Jess Somerfield and Finch Farm Carpenteria compete at Adelaide in 2025. They’ll feature on the CCI5* entry list once more for 2026 Photo by Atalya Boytner.
Entries for the first CCI5* of the 2026 season are now live! This season opener will take place in Adelaide, located in South Australia.
EN took its first official trip to Adelaide in 2025 through the eyes and ears (and lens) of Atalya Boytner, and we’re pleased to share that Atalya will once more be traveling south (then turning straight around to come to Kentucky, bless her)! She’ll be working for EN as well as some other clients (we aren’t made of money here), and we’re also proud to announce that we’ll be working with the Adelaide press team to help increase the competition’s visibility throughout international equestrian media.
ANYWAY, on to the main attraction here, which is the 13-horse CCI5* roster that’s just dropped, as well as the full entries for the 2026 Oceania Championships. These Championships, held every two years and generally alternating host locations between New Zealand and Australia, will be run at the Horseland CCI4*-S level for Seniors and the Racing SA CCI3*-L level for U25 athletes.
Both the CCI5* and the Oceania Championships list are full of exciting combinations, and the 4*-S list is the largest this division has seen since it was added to the Festival line-up.
Photo by Atalya Boytner.
Featuring on the 5* entry list is World #2 U25 rider Oliver Barrett, making his debut at the level with two homebred horses in Sandhills Gem and Sandhills Briar. Oliver comes from a long family lineage of horsemen and women, and the Sandhills breeding program has flourished since its inception in the 1990s. Oliver already has a 4*-L win under his belt, earned with Sandhills Briar last year at the Sydney International Three-Day Event.
It’s also a 5* debut for Tara Rogers and Denison Park Smooth. Tara’s a professional rider who spent much of her educational years working for Stuart Tinney before striking out on her own.
We’ll see debuts at the level for two more horses: Shane Rose‘s up and comer Holy Moses, recent winner of the 4*-S at Canberra International (which overcame more than its own fair share of adversity to even run this year — more on that here), as well as Sam Woods‘ SS Eight Count, multiple-time winners at the 4* and 3*-L levels and have finished well at Adelaide in the 4*-S division twice.
Adelaide’s beautiful parklands play host to the first CCI5* of the season in April. Photo by Atalya Boytner.
Here’s a look at the full CCI5* entry list:
- David Middleton and WEC In the Breeze
- Andrew Cooper and Sharvalley Thunder
- Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Gem
- Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar
- Madison Seivwright and Waitangi Pinterest
- Yona Lloyd and Ballahowe Ayurvedic
- Shane Rose and Holy Moses (5* Debut Horse)
- Jess Somerfield and Finch Farm Carpentaria
- Gemma O’leary and Arnage Porsche
- Emma Mason and KPH Kingfisher
- Samuel Jeffree and Santoro
- Tara Rogers and Denison Park Smooth
- Sam Woods and SS Eight Count (5* Debut Horse)
The 5* list is just a little smaller than last year, likely owing to the fact that some pairs that may have otherwise done the 5* are instead competing for the prestige of the Oceania Championships at the 4*-S level.
You can view the full Horseland CCI4*-S and Racing SA entry lists here.
The Adelaide Equestrian Festival takes place April 16-19. More information about this one-of-a-kind event can be found here.
