations over the four days, and will run through to Sunday. Entries are huge in some classes, with a massive 180 combinations competing in the 1.1m jump on the opening day of the show.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is the main day of the show with the fourth round of the NZ World Cup qualifying series, which has attracted a 14-strong field including New Zealand World Equestrian Games representatives Katie McVean (Mystery Creek) and Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke).

McVean, who is currently leading the series, will be aboard the in-form Dunstan Daffodil while Beatson is on My Gollywog who has come back fresh and in good early form from a nice long break.

Ground conditions at the centre are perfect, even if the weather is a little patchy.

Results -

Zilco young rider: Danielle Maurer (Auckland) Blue Rinse 1, Rachael Bentall (Hastings) Kiwi Brave 2, Hannah Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Winston Darco V 3, Rachel McGregor (Cambridge) Kabo Benny Boy 4, Stephanie Anderson (Cambridge) I Reckon 5, Timothy Myers (Hawera) Pick Me NZPH 6.

Betavet 1.4m: Robert Steele (Hawera) Gospel 1, Bernard Denton (Gisborne) Suzuki 2, Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) Kahurangi Valentino 3, Ike Unsworth (Tauranga) Wimbledon MVNZ 4, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) Cortaflex Swinger 5.

Kiwi Span junior rider: Luke Dee (Gisborne) Lowenbehold 1, Lisa Hogg (Ohope) Brooke BHS 2, Melody Matheson (Hastings) 3, Rosie Commons (Auckland) Glenara Chandon 4, Harriet Smith (Papakura) Miss Matilda 5, Henry Booth (Masterton) Getemshorty 6.

STH pro amateur rider: Megan Stacey (Papamoa) Shimmerman 1, Sarah Beal (Auckland) Y Not 2, Geordie Bull (Taupo) Hunter Road 3, Kirsten McLeod (Gisborne) Kahurangi Valencia 4, Russell Green (Maramarua) Dream On 5, Catherine Fawcett (Auckland) Sir Spice 6.

Iverquantal amateur rider: Angie Bruce (Auckland) Qualine De Kergane 1, Jamie Campbell (Auckland) Libertina 2, Merran Hain (Gisborne) Untouchable 3, Nicola Smith (Cambridge) Chrialka Dettori 4, Heloise Tolo (Wellington) Sirocco Twiggy 5, Olivia Gloyn (Waikato) Midway Ace 6.

Horse 1.3m: Kirsten McLeod (Gisborne) NZ Josef 1, Megan Stacey (Papamoa) Shimmerman 2, Jamie Beatson (Cambridge) Ombudsman 3, Julie Davey (Hastings) Air Hill Myka 4, Lisa Coupe Bates Limerick GNZ 4, Tess Williams (Gisborne) Alltech Walnut Brown 5, Rachael Bentall (Hastings) Kiwi Brave 6.

Horse 1.4m: Ike Unsworth (Tauranga) NRM Wimbledon MVNZ 1, Julie Davey (Hastings) Air Hill Myka 2, Simon Wilson (Waipukurau) Cortaflex Right Royal 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) My Gollywog 4, Bernard Denton (Gisborne) Triumph 5.