We are incredibly proud that Oaks Ventriloquist has been named the New South Wales Jumping Horse of the Year, recognising a season in which he consistently performed at the highest level of Australian jumping.
Affectionately known as Venti, our Oaks-bred gelding formed an outstanding partnership with Tom McDermott during 2025. One of their first major results together came at Jumping @ Willinga, where they produced two clear rounds to finish second in the World Cup Qualifier. Just a month later, they went one better at Stonewall International, again jumping double clear to claim their first World Cup victory together.
The highlight of the season came at the 2025 Australian Jumping Championships, where Tom and Venti secured the Australian Senior Championship. After placing third in each of the opening rounds, they produced a clear second round in the final to take the national title. It was an achievement that made us enormously proud, both as Venti’s breeders and as people who have followed his journey from its very beginning.
Their year finished with another major victory at the Sydney Summer Classic, where they won the final World Cup Qualifier of the Australian season. Across the qualifying series, national championships and Grand Prix competitions, Venti repeatedly demonstrated the consistency, scope and determination that have made him such a special horse.
By Vivant and bred through the Oaks Sport Horses breeding program, Venti’s journey has taken him from Australia to Europe and back home again. He was successfully campaigned internationally by Izabella Stone before returning to Australia, and it has been wonderful to watch him reach another level with Tom.
The NSW Jumping Horse of the Year award comes as Venti and Tom prepare for the greatest challenge of their partnership so far. They have been selected to represent Australia at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen as part of the five-combination Australian Jumping Team.
To see an Oaks-bred horse recognised as the leading jumping horse in New South Wales is extremely rewarding. To now see him preparing to carry the Australian flag on the world stage makes this achievement even more significant. We are very proud of Venti, Tom and everyone who has contributed to his remarkable journey.