Ocala, FL – The $50,000 Coors Banquet National Grand Prix welcomed 27 horse-and-rider combinations to the WEC Grand Arena on Sunday morning. Sharn Wordley (NZL) once again topped the leaderboard, claiming the win aboard Hagelin (Stolzenberg x Graefin Top) and also securing third place with Valentine Car (Son Of Juan Car x Sofia Car), both owned by Della Wordley.
Catsy Cruz set a technical course that tested the entire field, but 10 competitors managed clear first rounds to advance to the jump-off. The final round turned into a head-to-head battle between Wordley and Tracy Fenney for the top spot.
Wordley qualified all three of his mounts for the jump-off and was first to return with the 16-year-old American Warmblood gelding Valentine Car. The pair made quick work of the short course, stopping the clock in 40.731 seconds.
“I wanted to be quick enough to put enough pressure on the rest, but not too quick where I would get a rail,” Wordley explained.
Fenney also returned with both of her mounts and was first up aboard fan-favorite MTM Apple (Favorit Ask x Kong’s Whopsie). She stepped up the pace with the 14-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, shaving a full second off Wordley’s time to finish in 39.722 seconds.
“With Tracy, you’re always playing a game of who is faster, because she is always the fastest—especially if she goes after you—because she is very calculated and knows exactly what she has to do,” said Wordley.
But the competition wasn’t over yet. Wordley still had two more chances, including one particularly fast partner: Hagelin.
Next in the ring, Wordley returned aboard the 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding and executed a smart, measured plan. “He’s very naturally fast, but he does get a little surprised if you turn up tight to jumps—he’s not used to it. He didn’t do that early on in his career, and he’s very careful and a little wary. He likes to see what’s coming. So, from one to two, I had to be a little cautious, did an extra stride, and stayed out wide so he knew he was in a jump-off and that we were turning. Then I was quick across, and same thing with that blind turn back to the oxer—I gave one extra step. So then I knew I had to be a little quick to the double and really fly home. That’s his forte—when you can turn and have a long gallop to something. He can turn and accelerate to something very quickly and stay on that gallop. And that’s where I got Tracy.”
Wordley and Hagelin crossed the timers in 39.350 seconds—just three-tenths of a second faster to take the win. Fenney settled for second with MTM Apple and nearly struck again with MTM Can Talk To Me, finishing in 40.934 seconds for fourth place. Wordley’s round with Valentine Car held on for third.
Todd Minikus earned the Fastest Four-Faulter award aboard Gardenia, recording a quick first-round time of 65.977 seconds with one rail down.
Francesca Chiatti received the ‘Luck of the Draw’ award.
$50,000 Coors Banquet National 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.
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