Ocala, FL – International competition resumed Thursday morning at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) with the $32,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3*. A field of 23 elite horse-and-rider combinations representing 12 nations took to the WEC Grand Arena, all vying for the top prize. Rising to the occasion was Sharn Wordley (NZL) aboard Brin D’or De Haute Melen Z (Bamako De Muze x Baloubet Du Rouet), owned by Della Wordley.
FEI Level III course designer Peter Grant (CAN) crafted a technical track that asked the right questions, ultimately narrowing the field to a six-horse jump-off and producing only three double-clear efforts.
The jump-off was set in motion by Jad Dana (LBN) and Leonidas, a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Burr Associates Inc. The pair laid down the first double-clear in a smooth 41.93 seconds, setting the tone and eventually landing in third place.
Sharn Wordley (NZL) was next to return, piloting the 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding Brin D’or De Haute Melen Z. Confident in his mount’s form, Wordley took a strategic approach in hopes of securing the lead.
“I knew he was jumping great,” shared Wordley. “He didn’t feel like he wanted to touch anything. I wanted to make sure we went quick enough. Jad was a bit cautious because there were no clears. I wanted to go faster than him, and I went quite a bit faster because I knew his last horse was going to go quite quick. If I hadn’t gone that fast, he would have gotten us.”
Wordley and Brin D’or De Haute Melen Z took over first place with an unbeatable time of 38.78 seconds.
Speaking about the talented gelding, Wordley added, “He’s very, very careful. He had a good winter, and then he was out for a couple of months. I was just getting him back fit and did a few shows to get him going in the ring. Because of how careful he is, he needs a few rounds to get in the swing of things. So this week was my first week to really think about him being in the ‘sport.’ He felt ready, and he jumped great today—he was awesome.”
With momentum on his side, Wordley is set to return under the lights of the WEC Grand Arena on July 12 at 7:30pm for the $130,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix CSI3*.
“[Brin D’or De Haute Melen Z is] going to jump the Grand Prix Saturday night, along with my other horse, Champion League. I’ll jump him again next week, then he’ll have a week off before we do the two and three stars.”
Dana returned as the final contender aboard his second mount, Diamant (Diamant De Semilly x Contender), also owned by Burr Associates Inc., and delivered a quick round to stop the clock in 39.93 seconds, sliding into second.
$32,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* Results
1 BRIN D’OR DE HAUTE MELEN Z: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Bamako De Muze x Baloubet Du Rouet
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 0/0/38.78
2 DIAMANT: 2017 Holsteiner mare by Diamant De Semilly x Contender
Jad Dana (LBN), Burr Associates, INC: 0/0/39.93
3 LEONIDAS: 2016 Warmblood gelding by Kannan
Jad Dana (LBN), Burr Associates, INC: 0/0/41.93
4 VASCO 109: 2015 gelding by Vigo D’arsouilles Stx x Clarimo
Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG), Luis Pedro Biraben: 0/4/39.28
5 MESSBLUECENTO PS: 2017 gelding by Messenger x Chacco-blue
Aaron Vale (USA), Don Stewart & Thinkslikeahorse: 0/4/39.41
6 CLYDE VA: 2009 Holsteiner stallion by Caretino 2 x Quintero
Maggie Jacobs (USA), Pony Up Sporthorses LTD: 0/4/43.64
7 KINGSTON: 2015 Warmblood stallion by Extase x Unaniem
Blythe Karolyi (USA), Bk Equestrian LLC: 2/88.13
8 SQUIRT GUN: 2011 gelding by Diarado x Quick Star
Paul O’shea (IRL), Team Eye Candy: 4/80.98
9 THEO DUC T&L Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Toulon x Nabab De Reve
Blythe Karolyi (USA), Olivia Venezio: 4/81.66
10 CRISTIANO OBOLENSKY: 2015 Hanoverian gelding
Gonzalo Busca (ESP), Gonzalo Busca: 4/82.72
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.
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