Nicole Bourgeois and Wayfinder. Photo ©tbird/Quinn Saunders
No rider was busier in the Amy Brattebo Real Estate USHJA National Hunter Derby than Nicole Bourgeois. The Sherwood, OR based professional brought five entries forward to the class and ultimately claimed four of the top five placings. That included the victory, which came aboard Hilary Sonse’s 9-year-old gelding Wayfinder.
The pair received scores of 91 and 92 over the course of the two rounds for a 183 winning total. Dustin Goodwin and Dolce’ Dacapo finished just behind them with a 182 total, with Bourgeois and Duck Duck Goose third (176.5).
“[All five] are very seasoned derby horses, so I’m very lucky,” Bourgeois said. “I’ve had most of them for many years, and we’ve done quite a few derbies at this point, so I feel pretty confident on all of them. Dustin was on a 6-year-old, and I’m on 9, 10, 14 and 19-year-olds. I’m very lucky.”
Partnership certainly played a role in the class, which featured a course that spanned two Thunderbird Show Park arenas. The top two pairs separated themselves from the field after the first round, with Goodwin and Dolce’ Dacapo leading after the classic round with a score of 92, a point ahead of Bourgeois and Wayfinder. But Bourgeois got the upper hand in the second round, and a two-point advantage in the handy round ultimately earned her the victory—her second in two weeks, after topping the USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Split Rock Hunter Jumper Tour in Portland, OR (USA) last Saturday.
“In the handy, I thought any of [my horses] could have won,” Bourgeois. “Wayfinder is definitely a ‘10’ jumper and is probably the most handy of them in that fact that he’s a little bit smaller. We just came off of a win last week, so were riding that high.”
Wayfinder also doubles in the Amateur-Owner hunter divisions with his owner, but Bourgeois has primarily enjoyed the ride while Sonse was pregnant and delivered a son less than two months ago.
“She may come up here in a couple weeks,” Bourgeois said. “I get him to myself for the next week or two, but hopefully she comes up and shows in the Amateur Owners.”
Nicole Bourgeois and Wayfinder stand for the winner’s presentation. Photo ©tbird/Quinn Saunders
$5,000 Amy Brattebo Real Estate USHJA National Hunter Derby Place / Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Score
Wayfinder / Nicole Bourgeois / USA / Hilary Sosne / 183
Dolce’ Dacapo / Dustin Goodwin / CAN / Jordan Pierson / 182
Duck Duck Goose / Nicole Bourgeois / USA / Amy Bean / 176.5
Mc Queen / Nicole Bourgeois / USA / Barbara Lovre / 176
Tic Tac Toe / Nicole Bourgeois / USA / Amy Bean / 173
Darwin / Quinn Partridge / USA / Gillian Baird / 170.5
Cheers! / Dustin Goodwin / CAN / Elizabeth Boylan / 170
Jembey van’t Eigenlo / Rodney Tulloch / CAN / Christine Maclean / 167.5
Gabriel IV / Rodney Tulloch / CAN / Donna Rooney / 162
Jumping Jack Flash Z / Jenny Graham / CAN / Jenny Graham / 153.5