Ocala, FL – The $125,000 IDA Development Grand Prix was the highlight event of the week and brought a change of scenery at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, as 30 horse-and-rider combinations gathered under the lights at the WEC Stadium to vie for the win. In a thrilling five-horse jump-off, it was Ireland’s Jordan Coyle who took the celebratory victory ahead of the holiday with Falkirk Farm, LLC’s Keep Me With You N.c. (Le Tot De Semilly x Zarina).
Eric Hasbrouck (USA) set the track for Saturday night’s event, and only five top combinations managed to jump clear and stay within the time allowed. Three of those pairs hailed from Ireland, with the others representing Australia and the United States.
Robert Blanchette (IRL) was first to return for the jump-off with Ridersmith LLC’s speedy mare Chardonnay. The pair were quick but had an unlucky rail, setting the pace at 39.030 seconds on four faults.
Lauren Balcomb (AUS) followed with Verdini D’houtveld Z (Verdi TN x Laska III). Balcomb and the 14-year-old Zangersheide gelding returned under the lights in top form, laying down a lightning-fast jump-off in just 39.178 seconds to take the lead.
Olympian Daniel Coyle (IRL) was next in with the well-known Legacy, owned by Ariel Grange. They were quick in 40.310 seconds but had an unlucky rail at the combination.
Coyle’s brother, Jordan Coyle, followed and knew his 10-year-old KWPN mare had the speed to get the job done. “I didn’t have much of a plan, really. The plan was to jump clear,” he laughed. “I didn’t really feel like I had to let her go in the jump-off. She’s just that fast, and you can turn her into the jumps, and she isn’t going to touch them, so that’s a big bonus when you know that.”
In just 38.562 seconds, Coyle and Keep Me With You N.c. snatched the lead from Balcomb — a time that would ultimately prove unbeatable.
He spoke about his partnership with the talented and scopey mare: “We got her about a year ago, me and a really good friend, Darragh Kerins. We work together. We bought her in Mexico and we’ve been building her up slowly, but I really believe she is something that I’ve never had before.”
Coyle also shared his thoughts about the venue: “It’s an unbelievable place. It’s definitely one of the best places in the world. I am based in Wellington, but to be able to come up here and show, it’s unbelievable.”
Richard Spooner (USA) was the final rider to contest the jump-off. He gave the track a strong effort with Show Jumping Syndications Int’l’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Lyjanair (Lyjanero x Villa), who has had an impeccable winter circuit, racking up a long list of podium finishes in international classes. On Saturday, they continued that success, clocking a quick 39.251 seconds to finish in third place.
$125,000 IDA Development Grand Prix Results
Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV