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:

1st Thorough Care SA Prize Racehorse to Show horse Hack, over 16 hands

Thorough Care SA Champion Racehorse to Show Horse Hack

1st 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/com...