Canter’s lucky Clover
Ros Canter and Cooley Cloverland (Cavalier Land x Clover Hill), went one better than their second place 12 months ago when they took top spot in the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse final for five-year-olds at Defender Burghley.
The smart bay was pipped at the post in the four-year-old class last year, but this year he was the clear winner, finishing on a total score of 87.75 — more than six points ahead of his nearest rival.
Cooley Cloverland is owned by Kate and Joe Walls and Rob and Tricia Sargent, and is a full brother to Kate’s now-retired Cooley Lands, who finished third at Badminton in 2019 with Chris Burton. He oozed class throughout, scoring the top marks for dressage and showjumping, and delivered a stirring gallop in front of the final gallop judge, Andrew Nicholson, to seal the deal.
“He’s got a bit about him and can be spooky, but he’s got a great gallop,” said Ros. “He’s light on his feet and brave and straight, which is exactly what you want.”
Although the European champion rode Cooley Cloverlands as a four-year-old, she had not sat on him for a year before coming here.
“Ros suggested that I started off his education this year as she didn’t have any other five-year-olds to run alongside him,” explained Kate. “He has the same lovely temperament and character as Cooley Lands, and like him he can be spooky. I brought him here on Wednesday and Ros has put quite a lot of work into him in the last two days.”
Second was Alex Postolowsky and the Couture Sport Horses Sando Couture (Eros RT x Dolphin Supreme), while Holly Woodhead and Linda Penfold’s Jagerbomb PH (Womanizer x Desir Du Chateau) were third.