The Defender Horse of the Year is turning into the Sophie Scott show with the 23-year-old this evening adding the Cavallino Silver Fern Stakes to her trophy list.

She has already won the Norwood Gold Cup and the Wade Equine Coaches Lady Rider of the Year earlier in the show – each on a different horse.

Last year she took the quinella in the class, but this year it was 2024 runner-up Waitangi Skynet who bagged the win.

Ten of the original 15 starters came back for the second round with only Sophie and Skynet making it around the Mark Atkins course. Clears were a little more forthcoming in the second round with Tristan Thomas aboard the starry Matai Zarite leaving all in place to finish on a total of four faults after an unlucky slip in the first. Also leaving everything in place was Julie Davey (Hastings) on LT Holst Freda and Sophie with her second mount Benrose Stellar.

Sophie, who with Skynet was last to go in the second round, just needed to come home clear and there was a collected gasp around a packed Premier Arena when they dropped the second to last to join Julie Davey and Tristan Thomas on four faults each . . . it all came down to the time and that’s where Sophie is so strong.

Sophie and Skynet crossed the flags in 46.78 seconds, with Julie having to settle for second in 47.11 and Tristan third in 52.66.

“It is just amazing to have all three horses win such prestigious titles here,” said Sophie. “I am so happy with my team – it really couldn’t have gone any better.”

Show organisers moved quickly this morning to halt all other jumping in the Premier Arena bar the Silver Fern Stakes and it certainly looked to pay dividends.

“It was a bit sticky out there but if the weather continues to improve it will be great jumping on Saturday.”

She’s loving the Mark Atkins courses. “They all worked out for me! I have loved jumping them. It had been a great week of jumping so far.”

Sophie extended a big thank you to the sponsors, organisers, volunteers and her own support crew for their ongoing support.

And she made no secret that next on her wish list is Saturday’s Olympic Cup.

Her win today also earned her the Ian Nimon Memorial Trophy.

Sophie Scott (Palmerston North) Waitangi Skynet 1; Julie Davey (Hastings) LT Holst Freda 2; Tristan Thomas (Rotorua) Matai Zarite 3.