More than one way to shine at Equimillion

Image courtesy of Equimillion

The October long weekend brought with it the fourth annual edition of Equimillion, Racing NSW’s premiere off the track Thoroughbred competition at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

Over four days, competitors took part in dressage, showjumping, eventing, and showing classes where $30,000 was spread between the top five finishers.

Spectators for the showjumping would have witnessed sprinting champion Nature Strip (Nicconi) face off against Listed Cups king Wu Gok (Sebring), while Golden Mile (Astern) and Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) strutted their stuff in the Show classes.

Hot King Prawn (Denman) and Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) lit up the dressage area, and the crowd on Sunday were treated to Communist (Russian Revolution) and Another One (Super One) on cross country.

But not all of the stars of the show were headliners on the track, and that is the crucial message that competitors were getting across all weekend. Whether it was in the Stockman's Challenge or dancing on sand, there is more than one way to create a star.

Pedigree, sales price, and earnings in their first career don’t have as much bearing on a retired racehorse’s success as their versatility and their willingness to give it a try.

Laurel Oak’s pride for Pancho continues off the track

Laurel Oak Bloodstock try to select sound, competitive horses when they go to the yearling sales, and Louis Mihalyka is proud to see his $165,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase Pancho (Dissident) prove that both on and off the track.

Trained first by Chris Waller and then David Vandyke, Pancho picked up over $785,000 in prize money across 45 starts in three starts, winning five including the Listed Kilmore Cup and the Listed TCL TV Stakes. When he retired at the age of eight in the autumn of 2023, he found a home with teenage rider Grace Ward.

“Pancho was a fantastic racehorse that served us very well for several years until the time came when he'd had enough,” said Mihalyka. “He was pretty special - he won a black-type race on Oaks Day and ran in some big races for us. When he was ready to retire, we found a good home for him with Grace and she has developed him over the last three years.”

Having just finished sixth at the Australian Interschool Championships, Ward and Pancho to Equimillion with Laurel Oak’s sponsorship in 2026. In the Open 100cm Show Jumping, they faced fierce competition to make it into the jump-off, where they just missed the placings, finishing in seventh with four faults.

In the 90cm Junior Show Jumping, they proved unbeatable, taking home the $15,000 first place cheque and the sash to match.

“For us, it's fantastic to see our ex-racehorses do so well in the equestrian arena,” Mihalyka said.

“We really enjoy hearing how they do, and we have had several others who have done well, but to succeed at such a high level of competition is just wonderful. We get to take a lot of pride in the fact that we bought him as a yearling and have seen his career flourish on the track, and now we get to see him continue to flourish in post-racing life.

“You go to the sales with all of these protocols and processes with the intent of buying a sound horse that performs for a long time, and he is good evidence for that.”

Bred by Sledmere Stud, Pancho is a half-brother to G3 James HB Carr Stakes winner Snitzel Dancer (Snitzel) out of G3 Quezette Stakes placegetter Novel Dancer (Written Tycoon).

Newfangled Jill jumps into a new career

Sometimes, the horse has to spell it out to you on what she is really good at.

Nine-year-old Newfangled Jill (Real Impact {Jpn}) only won one race in her 29-start career for trainer Jeremy Gask, but she raced almost every season from three to eight and always gave her all on raceday. Her true calling, however, was discovered when she retired at the end of 2025 and, after a few months still attending the races as the stable pony, she began jumping out of the retirement paddock.

The mare was performing her stable pony duties when Ceilidh Jenkins strapped her first winner for the stable with Who Ever Thought (Panzer Division) in the 2025 Coonabarabran Cup, and she left a bit of an impression.

“She felt so disgruntled about being left out with the oldies that she would regularly jump the fences to escape, and would just generally cause havoc,” Jenkins said. Jenkins’ other off the track Thoroughbred was battling an ongoing injury, so there was room for another in her paddock.

“I messaged Kerrie and Jeremy asking if Jill might like to come and do something, and they were delighted. We took her home one weekend after my morning shift at the stables in late July this year. We learnt to lunge for a week, had a first ride on the following Tuesday, first canter and pop over a cross pole on the Friday and it was off to two rounds at Scone Jump Club on Saturday morning, which she was foot perfect for.”

Gallery: Ceilidh Jenkins and Newfangled Jill at Equimillion, Images supplied

Their first competition, a week before Equimillion, did not go quite to plan, but with some guidance from local 4* eventer and coach Jess Somerfield, the duo felt ready to head south over the weekend to contest the New Star 65cm Show Jumping class.

They were among just six clear rounds to get through to the jump-off, and scooped second place with another slick clear round.

“You couldn’t have seen a bigger turn around in a horse in a week!,” Jenkins said. “We had brakes, we could concentrate, she warmed up beautifully, and we went up just looking to go smooth and straight around the inviting course. I thought she would be spooky at all the spectators lining the rails, but she jumped around like a pro and left all the poles up and under time.

“We came back for the jump-off and again I just wanted to go around clear and controlled. She left all the poles up - which I don’t think will ever be a problem for her as she is so careful - and we ended up second fastest. I actually couldn’t believe it, my friends who’d scooped me up off the floor last week couldn’t believe it, Jess couldn’t believe it - but it’s a testament to her trainability and just how smart she is to adapt so quickly.”

A homebred for her racing owner Michael J Abdallah, Newfangled Jill is closely related to G2 Light Fingers Stakes winner Rock Me Baby (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). Her sire Real Impact (Jpn) visited Australia while racing and won the G1 George Ryder Stakes, before shuttling to Arrowfield Stud for three seasons.

“She can be quite hot, which is probably a bit of influence from her sire, so she’s not been a straightforward ride, but she has a super jump and once we get the rideability and a bit more experience under our belts, we’ll be on our way,” Jenkins said. “I’m so happy with her and if that’s what we can do in one week, I’m really excited to see what we can do by Equimillion 2027.”

The best of both worlds with Zaaki and Baxter

Leading event rider Shenae Lowings took out the top two spots in the CCN1*-S Eventing class, and the horses she achieved the remarkable feat with could not have come from more different backgrounds.

Runner-up Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) was the definition of resilience and talent in his racing career, winning 15 races on the track and over $11 million in prize money, most of it in the care of trainer Annabel Archibald. The 12-year-old retired at the end of 2023 and has been quick to show Lowings he has the ability to excel in one of the toughest equestrian sports, requiring the mastery of three different disciplines within one event, stepping up to 2* in 2026.

“He’s still got a lot to learn, and he does have a little quirk in him where sometimes he pulls out something he shouldn’t, but that’s why we love him and why he’s such a good horse,” Lowings said.

The class winner, 9-year-old Baxter (Scissor Kick), boasts a slightly more modest record. A distant relation to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}) and G1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}), he won two starts in nine for trainer Will Freedman with his prize money capping out around $37,000.

Off the track, he has flourished and stepped up to 2* level this year after winning the Off The Track (OTT) CCN1-L* class at this year’s Melbourne International 3 Day Event in June.

Lowings understands that talent can be found in all places. Her 2024 Paris Olympics mount Bold Venture raced as Hell On Wheels (Devaraja {NZ}) and had just three starts for three finishes at the back of the field.

In the decade since she paid just $1000 for the gelding as a 6-year-old, the pair have gone all the way to the Olympics and are still competing at the top level, taking out the CCI4*-S at Tamworth International Eventing for the third time earlier this year.

“I’ve ridden Thoroughbreds my whole life,” said Lowings. “Bold Venture has taken me around the world. I just love their brains, I love how they work, and they are just amazing animals.”

Wolf puts best foot forward in New Star dressage

Five-year-old Hour Of The Wolf (Shooting To Win) is another who found his calling in places other than the racetrack. ‘Wolf’ had four starts last year for Justin Bowen and failed to impress, but since he entered the ownership of Molly Corbett earlier this year, he has done nothing else.

“I bought Wolf about 6 months ago from Candace Palmer to turn into an eventing horse for myself,” said Corbett. “Wolf really improved in the lead up to Equimillion and put his best foot forward at the event. I could not have asked for more from him at the event, and couldn't have been prouder of him.”

The pair have taken their first steps in the eventing scene, heading down to Camden in the run-up to Equimillion. For the October long weekend, however, Corbett was also taking Our Raider Boy (Scissor Kick) for the eventing, so she chose to focus on Hour Of The Wolf’s dressage for his first venture to the annual event.

Facing a tough class of 25 competitors, Corbett and Hour Of The Wolf took home joint first place honours in the New Star Preliminary 1.3 class with an impressive score of 72.5% matched only by Emma Dodd on Airman (I Am Invincible).

Corbett has had several off the track Thoroughbreds, and their willingness to take part always draws her back to the breed.

“I definitely fell in love with Wolf and his personality, but unfortunately he will now be for sale, as I have moved to a new job and do not have time,” she said. “Thoroughbreds would have to be my favourite breed of horse to ride. They have so much to give and always try their hardest to please.”