Ocala, FL – Three-star international show jumping competition took over the WEC Grand Arena once again during the 2023 Ocala Summer Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala with the $40,000 1.45m Speed CSI3*. World-renowned course designer Alan Wade (IRL) set the opening tracks, where Jad Dana (LBN) ran away with the win aboard Fleur-de-lis’ Cherie (Clarimo x Lancer II) owned by The Cherie Group.
Thirty-one starters raced against the clock over Wade’s winding tracks, 14 went clear.
Jad Dana and Fleur-de-lis’ Cherie were the third to last pair to attempt the speed track, “I was lucky to be at the end of the order, I was able to watch a few. But honestly, I think even if I went at the beginning, my plan would have been very similar. The track I rode, was what I walked. Thankfully today, I was able to execute it well and she was right there for me.”
Dana utilized the 11-year-old Holsteiner mare’s speed across the ground and rideability in the turns to stop the clock at a blistering 56.47 seconds.
Dana spoke about his partnership with the nimble mare, “She is incredible. She’s owned by The Cherie Group, very good friends of Leslie Howard and I. They have been extremely supportive, they bought Cherie as an investment horse, but she’s been extremely valuable in my string. She wins all the time, like she did today. She’s fantastic, competitive and you know when you go in the ring you have a chance. I am extremely thankful and grateful for this group to believe in us and for everyone’s support.”
The young professional spoke about his experience at World Equestrian Center -Ocala, “My experience at WEC has been fantastic. The stabling is the best there is for the horses. As hot as it is outside, the horses go back in their stalls and it’s very cool inside. You’re not stuck to just riding outdoors, you are able to ride inside and the indoors are so nice to ride in,” Dana shared.
“The night classes, the atmosphere is amazing, the level is great. It’s very hard to win here, the jump-offs are extremely fast, but if you want to be the best, you have to compete against the best. Then when you win, it feels great,” Dana remarked.
Last week’s winner of the $40,000 1.45m Speed CSI3* Will Simpson (USA) had a clean effort in 57.40 seconds with Quentin VA (Quarx x Cash And Carry), a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Quarz x Cash and Berry owned by Two Socks Farm LLC, for second place.
In third place went to Luiz Francisco De Azevedo (BRA) who stopped the clock at 57.90 seconds aboard HFG Quaman owned by Santa Cecelia Stables LLC.
Final Results: $40,000 1.45m Speed CSI3*
1 FLEUR-DE-LIS’ CHERIE: 2012 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Lancer II
Jad Dana (LBN), The Cherie Group: 0/56.47
2 QUENTIN VA: 2013 Holsteiner gelding by Quarz x Cash and Berry
Will Simpon (USA), Two Socks farm LLC: 0/57.40
3 HFG QUAMAN: 2013 Brazilian Sport Horse gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Quidam’s Rubin
Luiz Francisco De Azevedo (BRA), Santa Cecelia Stables LLC: 0/57.90
4 FOREVER SFN: 2010 KWPN gelding by Azteca VDL x Non Stop
Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA), Serenity Farm: 0/58.37
5 OBI WAN: 2012 Oldenburg gelding by Centadel x Continue
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0/59.51
6 HALCON: 2015 Argentinian Sport Horse stallion by Con Air x Cardento
Richard Spooner (USA), Molly Ohrstrom: 0/59.87
7 ROCKSY MUSIC: 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding by ARS Vivendi x Diamond Serpent
Richie Moloney (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/60.19
8 COOL GIRL PS: 2015 Oldenburg mare by Casallco x Chacco-blue
Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0/62.27
9 HOLLYWOOD DE RASE Z: 2012 Zangersheide gelding by Hoegie Van’t Bergske x Triomphe De Muze
Angela Covert (CAN), Angela Covert: 0/63.21
10 VITUS K: 2010 Hanoverian gelding by Verdi Tn x El Bundy
Sheer Levitin (USA), Sheer Levitin: 0/64.16
11 COQUELICOT VH HEUVELLAND Z: 2012 Zangersheide gelding by Catoki x Cassini II
Sean Jobin (CAN), Foxridge Farms Stables: 0/65.28
12 DIAMANTO JT Z: Zangersheide gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Quidam De Revel
Ansley Wright (USA), Ansley Wright: 0/67.47
Aaron Vale & Elusive Open the Week with a $6,000 1.40m Speed CSI3* Win
International competition resumed early this morning during week IV of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. A slew of top-level competitors competed over FEI Level IV course designer Alan Wade’s (IRL) welcoming tracks in the $6,000 1.40m Speed CSI3*, but it was Aaron Vale (USA) that captured the lead by nearly five seconds aboard Thinkslikeahorse’s Elusive (Rodrigo x Capfucino).
Vale made light work of the speed track aboard the naturally fast 14-year-old KWPN gelding to stop the timers at 54.88 seconds.
Vale shared his opinion on the opening tracks during week IV’s international competition, “The 1.40m Speed class is not a hotly contested class, it’s more to get the horses in the ring and give them a good trip before the Qualifier or Grand Prix. The track was perfect to give the horses a good experience.”
Vale entered three horses in this week’s FEI CSI3* competition, “Elusive, Prescott and Obi Wan are competing this week. I am trying to spread them out amongst the classes, trying to give ourselves a good chance in every class. You can’t win them all, if you can’t win the first one and we’ve got the first one on the way.”
It was a successful start to the day for the Vale family, as Vale’s wife Mallory secured second place honors with Thinkslikeahorse’s nine-year-old Czech Warmblood gelding Gray’s Inn (Cannavaro x Jena) with a quick and clear time of 59.78 seconds.
Alberto Michan (ISR) a frequent podium finisher during last year’s 2022 Ocala Summer Series, returned to the WEC Grand Arena right where he left off. Michan and the 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion Champion League (Cador 5 x Contendro I) owned by Daniel Michan navigated a slick track in 62.33 seconds to round out the top three.
Final Results: $6,000 1.40m Speed CSI3*
1 ELUSIVE: 2009 KWPN gelding by Rodrigo x Capfucino
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0/54.88
2 GRAY’S INN: 2014 Czech Warmblood gelding by Cannavaro x Jena
Mallory Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0/59.78
3 CHAMPION LEAGUE: 2013 Hanovarian stallion by Cador 5 and Contendro I
Alberto Michan (ISR), Daniel Michan: 0/62.33
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV