How to make the Quantum Leap
Piggy March and Quantum Leap achieved the double in the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals, adding the five-year-old title to last year's four-year-old victory. They finished on a score of 86.85 – the same as that of Irish rider Susie Berry's Purple Rain, taking the win on the back of a better jumping score.
“We bought him as a two-year-old when Thomas [Piggy's husband] found him in Germany on one of his shopping trips, and he's always been so lovely to work with,” said Piggy. “He has beautiful paces and is the kindest person; he makes my life very easy. He always lifts in the atmosphere here, and felt fantastic today which is very exciting for the future.
“He's been competing at BE100 level this year, recently stepping up to novice, but will finish his season after this – he's had a long year, and done all that I've asked of him so he's earned a long, well-deserved holiday.”
Piggy's homebred Cornet March took third place. “He is a stunning horse,” she said. “He hasn't evented yet because he was slower to start but he has such quality that he could either event or showjump. It's lovely for Thomas because breeding horses is hard work and needs a lot of patience.”
Second-placed Purple Rain was the horse most impressing judge William Fox-Pitt with his 'potential to gallop'.
Holly Richardson's TBH Not Guilty won the prize for the best mare, with Cornet March the highest placed homebred.