Wilmington, Ohio – Seventeen fast horse-and-athlete combinations kicked off World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic 17 over Michael Pegg’s tracks (CAN) in the $10,000 Perfect Products Welcome Stake, but it was Charlotte Clark and her, Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist), that landed the leading time.
“It was nice to finally win one. This was a very competitive class with nice, fast horses, so it felt really good. I have been second and third a lot this winter,” laughed Clark. “It felt great to come out on top this time.”
Clark shared her initial thoughts on Pegg’s technical first round track, “The first few made it look pretty easy, but I think the whole course was really technical, there wasn’t a resting place. The adjustability on course really suited my horse because she is really easy to shorten and lengthen. Like in the four to the six across the diagonal, she could shorten for the six really easily.”
The first round proved suitable for the 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, posting an easy clear effort to move onto the immediate jump-off looking to best Izzy Beisel (USA).
Beisel set the quick time to beat with David Beisel’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Contigo (Carombolle), in 39.225 seconds, ultimately securing second place.
Clark discussed where she made up time around the short course, “I had watched the first few jump off, and from one to two I saw 11 and 12 strides. I angled the first jump a little bit and once I got up there in 10 I knew she was really game and I could just keep going. The last line, I walked 10 and got there easily in nine.”
Having been partnered together for nine years, the pair is one of the most decorated duos in the open jumper classes at WEC – Wilmington, adding another success to their record in 37.415 seconds.
“She is the hungriest horse I have ever met. I call her a manatee and it’s pretty accurate. She is actually the best horse ever. She is polite and beautiful and always comes out and does what she is supposed to. Fun fact, her first horse show in the US was here at WEC when the R+L Arena was first built.”
“She always spins around at the end. I just grab on and go with it. She never does anything bad, she just can’t contain herself! She knows when she’s good. The better she jumps in the class, the wilder she is at the end. She is probably napping at the barn by now,” Clark laughed.
Sam Pegg (CAN) returned to the 2024 Winter in the Midwest Series where he left off on the podium, earning third place with Harlow Investment Enterprises nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Formidable Diamant (Diamant De Semilly x Nobel Lady), in 40.24 seconds.
$10,000 Perfect Products Welcome Stake Results:
1 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 0 | 37.415
2 Contigo, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 0 | 39.225
3 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises | 0 | 40.24
4 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 40.852
5 BSH Matinee, Shawn Butler, Shawn Butler | 4 | 40.353
6 Eldorado’s Edition, Vanessa McCaughley, Vanessa McCaughley | 4 | 41.868
7 TC Cayman De Joyarie Z, Michaella Gerlacher, Elizabeth Harris | 4 | 43.556
8 HJ Blind Date, Molly Kindness, Molly Kindness | 5 | 48.965
9 Conquest, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 4 | 73.756
10 Captain America 10, Luke Rinehart, Richard Rinehart | 4 | 74.458