Wilmington, Ohio – Tiffany Hammack (USA) returned to the top of the podium Saturday evening at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) Fall Classic IV after she bested a field of 40 internationally acclaimed horse-and-athlete combinations in the $60,000 Grand Prix. Exhibitors filled the stands in the Standlee Sanctuary to watch only eight partnerships to move onto the jump-off phase, where the ladies were unstoppable to fill all three podium placings.
Hammack left no room for error over Alan Wade’s (IRl) technical tracks to ultimately score her second consecutive grand prix win of the Fall Classic Series, this time aboard the $15,000 Welcome Stake winner, Ghana FS Z (Glasgow W VH Merelsnest x Uschi-Vira).
Hammack felt that Wade’s tracks made her rise to the occasion, “I thought the track was really good tonight. I always get a little bit nervous when Alan designs. I jumped my first CSI3* when he designed and I felt like I was at the Olympics,” Hammack laughed. “I do ride better when he sets because I feel like I really need to bring my A game. He is one of the best. I really enjoyed it today and the jump-off was super fun.”
Like Hammack, the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare, Ghana FS Z, was in it to win it, impressing the crowd with her efforts.
“Ghana was super. In the first round, I didn’t get her to the best place over the last oxer and she tried really hard and jumped it clear. I didn’t really plan to leave out to the last jump in the jump-off, but I saw it from really far away and I didn’t quite make it there,” Hammack laughed. “She just tried so hard and has the biggest heart. Sometimes it doesn’t necessarily feel like she can do it, but I just believe in her and she always does it,” she spoke highly of her gritty mare.
Laying down an impressively quick effort, the duo galloped to the last oxer to stop the clock in an unmatched 38.776 seconds.
“She likes to go really fast and she is good at it. We don’t go very fast this height all the time though, so I was very proud of her today. I bought her at the end of her six-year-old year in Europe. I have developed her slowly,” Hammack noted.
“She is really careful and I have to get on her in the ring sometimes. She wants to do her job; we just do what she says and she tries her heart out for me in the ring,” she laughed about Ghana’s quirky personality.
Virginia Bonnie entered to contest Hammack’s time, but was just shy of the lead. Aboard Nine Bonnie’s 15-year-old KWPN mare, Efodea (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Fodea), Bonnie made her first trip to WEC – Wilmington one to remember, claiming second place in 39.04 seconds.
Rounding out the top three was Taylor Land and Team Land Syndicate LLC’s Escobar WW (Etoulon x Pretty Woman), a nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding, in 39.504 seconds.
$60,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Ghana FS Z, Tiffany Hammack, Foxwood Farm | 0 | 38.776
2 Efodea, Virginia Bonnie, Nina Bonnie | 0 | 39.04
3 Escobar WW, Taylor Land, Team Land Syndicate LLC | 0 | 39.504
4 Beijing Ls La Silla, David Cameron, Laura Sloey | 0 | 40.417
5 Retroflex, Sarah Long, John Kimmel | 0 | 41.47
6 Heldorado, Virginia Bonnie, Nina Bonnie | 0 | 42.056
7 Forever Alve, Emma Catherine Reichow, Emma Catherine Reichow | 4 | 41
8 Phil V/D Wezelse Heihoeve, David Arcand, Santos Equestrian Investments | 8 | 39.046
9 Ideaal Es, Chris Pratt, Take The High Road | 1 | 81.61
10 Casalletto, Adam Prudent, Plain Bay Farm | 2 | 82.056
Breeze Kaye & Gold Digger Z Conquer the Field in the $10,000 Sport Horse Insurance Group Futures Prix
Alan Wade (IRL) laid the opening track Saturday afternoon at WEC – Wilmington Fall Classic IV where 47 horse-and-athlete combinations met for the $10,000 Sport Horse Insurance Futures Prix. After securing a double clear effort for second place at Fall Classic III, Breeze Kaye (USA) returned with her own Gold Digger Z (Grand Slam VDL x Charlotte) to conquer the class.
“I knew it was a super competitive class because there were almost 50 entries. I wanted to make sure that I just laid down a good double clear with a fast, solid time. I didn’t do the inside turn from two-to-three, but I did go inside to jump four, and that was fast enough to win,” Kaye shared on her initial plan.
The win proved extra special for Kaye as she has developed her Gold Digger Z from his six-year-old year, “He is so special to me! I bought him as a six-year-old and I have been developing him ever since. He is nine now so I have had him for almost three years,” she noted.
“We have gone through the ups and downs together and I am so grateful that it has all worked out. He has just been the most incredible partner. He is so careful and has taken great care of me. I do all of my own care in the barn, so I am learning so much from him and feeling like I have a better connection with him because of it.”
As the tenth pair to go in the posted order, Kaye and her nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding were unable to be caught by the rest of the class with a winning jump-off time of 35.277 seconds.
Kaye discussed her gratitude for the Plain Bay team behind-the-scenes, “I am from Arizona and I moved to Plain Bay about a year ago. I have learned so much from them. They are seriously the most incredible program. The care for the horses is incredible and they are all world-renowned riders and trainers. It is so incredible to be able to work with people like that who really want to watch you succeed, lift you up and teach you everything about this industry. It is really special.”
Abbygale Funk rode Ashwood Farm LLC’s eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Quissini Van Baublo (Corydon Van T&L), to second place in 35.552 seconds.
Campbell Kahn secured third place in 35.649 seconds with her own 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Delta De Laume (Vagabond De La Pomme x Iena De Laume).
$10,000 Sport Horse Insurance Group Futures Prix Results:
1 Gold Digger Z, Breeze Kaye, Breeze Kaye | 0 | 35.277
2 Quissini Van Baublo, Abbygale Funk, Ashwood Farm LLC | 0 | 35.552
3 Delta De Laume, Campbell Kahn, Campbell Kahn | 0 | 35.649
4 Zendaya, Lanie Thomas, Neil Badcock | 0 | 36.669
5 Chagrand, Michael Burnett, Michael Burnett | 0 | 37.408
6 Cicenta Z, Emma Catherine Reichow, Riffle Hitch | 0 | 37.675
7 La Tommie HDH, Nicole Shahinian-Simpson, Emily June Bobo | 0 | 37.855
8 Cornet’s Lover, Ty Simpson, Kormendy Farms LLC | 0 | 38.006
9 Kalliope, Sarah Long, John Kimmel | 0 | 38.544
10 Quintano TF, Colin Syquia, Virginia Strauch | 0 | 39.192
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
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