Thoroughbred showjumpers were also starring at the Ekka with the 1.20m Queensland Thoroughbred Off the Track Showcase Class won by NSW visitor Makaylah Fenwick and her eight year-old Olympic Glory (IRE) mare Grace and Glory.
Bred and sold by Arrowfield Stud, Grace and Glory made $100,000 at Inglis Easter when bought by Paul Perry, but after a brief career featuring four unplaced starts, Grace and Glory found her way to Makaylah and has not looked back.
Grace and Glory has worked her way up the heights in showjumping and was fast and careful at the Ekka as she flew around over the 1.20 jumps to claim the win over professional showjumper Clem Smith on seasoned campaigner Where’s Cameron.
17 year-old Makaylah has had a very successful year and will be heading to Sydney in October for Equimillion with her team of off the track jumpers.
The 1.05m section of the Showcase Class was won by Jaime Paige on her 17 year-old Skilful Star gelding Whizkey ‘n’ Diamons aka Travelogue with this combination regularly featuring in the placings at Thoroughbred Sport Horse Association classes in Queensland and NSW.
There are flourishing career paths for competitive off the track thoroughbreds right around Australia as more and more equestrians are rediscovering the thoroughbred as a performance horse.