KOYUNA SUN SHINE

Chestnut Mare 16hh, born 1999 Sire: - Brilliant Invader       Dam:- Irish As

'Shine' was also bred by Howard & Darren Clark of  Koyuna Stud and purchased in early 2001 as a yearling. She began her eventing career as a 5yo at the end of 2004 with 2 Pre-Novice wins and followed that up with her third Pre-Novice win at the opening event of the 2005 season. Her sensitive nature has resulted in a slightly slower progression through the grades with some good Novice performances towards the end of the year. Again, she has excelled in the Showjumping arena, winning the D Grade Championship at the Metropolitan Districts World Cup Show. She was also 3^rd in the Australian National Junior Derby when ably piloted by 12yo David Doel who is the son of my English  Dressage trainer, Maggie Doel when they were out visiting us in November 2005. 2006 was an excellent year for Shine with many wins & placings at two star level including the CIC** at the prestigous Adelaide International. She has started to develop much improved self-carriage on the flat and even added the Elementary Champion title at the 2006 Southern Vales Dressage Championships with a 72% score. 2007 plans include upgrading to 3 star level with the Werribee CCI*** being the focus of her Autumn season.

UP-DATING SHINE'S PERFORMANCES 2007 / 2008

Shine spent much of 2007 in Dancer's shadow, coming in second at Tonimbuk & Reynella CIC*** to his first, but outshone him at a highly competitive Albury CIC*** for 7th (behind Newsprint 1st & Sun Magic 2nd ), then a 4th at Naracoorte and an amazing effort at the Melbourne International Three Day Event, double clear Cross Country and, but for a tiny error in show jumping causing one rail down, (for 3rd place) when a clear round would have had them first and second !

2008 in the Olympic selection year Shine outshone the boys, Sun Magic & Dancer, at Wandin (second to Jaguar) and at Sydney International Three Day Event selection trials where her dressage did meet selection criteria on a score of 48 , a clear, fast Cros Country with just 4.8 time and then one expensive show jump rail from a mare who rarely touches them, cost her a potential 2nd at this all important Event. Finishing just 0.7 points behind Megan & Jester who went on to be 4th best in the World at the Olympics, Shine has demonstrated her potential for the future.

Shine did not compete at Werribee and had a break before preparing more slowly for Adelaide 4 star 3DE contesting the Show Jumping Nationals at Canberra at C Grade level for a 3rd & 5th and Reynella ODE CNC*** for a 3rd place after a tense dressage. Again she was a little unsettled in the dressage at Adelaide where perhaps the greater atmosphere in the new arena area got to her a little for a disappointing score of 54.6. Shine, like Dancer, did not add to her dressage score completing double clear in both Cross Country and Show Jumping, (and winning the Atco Prize for the best Show Jump round) to finish in 4th place in her first 4 star.

Best Performances: