Smith keeps it clear

A mare steps up to secure a HOYS ticket, while a first season attempting seniors continues to be successful for one rider

- SARAH RADFORD

JAMES SMITH delivered the fastest jump-off round and the only treble clear to take the top Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket in the Foxhunter second round, riding Juno Rose 23.

James was third to go of the five riders through to the final phase on Thomas Carruthers’ nine-year-old mare, with both of those who went before him having lowered a pole.

“I thought if I stayed half on it that would be enough, but in the end we were the only treble clear,” said James, who took the win over Juno Rose’s previous rider Emma Crawford, the fastest fourfaulter on Cliftons Adelaide.

James has been riding the Erdento x Nissan Caretano Z mare since January and the partnership were fresh from rankings class wins in Maubeuge and Sancourt in France.