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First on Card for Bostock International Olympic Cup
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Daniel Meech and Queen of Dance competing in Europe.
European import Queen of Dance can lay claim to a special spot at the 2015 Farmlands Horse of the Year Show.
The 12-year-old mare, owned by Daniel Meech and his mother Valerie Twist, was the first horse entered in the Bostock International Olympic Cup Class.
But her 41-year-old owner says there is a lot to happen between entering and actually starting the class.
“If she is ready, she will be in that class,” says Meech, who has placed a number of times in the prestigious class, but never taken the title.
“I would love to see her compete in that class . . . that is our goal, but we’ll just see how things go. HOY is a show I love and a fantastic one to be successful at.”
As a youngster he placed second in the Pony of the Year class and before heading off overseas he rode a few times in the Olympic Cup.
“Back then it didn’t have the same feeling as now,” says Meech. “It has become the goal of anyone with top aspirations to win. Back then it was more of a stepping stone – it is quite different now. It would be fantastic to win the big one there.”
Over the years Meech has been successful in other classes though, twice winning the Premier Stakes and speed class, as well as the Young Rider title.
“In recent years I haven’t really been a real contender for the Olympic Cup. That’s why it would be nice if Queen is going well for it.”
Queen of Dance was brought to New Zealand through the sponsorship of Christen and Angie Hillary, who Cassini K, a horse Meech is competing on here in 1.3-1.4m classes.
“The plan is to breed from her here.”
A Dutch KWPN mare with a thoroughbred Argentinian father and German Capitol mother, she was bought in Egypt and competed successfully up to 1.6m in Europe with Meech.
“She is a very nice type of mare and I would love to breed from her. She is a horse I know and really love.”
Meech splits his time between his base in South Germany and LC Horse Farm in Clevedon, Auckland, and plans to return to his European base after HOY.
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