Felicity Burton riding JR ELSOLA REY owned by Felicity and Karl Burton.
Another fantastic initiative from Landmark Equine is the Performance Horse Challenge, this year with new sponsors Prydes Easifeeds from Gunnedah. The challenge combines both dry and wet work patterns and this year was judged by Tony Mortimer and Peter Shumack, like the Classic was the closest competition in it’s 3 year history.
In a final dominated by equine greats such as two time Gold Cup winner Ben Hall, current Warwick Gold Cup Stallion winner Michael Wilson and Non Pro Futurity winner Amelia Servin, it was the crowd favourite Felicity Burton aboard her magnificent mare JR Elsola Rey (RS Chisim x Jenny Wren) who took out the hotly contested final of the Prydes EasiFeed Performance Horse Challenge and in doing so took home the $15,000 custom made Navaho Trailer and $8,000 winners cheque.
Felicity and her husband Carl purchased JR Elsola Rey in 2012 for $5,000 from Victorian Tony Soffra and were immediately thrilled by the foundation that was put on the mare that competed last year in the Challenge but was bought along slowly with this year’s competition in mind.
Felicity considers last night’s challenge to be one of her proudest moments and is on the hunt for another prospect to challenge and draft at the following Classic’s commenting that the concept along with the sponsorship from Prydes Easifeed and Navaho is second to none.
At only .04 of a point separating first and second was Michael Wilson on his gelding Ocean Expo by resident sire Soda Justice out of Smart Little Argyle bred by the Field family and purchased for $7,500 in 2012. Expo ran 6th in the challenge last year and this year took home $4000 in cash plus prizes.