Levi Xtreme can be sassy, tricky and opinionated, but all was forgiven this afternoon when he carried Isabelle Jameson to victory in the Seven-Year-Old Horse of the Year.

“It is pretty fricken cool,” said the 20-year-old fulltime rider from Whangarei.  “Our goal for the show was the atmosphere experience for him, given it was his first HOY, but the seven year-old title was there for the taking.”

She wasn’t wrong but clears were thin on the ground from the 20-strong start list, with just Isabelle, Tara Gower aboard Riverhills Legend and Sam Carrington on Double J Odin leaving everything in place. Coming through with them to the jump-off were the three four faulters in Tristin Thomas aboard Matai Zarite, Mathew Dickey on Cornet Indiana, and Oliver Croucher on Takapoto Koru who was on debut at this level.

Running in reverse order, it was all about keeping the tallies down, and it all came down to last to go Sam. With zero on the board, she just needed a clear round to take the win, but it wasn’t to be and Isabelle’s four fault tally from the two rounds was enough to take the title.

Coming in for second was Tara who finished on eight faults in 50.66 seconds, the fastest round of the jump-off, with third going to Oliver who was also on eight faults but in 56.2. 

Levi Xtreme has had age group series wins and style prizes, but never a HOY title – actually, this was his first outing at the big show.

“When we walked the course we thought there were some pretty big questions early on,” said Isabelle. Her plan for the second round was to take all the lines but don’t go silly on speed – especially with Sam Carrington on Odin to follow. “She is a lovely rider on a very clean horse, so 10% she was a danger.”

Isabelle, who is trained by the Bishops and Jeff McVean, was ecstatic with the win. “He’s a huge character but he means well and everyone seems to have an opinion on how I should ride him.”

She’s confident the steel grey has a bright future. “He has lots of scope, personality and fight, and misses nothing that is going on around him. I would like to think he will continue to bigger and better next season.”For full results, head to www.evoevents.co.nz