news Nugget takes Gold at Gatcombe

• Thrilling finale to NTF RoR Eventing Championship
• A second win for Gold Nugget and Andrew Downes

The NTF RoR Retrained Racehorse Eventing Championship produced a thrilling climax on Sunday in the main arena at Gatcombe Park, one that saw Gold Nugget and Andrew Downes claim their second RoR eventing title further to the success they enjoyed in 2018.

Forming part of the Magic Millions sponsored Festival of British Eventing, this year the NTF RoR Retrained Racehorse Eventing Championship returned to Gatcombe Park for the first time since 2019. The move back clearly suited the 12-year-old gelding Gold Nugget who four years previously had also been successful in the class.

Remarkably, the runner-up in 2018 was once again denied victory by Gold Nugget. Four years ago, Gold Nugget and Andrew Downes had just 0.1 of a penalty point in hand of Dream Big and Tom McEwen.

This year going into the final show jumping round, it was the mare Dream Big and Tom McEwen who held a slender advantage, just 0.6 of a penalty in hand of Gold Nugget and Andrew Downes. With no room for error, Dream Big, unfortunately, had one pole down and dropped to second place, while Gold Nugget and Andrew Downes jumped a clear round to remain on their dressage score of 31.7.

Generously supported by the National Trainers Federation (NTF), the RoR eventing championships are run at Intermediate Novice level with the top ten invited back to show jump again on the final day to compete for the valuable prize money on offer.

Gold Nugget’s victory earned his connections, owner Jane Moss and rider Andrew Downes, £2,000.00, with £1,000.00 to the runner-up Dream Big’s owner, Magdalena Gut and rider Tom McEwen. In third place on 35.6 penalties was Tom Dillinger, ridden by Hector Payne, and in fourth was King Louis and Rachel Cawley with 36.9 penalties.

A son of Elusive City, Gold Nugget was in training with Richard Hannon Snr and ran in the colours of Mrs Julie Wood. However, he showed precious little ability in three runs on the track and was retired in 2013. He has since developed a long and fruitful career in eventing.

Being second again was a cruel outcome for the 11-year-old mare Dream Big after leading on day one and day two. Formerly trained by Jo Crowley and then Tim Vaughan, Dream Big had five runs on the flat and one over hurdles before calling it a day as far as racing was concerned in 2014. Like Gold Nugget, she too has since made her mark in eventing and has remained in the ownership of Magdalena Gut throughout both careers.

First staged in 2003, the NTF RoR Eventing Championship is open to thoroughbreds who have raced in Great Britain.