We are incredibly proud to have two Oaks-bred horses included in Australia’s jumping selections for the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, with Oaks Ventriloquist named as part of the Australian team and Lola selected as a reserve horse.
Oaks Ventriloquist will represent Australia with Tom McDermott after a remarkable rise through the Grand Prix and World Cup ranks. Since coming together, Tom and Venti have developed an exciting partnership, highlighted by their victory in the final World Cup qualifier of the 2025 season and their Australian Senior Championship title. Their selection for Aachen is a wonderful reward for the consistency and quality they have shown at the highest level.
For Oaks Sport Horses, it is particularly special to see another horse bred and produced in Australia earn the opportunity to compete on the world stage. Aachen is one of the most prestigious venues in equestrian sport, and representing Australia there is an achievement of which we are enormously proud.
It is equally meaningful to see Lola included as a reserve horse with Hilary.
We congratulate Tom and Hilary, together with everyone who has contributed to the journeys of these two very special horses. We will be watching Aachen with tremendous pride and wishing the entire Australian team every success.