November 6, 2022 
Following the 2022 ECCO FEI World Championships in Denmark, Australia’s James Arkins had a choice: go to Florida where he had been competing prior to the championships or see a new part of the U.S. After Saturday night at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA, Arkins feels like he made the right choice.
With a double clear effort and a lightning-fast jump-off time of 36.103 seconds, Arkins and Eurostar 1 topped the $100,000 Hygain Feeds Grand Prix, held as a highlight of event of the National Sunshine Series I.
“This is super exciting, especially because I’m actually sponsored by Hygain as well; so that makes it extra special,” said Arkins, who was making his first competition appearance with Eurostar 1 since the pair jumped the World Championships in August.
The duo were one of nine entries from Saturday night’s 48-horse starting field to jump Alan Wade’s first round track without fault to advance to jump-off.
When Arkins and Eurostar entered the ring as the penultimate entry to return, the time to beat had been set at 37.065 seconds by Thursday’s winners, Luis Gonçalves and Vick du Croisy. With tight rollbacks and sliced turns, Arkins made short work of that time to take the win, rendering Gonçalves to second place. Ireland’s Lorcan Gallagher and Copycat rounded out the top three with a time of 37.433 seconds.
“[Eurostar] was just super,” said Arkins. “He was really on tonight, and hopefully it’s just the start of many more!”
Arkins has impressively produced the now 10-year-old Eurostar since the stallion was 3, and he made the decision to come to the U.S. from Australia last year to give Eurostar a better chance at becoming a part of Australia’s World Championship team.
“There wasn’t much happening in Australia; we thought the States was the place to be, and he’s just grown here,” explained Arkins. “Every show we’ve gone to, he’s gotten better and better. We managed to get to take him for the World Championships, which was incredible. He’s only just got back. He arrived back actually in Canada a few weeks ago, and I only got him last week. So, this is our first time back at the show, back in the ring. To come out with a win, it’s just incredible. I’m super excited.”
Arkins continued, “He has always been such a beautiful horse, and everywhere he’s been so trainable. He’s incredibly intelligent. You almost have to be a little careful that you don’t let him know too quickly when you want to turn. Because as soon as he knows you’re turning, he’s off! Everything I’ve asked him through his whole training process, he’s stepped up and won sort of every age division that he was in. He was probably the top stallion in Australia before we left, and then to come here, he’s just gotten better and better. It took a little bit to get used to the difference of jumping in bigger rings and a faster pace, but he’s just really grown. I’m really excited about the next sort of eighteen months, two years with him. I’m really looking forward to trying to get on the team for Paris [2024]!”
For full results of the $100,000 Hygain Feeds Grand Prix click here, and to learn more about the Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.
