The calendar favourite of many eventers, the Horsland Wandin Park International Horse Event made a long awaited and spectacular return last weekend.
With Adelaide Equestrian Festival very close on the horizon, and Australian team selection for the Oceania Eventing Championships and FEI Eventing World Championships both upcoming, the event was full of competitive hopefuls. The stunning Anker family property in Gruyere delivered a beautiful venue, near perfect weather, and fantastic sport from Friday through Sunday (20-22 March).
Following on from Tonimbuk International Horse Trials only two weeks ago, the FEI classes were brimming in numbers and talent, with many seeking both qualifications and solid runs prior to Adelaide Equestrian Festival and Melbourne International Three-Day Event (MI3DE) in April and June, respectively.
Re-watch Sunday’s cross country action from Wandin on-demand via ClipMyHorse.TV.
‘Darby Double’ in the CCI2*S
The Pryde’s EasiFeed CCI2*S saw 30 combinations vie for placings and qualifying scores, taking on not only the course but also the elements – with Sunday morning’s fog adding quite the visual effect to the show jumping.
Only four combinations were clear of both jumping and time penalties in the show jumping, and only two posted double clears across the country. Alice Darby was the only rider to do both, finishing on her dressage score of 32.9 with and 10-year-old mare Hermione Day.
“She’s come a long way in the dressage lately, and while there’s still plenty of room for improvement, we pulled off a respectable test I was pleased with,” says Alice.
The fog was no factor for ‘Marnie’ in the show jumping. “She was keen and quite strong but really gave me a confident ride, trying very hard in moments where I could have done a better job.
As the last rider to start on cross country, Alice was aware of how close the scores were, particularly of who was in the interim lead as she left the start box – her brother, Edward Darby. “I knew Edward had gone clear before I started and our scores were pretty close, so that put the pressure on!” laughs Alice. “Marnie was brilliant on course, quick and confident and a little bit of a princess when she doesn’t like getting her toes wet – so the quarry took a bit of encouragement. I was proud to have come in under time as I am often very slow, so this was a good moment to make time!”
Alice claimed the top spot, ahead of her brother, Edward, who followed closely behind to finish in second place to make it a ‘Darby Double’ on the scoreboard, adding only a rail and two seconds of time (0.8 penalties) to his and Charismatic Day’s dressage score.
Edward says he was “absolutely rapt” with ‘Charlie’. “He has had some solid placings in his short FEI level career but is still a very green horse and I am conscious of that in all my rides on him. He is a real showman who wants to display his athleticism, mostly in the right way, sometimes with some unscheduled jumps!”
Edward was quite happy to be bested by his sister for the win, acknowledging that it’s great to have two homebred horses take it out and a testament to the Candlebark Horses bred by he and Alice’s Mum, Julia Gibson.
No doubt Alice feels the same, although she admits it was nice to win: “Taking home the win just ahead of my brother was great… and also the opportunity to rub it in of course!”
Alice and Marnie will now focus on their next few events in preparation for MI3DE CCI2*L in the Junior/Young Rider division.
Third place in the CCI2*S went to Jorja Clarke and Rockin It on a total of 39.6.
Lamoza Velisha and Call Me Cooley win CCI3*S
Twenty-nine combinations took on the Horseland CCI3*S class, with many planning a possible entry to Adelaide at the conclusion of their Wandin competition. Notably, many of the 29 starters were young riders who displayed an incredible amount of talent, determination, and skill to challenge the Ewan Kellett and Jarryd Stanley-designed track, and they ultimately reigned supreme.
Young rider Lamoza Velisha took the win for the class, adding only two cross country time penalties to finish on 35.5 aboard her 2025 MI3DE CCI2* Junior/Young rider winner, Call Me Cooley.
Lamoza acknowledged it was a bit daunting to be the first horse out, especially on cross country, but proved unshakeable. “I couldn’t have asked for a better round, he jumped super, especially with it being his first time at Wandin and for a spooky horse, it can be a lot,” she shares.
Lamoza was thrilled to see her hard work pay off. “It was super to bring home the win,” she adds, especially ahead of their next stop – Adelaide. Lamoza also finished in sixth place on her Ophelie Van Prinsveld, with just two seconds of cross country time (0.8 penalties) added to their dressage score for a total of 40.2)
Kaitlin Teichert of South Australia was thrilled with her result from this weekend, claiming second place by only 0.5 penalties on a score of 36 and as the only combination to finish on their dressage score in the entire field.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work with my coach, Sarah Clark, on [Queen B II’s] dressage, trying to achieve just small, gradual improvements with each event; it was lovely to see some of that work reflected in our score this weekend,” says Kaitlin. “The big grass arena suited her well in the show jumping, she produced a really lovely round.”
With Adelaide already on her mind, Kaitlin planned for the cross country run to be confident and tidy in preparation. “She felt very rideable and with me, and so bold, I think she thrived on a really tough course,” she adds.
Yona Lloyd and Mischief Managed Today took third place with just 1.6 time penalties in the show jumping to contribute to their final score of 37, before Yona headed back out on course again in the CCI4*S.
Top form continues for Samuel Jeffree and Santoro in the CCI4*S
A field of 12 combinations were entered for the headline class in the Horseland CCI4*S, with eight ultimately starting. As the last CCI4* run ahead of Adelaide, these combinations were making some final preparations and adjustments before heading to South Australia next month.
Samuel Jeffree is certainly on form and has earnt the nickname of ‘Mr Consistent’, solidifying this title with a back-to-back win aboard Santoro, his Tonimbuk CCI4*S winner from two weeks prior.
Sam added only a handful of time penalties to his dressage score of 36.3, jumping clear across the country after a faultless show jumping round earlier in the day. They finished on a total of 45.5.
“Santoro has really come out firing this season. He’s really established at this level now and starting to show some super consistency across the board,” shares Sam.
It’s excellent timing to be posting great results, and both Sam and Santoro’s owners are thrilled that he’s come back this season in top form. All eyes turn to Adelaide now. With Wandin as his final event before Adelaide, the next few weeks are full of fine tuning. “We have some dressage and show jumping outings planned to get our final preparations sorted,” says Sam.
Sophia Hill finished only 3.9 penalties behind on 49.4 to take second place. Sophia explains she had a slower cross country run as planned, with the intention to “unleash the speed in the CCI4*S at Adelaide” where she is also hoping to be part of the Australian Oceania Team.
“Wandin is a great lead up event for Adelaide and always has some tough questions on the cross country,” says Sophia, messaging me from the plane where she’s headed on a quick trip to the USA this week, with a prep competition on Humble Glory before flying back to Adelaide. It’s then back again to the USA for Kentucky Three-Day Event!
Asha Warnock and off-the-track Thoroughbred Gold Symphony claimed third place (68.6), adding some cross country time penalties and one unfortunate 11-penalty for a broken frangible device, alongside a single jumping rail.
The Eventing Season in Victoria, and indeed the country, is looking very promising for 2026 and beyond, with exceptional young talent rising to the top in all international levels, and the opportunity for hard earned representation on Australian Teams.
See you in Adelaide!
Full results from Wandin International Horse Event can be found here.
Re-watch Sunday’s cross country action from Wandin on-demand via ClipMyHorse.TV.
