Third time lucky for Zoe Adams in the Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix

Satonamillion gave Hickstead visitors their money's worth today when winning the Amlin Plus Eventing Grand Prix for Zoe Adams, adding just five penalty seconds to their fast time of 185.66sec.

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Zoe, 22, finished seventh in this class in 2011 and fifth in 2012, making it third time lucky for the Essex-based rider.

"The last couple years I've been close and I love this class, it's such an adrenalin rush - the more times you do it, the hungrier you get to win it," said Zoe. "This is his most prestigious win to date, and it's always good to win in the International Arena at Hickstead."

The gelding was originally bought to showjump but ended up eventing to two-star level.  "He's not a fan of the dressage, so we're back to showjumping now," Zoe said of Satonamillion, who got his name after his previous owner found a lottery ticket in the back of his pocket.

The Eventing Grand Prix, which is sponsored by bloodstock insurers Amlin, is a unique competition where showjumpers and eventers go head to head around a course of showjumps in the International Arena as well as cross-country fences around Hickstead's estate, with 27 jumping efforts in total.

Zoe's win made it two in a row for the showjumpers, with Ireland's Trevor Breen having won last year on Adventure De Kannan.

Today's showjumping action began with the Royal International Vase, which was won by Kent-based Guy Williams and Bijou van de Vijfheide. He nearly made it two wins in a row with a fast clear on Depardieu van T Kiezelhof in the Bunn Leisure Trophy, only for Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher to pip him to the post with Aristo Z.

"Aristo is an amazing horse, a natural winner," said Ben. "Aristo can be quite feisty, but he has a phenomenal technique and a will to win like no other horse."

Ben will ride for Team GB in tomorrow's Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ of Great Britain, presented by Longines. It will be Ben's first time riding in his home leg of the Nations Cup series, and he will be partnered by his London 2012 horse Tripple X - with the British team no doubt going all out to reprise their success of exactly 12 months ago in Greenwich.

Rob Hoekstra, British chef d'equipe, said: "It would be great for the sport if we have win here. At London last year we had a rather big event, and we have three of our Olympic riders in our team tomorrow. But the other teams are the strongest I've ever seen at Hickstead, so we all have an equal chance.

Ben is also competing Tripple X in the Longines King George V Gold Cup on Sunday, the British Grand Prix. "It's a big ask for him to jump both in one weekend, but this is one class in England that's eluded me, so I really want to win it. I've come close a couple of times - I knocked the last fence down one year and another time I had the first fence down in the jump-off, so hopefully it's third time lucky for me," he said.

One of the country's most coveted showing championships reached its conclusion today at the Longines Royal International Horse Show. The Leeman Family Supreme Hunter Championship went to Danielle Heath and Oathill Take The Biscuit, while Katie Jerram's Dunbeacon was reserve.

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