A Mosgiel equestrienne knew her stallion was a superstar, and the biggest equestrian event in the southern hemisphere has confirmed it.
Horse rider and trainer Claudia Hay rode her black stallion Euro Sport Centavos to two major wins at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings.
There was competition in equestrian disciplines for six days from March 17 at the ''prestigious'' event.
''It's a massive event. ''
She and the stallion she nicknamed Centi arrived in Hawkes Bay a couple days before the event to prepare for competition against riders and horses who had been challenged at the highest international level.
Hay (27) and Centi won the $50,000 Silver Fern Stakes on March 20 and two days later they won the $200,000 Olympic Cup.
''It is amazing to have come away with the two top titles.''
She was named the leading rider of the show.
Centi was ''coming into his prime'' and was widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, jumping horse in New Zealand.
''He is a superstar.''
She imported the 11-year-old Hanoverian stallion from Germany when he was a ''freshly broken in'' 3-year-old.
''He has always shown to be a spectacular jumping horse and he's gone up the grades and just got better and better and this season has won most of the competitions he has been in.''
Centi was worth ''seven figures''.
At Hastings, two of his progeny won first and second place in the 5-year-old horse of the year class.
The horse In Disguise won for former Outram rider Clarke Johnstone, of Matangi, and Double J Escape and rider Oliver Edgecumbe, of Waipukurau, placed second.
Several other Centi progeny had wins and placings.
The event confirmed how good Centi was, and the ability of the team behind the horse, she said.
The wins had provided valuable exposure for Euro Sport Horses and would generate future business for the Mosgiel stud, Hay said.
Horse of the Year
• 2600 horses
• 1800 riders
• 28 arenas
• 400 volunteers
• 84,000 attendance
