Following a 62-start racing career, Mr O’Postrophe found his forever home with trackwork rider Rochelle Adams. The pair competed to FEI two-star level and now, at age 19, Mister has just won the EvA65 at Friends of Werribee Park Horse Trials with young rider Mia Tavoletti in the saddle.

Initially purchased by prominent owners Peter Devitt and Les Gordon, to be trained by David Hayes, there were high hopes for Mr O’Postrophe – he was well bred by Encosta De Lago and out of Black Pass, a Quest For Fame mare who produced successful stallions Scissor Kick and Sharkbite. However, after trialling once as a three-year-old, it was decided the gelding wasn’t up to the grade and was subsequently sold – for a much lower price – and relocated to Tatura with trainer Kevin Evans.

“I remember I was riding breakers the morning ‘Mister’ arrived,” recalls Rochelle Adams, a former trackwork rider and amateur jockey who now works as a bloodstock agent. “Kevin said, ‘I bought you a show pony!’ and I thought, ‘Gosh, what’s he bought?’ Mister got off the truck – he was tiny, only about 430kg – but I just loved him from the moment I saw him.”

Mister raced for six years with Rochelle as his trackwork rider. “He was my first ride of the morning, every morning… he was my favourite, and I begged for him to retire every time he went to the races,” she laughs. Mister went on to have 62 starts – including a couple over hurdles late in his career, although he jumped far too cleanly to be competitive – and retired with nine wins and $92,236 to his name.

“I remember bawling my
eyes out… I was hysterical
that I’d won on this horse.”

A career highlight was a win in the Yea Cup with Rochelle in the saddle. An occasional amateur picnic jockey at the time, Rochelle explains that she thought the trainer was kidding when he said Mister had been nominated, as he usually raced at a higher grade. Rochelle had been engaged to ride another horse whom she’d won on a fortnight earlier, but when she learnt that Mister was running, she jumped at the opportunity to ride her heart horse.

“From acceptances to the day, I don’t think I slept. The riding instructions were ‘don’t get too far back’… he was slow out of the gates, and I was running last. I remember thinking, ‘if I get beaten, I’m in so much trouble!’ Anyway, he came down the outside and won comfortably. I remember bawling my eyes out and almost riding another lap of the track because I was hysterical that I’d won on this horse.”

TIME TO GO EVENTING

Much to Rochelle’s delight Mister finally retired at age nine, and after some time off in the paddock they began their equestrian career together; the gelding had his first EA eventing start as a 12-year-old.

“I then had a nasty fall riding trackwork and required 12 months out of the saddle,” explains Rochelle. During that time, Mister got the call-up to partner with show jumper Russell Johnstone for Jump Off – a show jumping series for off-the-track horses – and the pair spent six weeks together, during which they won the Queensland leg of the series.

“We got back into it once I was able to ride again, but we discovered in early 2021 at age 16 that he had kissing spine,” continues Rochelle. “I’d always just thought he was a hot horse and that’s how he was. I wish I’d known sooner – he is just so genuine, and he never stopped or had rails, he was Mr Consistent – he never told me that he was sore.”

Rochelle elected to go ahead with surgery, and from there his eventing career excelled despite his age. Covid unfortunately put the brakes on a burgeoning career; older to begin with, Mister then lost two years of events during what would have been his prime FEI years.

However, he and Rochelle made it to two-star level and qualified for Melbourne International Three-Day Event, completing the CCI2*L in 2023.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

Young rider Mia Tavoletti crossed paths with Rochelle and Mister, as she was agisting at the same property, and first rode Mister back in 2022. “I rode him a week before competing him at Spring Horse Trials [held at Werribee Park] that year. I had originally planned to ride my own horse at the time, but after a last-minute scratching, Rochelle kindly offered for me to take Mister,” she explains.

With Mister stepping down from FEI competition this year, Rochelle knew that Mia was the perfect match for her 19-year-old star.

“I’ve watched Mia grow as a rider and rapidly progress over the last few years… it was a very easy decision to hand the reins over to her once it was time for him to step down from FEI level.”

No stranger to OTTs, Mia says it’s actually all she’s ever had. “Even when I was still at a riding school I would always ask to ride them; I definitely have a love for them, they’re one of a kind.”

WINNING AT WERRIBEE

In August, Mia and Mister entered the RB Sellars EvA65 class at Friends of Werribee Park Horse Trials – and won!

“It was such a surreal experience,” says Mia. “As my first competition back after having a fall resulting in me having shoulder surgery, I just had planned to go out and enjoy the experience without any pressure. Once I got off cross country and looked at the scores, because I thought I missed a jump and would be eliminated, I was shocked to see I had won the class!”

Rochelle, who was competing in the same class on a young horse, couldn’t have been happier to see the pair emerge victorious.

“I’m so proud! Mia hasn’t had an easy 12 months, she is so dedicated: rain, hail or shine, she is out with the horses doing whatever she has too. Mister might be an accomplished horse in his own right, he is safe, but he certainly isn’t an easy ride. He is anxious and tense, albeit an asset when it comes to the jumping phases, it’s very hard to keep him in check for the dressage.
Mia exceeded all my expectations, not only did she get through it, but she also absolutely nailed it and kept him calm and consistent the whole test.

“They set the bar high, I did my best to catch her on my young horse but as they say, class prevails!” laughs Rochelle.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for Mister since I met him almost four years ago now,” explains Mia. “I most love his personality. He’s the funniest and sweetest horse you’ll ever meet! He has such a cheeky side to him, but you always know he’ll take care of you.”

As for the rest of the eventing season, Mia says the goal is to have fun. “I’m so lucky to be able to have this opportunity to ride Mister and enjoy eventing while also getting my experience up and confidence back.” EQ