Thorough Care SA's Royal Adelaide Show Wrap

Run and won, this year’s Royal Adelaide Show Horses-In-action was nothing short of brilliant with retired racehorse Aunt Bridge, now known as Regalia taking out the major prize of “Best in Show”.

On top of last year’s record-breaking number of thoroughbreds, the 2024 edition of the Royal was another record-breaking year with 44 thoroughbreds listed in the entries, as well as three retired racehorses performing the role of “Red Coats”.

“It felt like the Cox Plate of showing. The quality of thoroughbreds competing at this year’s show would not look out of place at the biggest events,” said Racing SA Industry Operations & Welfare Manager John Cornell.

Ali Kent, Darren Telford, and Greg Gerry’s Nomination “Regalia” who raced as “Aunt Bridge” (Maurice/Extravaganza) may not have set the world on fire during her 10-start racing career (10:0-3-0), though has certainly made her mark in the world of showing. Unbeaten during this year’s Royal Adelaide Show; from winning classes, to taking out The Matthew Hill Smith Prize for Best in Show, Regalia was piloted to perfection by a true showing professional, Ali Kent.

Regalia’s Royal Adelaide Show results:

• 1^st Thorough Care SA Prize Racehorse to Show horse Hack, over 16 hands
• Thorough Care SA Champion Racehorse to Show Horse Hack
• 1^st Hack over 16 hands and not exceeding 16.2 hands
• The Romsey Park Prize Champion Hack
• The Matthew Hill Smith Prize Best in Show (in which the prize money was doubled in the case of a retired racehorse winning)

“Adelaide really was a showies dream. We love our thoroughbreds and to have a mare win Best in Show only 18 months after racing is incredible. It is also testament to the care given to her when racing, and the team of people who have reshaped her career to showing. We are very lucky,” said owner Darren.

“Greg had seen her race on Racing.com and followed her along. We were very lucky that her trainer Donna Scott and her owner/breeder were keen to place her in a home that would provide a second career,” he said. 

Ali, Greg, and Darren have had great success bringing thoroughbreds to compete in Adelaide. In 2022 Coronation (Raced as Lady Jeure (Canford Cliffs (IRE)/Bella Bianco) also took out the prizes for Champion Show Hack and award for Best in Show.

Racing SA and Thorough Care SA were a Platinum Sponsor of the Horses-in-action competition providing sponsorship to thoroughbreds in the Racehorse to Show horse Classes and Championships, Fashion Off the Track, a bonus in the event that the winner of the “Best in Show” prize was a retired racehorse, as well as for the first time the Junior Jumping competitions.

Regalia was not the only retired racehorse succeeding in her post racing career. A full list of results can be found at: https://www.theshow.com.au/competition-results

The Thorough Care SA Prize Racehorse to Show Horse - Hack, 16 hands and Under

The Thorough Care SA Prize Racehorse to Show Horse - Hack, over 16 hands.

Champion Racehorse to Show horse Hack

Champion - Regalia Ridden by Ali Kent exhibited by Ali Kent & Greg Gerry              

Reserve Champion - Swan Lake ridden by Kate Halliday – Exhibited by Christopher Lawrie & Stephen Merry

The Thorough Care SA Prize Racehorse To Show horse - Show Hunter, 16 Hands And Under

The Thorough Care SA Prize Racehorse To Show horse - Show Hunter, Over 16 Hands.

Champion Racehorse To Showhorse Show Hunter

Champion - Westminster – Ridden by David Warde & exhibited by Fiona McIntyre

Reserve Champion - TT – Ridden and exhibited by Mitchel Fox

The Thorough Care SA Prize Fashions Off the Track

Red Coats:

 Photo Credit: Lisa Gordon