Santoro (Sammy) is a 16hh Warmblood gelding, bred at Ryan’s Horses in 2012. He is by Starnberg out of a Regardez Moi mare, and is owned by Sam alongside Santoro Syndicate members including Karen Dabbs, Mark and Lisa Rudelic, and Andrea Kennedy.
Santoro came to Jeffree Eventing in October 2018 and officially joined the team in July 2019. He finished 2nd overall in the Young Event Horse class at Melbourne 3DE in June, before stepping up confidently to 1-star level by the end of the year.
During the challenging COVID years of 2020 and 2021, Sammy continued to develop into an FEI-level horse. In 2022 he competed successfully at that level, including wins at Tonimbuk Horse Trials and in the CCI2*-L at Sydney International Horse Trials. Later that year he stepped up to 3-star level, and by 2023 had progressed into 4-star classes, proving himself a consistent and competitive performer with multiple placings.
In 2024, Sammy consolidated his position at 4-star level with a series of strong performances, culminating in a standout victory in the CCI4*-L at Sydney – an achievement that marked a significant milestone in his career.
In 2025, he continued his winning form with another 4-star victory at Tonimbuk Horse Trials, before reaching the ultimate goal of successfully completing his first 5-star at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival.
So far in 2026, Sammy has exceeded all expectations. He secured back-to-back victories at Tonimbuk, followed by another 4-star win at Wandin Horse Trials, and then delivered an outstanding performance at the elite CCI5*-L level at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival, finishing 4th. His clear and fastest cross-country round showcased his exceptional athleticism and highlighted the formidable partnership he has developed with Sam.
Following these exceptional performances, Santoro has been selected as Travelling Reserve for the Australian Equestrian Team’s campaign at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, in August. It is an incredible achievement for a horse that has progressed through every level with Sam, and provides the very exciting opportunity for Sam to make his long awaited international debut.
Following a hopeful appearance at either the FEI World Championships in Aachen or the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials in the UK, Santoro will remain in the Northern Hemisphere. The plan is for him to spend up to 12 months campaigning internationally at some of the world’s most iconic events, with the aim of continuing his development and positioning the partnership for future Australian team selection.
The Early Days…
