Koko writes his own success story in QOTT Showjumping Showcase

By Andrew Smith

Having never started in an official race on the track, Koko Story is instead proving that life off the track can be far more successful.

The retired racehorse and rider Jamie Hewitt-Toms took out the 1.20m class in Monday afternoon’s Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Program Showjumping Showcase at the Ekka.

The pair had finished third in last year’s class, and Hewitt-Toms said they were determined to climb up the leaderboard for the 2025 edition.

“It was pressure on myself to want to do something a little bit better than that, and I was just trying to go in with very low expectations, but it's good to finally get the win,” Hewitt-Toms said post-event.

“I definitely didn't have any expectations coming into today - I just wanted to have a nice round but it was definitely great to be able to pull it off and Koko Story was great.

“Any of those horses out there today that jumped over clear could have easily taken the win, they all deserved it and they're all really great horses, so it's just a bit of luck of the draw I think.”

Of the field of 17, the top eight had progressed to a jump off at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Koko Story and Hewitt-Toms, who was herself battling sickness, claimed victory in the last run of the day to take home the $10,000 top prize.

They finished ahead of last year’s winning rider Makaylah Fenwick on The Garret in second place, and Natalie Siiankoski and Curwood in third spot.

Twenty-two-year-old Jamie and her mum Christine Hewitt, a former jockey, had bought the 18-year-old retired thoroughbred off Victorian event rider Robert Palm in 2023.

Racing as Southern Pride, the chestnut gelding had just three trials at Doomben, the Gold Coast and Eagle Farm back in 2009 and 2010, finishing last in all three runs.

Having now successfully transitioned to life as a showjumper with no hesitation, Hewitt-Toms has developed a strong bond with the horse they call “Woody” at their Gympie property.

“He's very special to me, and my life revolves around him - every day I'm with Woody, and I always put him first and what he needs,” Hewitt-Toms said.

“He is very laid back, very easy to do everything with, he never has any issues or anything hard to deal with, he's just a perfect horse.

“The plans now are to have a couple of weeks off, and then we'll head down south and do Tamworth World Cup, and then decide what we're doing from there and if we want to keep going a little bit further.”

Koko Story was also crowned the highest-placed Queensland-bred thoroughbred by the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association for the second year running.

On Sunday, the 105cm class of the QOTT Showjumping Showcase had been taken out by Hugh Buchanan and It’s Bandito, who claimed the $4,000 top prize.

Monday also saw the Main Arena play host to the prestigious Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day.

Over $25,000 was on offer across 18 ‘Led’ and ‘Under Saddle’ classes.

The race day-style event saw the two versatile racing breeds compete for the sought-after Champion of their Breed, with horse handlers presenting their horses to the judges in formal race day attire.

Harness trainer/driver Felicity Reinke swapped the track for the showring to compete with mare Pretty Good Reason and gelding Parcellaires in the Standardbred Led Classes.

“It’s fantastic - these horses definitely deserve a chance after racing and it shows their versatility,” Reinke said.

“I’ve been predominantly in the show world, but I’ve also taken some horses jumping, had some in the harness, had some campdrafting and they’ve gone very well.

“The competition today, the horses were presented immaculately, so a credit to everyone that’s come today, and it just shows they’re not just for racing and can have a very good life after.

“It was raining last year, and the weather is beautiful today, so I very much encourage people to bring their horses out and just have fun next year.”

RQ Senior Animal Care Manager Kim Duffy said the QOTT Program was again proud to be sponsoring the two days of showjumping along with Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day.

“We’ve seen an increased number of entries year-on-year, and this year is a record-breaking one for us with 214 entries for Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day,” Ms Duffy said.

“It is a really good way to showcase the versatile racing breeds in a range of led and under saddle classes.

“It’s just another avenue for them post-racing that’s not as traditional as some of the other pathways such as eventing and showjumping.

“We have also seen increased entries in the showjumping competitions as well.

“We are seeing a more diverse range of riders getting involved — not just professionals, but passionate amateurs, juniors, and even adult riders who are returning to riding.

“When these horses are showcased at the Royal Queensland Show, they are no longer seen solely as retired racehorses. Instead, they're viewed as versatile athletes with second careers worth celebrating.”

Click here for the full results from the QOTT Showjumping Showcase and Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day.