Racing
2025 Adelaide Equestrian Festival Wrap
The 2025 edition of the Adelaide Equestrian Festival delivered four thrilling days of elite competition in the heart of the city—and this year, it was the Thoroughbreds who stole the spotlight.
From the adrenaline of cross country through Rymill Park to the precision of dressage and the excitement of show jumping in Victoria Park, Thoroughbreds featured prominently across all three levels of competition. Seven of the 21 horses in the prestigious CCI5*-L—the only five-star event in the southern hemisphere—were retired racehorses.
The crowning moment came in the CCI5*-L, when the rising 20-year-old gelding WillingaPark Clifford made history with owner and longtime rider Hazel Shannon.
Foaled in Tasmania in 2005, the chestnut gelding by Passing Shot out of Twin Pearls was bred for the racetrack, though his time there was brief - retiring after just two trials.
Clifford and Hazel's achievements are unparalleled in Australian eventing history, being the only combination to have won the Adelaide CCI5*-L four times—in 2016, 2018, 2019, and now again in 2025. This remarkable feat places them among a select group of horse-and-rider combinations worldwide to have claimed the same five-star title four times.
Four-time Olympian Shane Rose had two Thoroughbreds in the 5-star field. His mount "The Bandit," a bay gelding by Empire Maker (USA) out of Ravi's Lovin (USA), had an impressive racing career spanning 38 starts and earning $298,687 in prize money. Rose and the 13-year-old gelding finished second, making it a retired racehorse quinella.
Shanes second five-star mount, "Matrixx," who raced as Biaxial (by Teofilo (IRE) out of Epona Star), had six career starts for $1,650 in earnings and placed 7th in the five-star.
This year's festival also marked the 25th anniversary of the Adelaide Equestrian Festival and a milestone for Racing SA, the proud naming rights sponsor of the CCI3*-L class. The partnership highlights Racing SA's ongoing commitment to promoting life after racing and showcasing the diverse careers Thoroughbreds can pursue post-track.
The CCI3*-L proved a hotly contested event, with numerous retired racehorses stepping up to the challenge and demonstrating the depth of talent rising through the ranks. A standout performance came from Hannah Deegan and HK Hawthorn, who finished in third place. The 11-year-old gelding, who raced as Hawthorn (by Toorak Toff out of Volksini (NZ)), was originally trained by Chris Waller before continuing his career in Tasmania. He retired with 11 starts and $600 in earnings—now thriving in his second career.
Across the board, retired racehorses made their presence felt. Whether stepping up to their first FEI class or returning as seasoned campaigners, these Thoroughbreds proved they belong among the world's best.
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