Bold claims following Sydney International Three Day Event

Shenae Lowings and her Australian thoroughbred Bold Venture have strengthened their claims for next year’s Paris Olympics with a strong showing at the Sydney International Three Day Event, finishing third in the CCI4*L class and taking out the Best Performed Thoroughbred prize sponsored by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC).

The Sydney International Three Day Event was held in a new timeslot this year, running from Thursday 9 November – Sunday 12 November at Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC). The competition attracted a stellar lineup of riders and horses, highlighted by Olympians Shane Rose, Sonja Johnson and Heath Ryan.

Andrew Barnett and Go Tosca finished in first place in the top CCI4*L class, ahead of Olivia Barton and Henrik APH in second place.

Ms Lowings and her former racehorse Bold Venture performed a polished dressage test to be in second place after the first phase, slipping to fifth after incurring eight time faults during a relaxed cross country phase but zipping back up the finishing order with a foot-perfect show jumping round to finish in third place overall, continuing their remarkably consistent record at the top level.

Ms Lowings and Bold Venture have an impressive CV, winning the CCI4*L class (and Best Performed Thoroughbred prize) at the 2022 Melbourne International Three Day Event, before being selected to represent Australia at the World Championships in Pratoni, Italy in September 2022. More recently, the pair took out first place in the CCI4*S at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival in April this year. They also took an anchor role in securing Australia’s qualification to compete as a team at the Paris Olympics in June this year by leading the Aussies to first place in the team competition at the CCIO3*-L at Millstreet International Horse Trials, County Cork, as well as finishing in first place in the individual competition.

Ms Lowings’ also has a second thoroughbred showing great promise as he progresses through the grades, with 10-year-old gelding Chasing Great finishing in fifth place overall in the CCI3*L and taking out the Best Performed Thoroughbred prize sponsored by the VRC. 17th after dressage, the pair had a clear cross country round to move up to 10th place after that phase, with one rail in the show jumping phase still allowing them to move up to fifth overall.

Jess Somerfield and Finch Farm Carpentaria won the CCI3*L overall, ahead of Wilhelm Enzinger and Epic Extreme in second place with Olivia Barton and APH Sodoku in third.

The VRC was proud to continue its partnership with the Sydney International Three Day Event by presenting the prize for the Best Performed Thoroughbred in the CCI4*-L and the Best Performed Thoroughbred in the CCI3*-L, continuing its support of retired racehorses competing in elite equestrian sport.

Each winner was presented with a $1000 cash prize along with a Flemington Racecourse hospitality package and presentation rug by Australian Olympian and VRC Ambassador Amanda Ross.

Sydney International Three Day Event media release here