Ocala, FL – World Equestrian Center – Ocala’s 2022 USEF Summer Series boasted yet another exhilarating week of equestrian sport during Week VIII. Olympian Sharn Wordley secured first and third in Saturday night’s $100,000 Stella Artois National Grand Prix and Hunter Derby Friday was filled with the scores in the mid-90s. Read on for additional highlights from the week.
New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley ruled the $100,000 Stella Artois National Grand Prix during World Equestrian Center – Ocala’s 2022 USEF Summer Series securing first and third place.
FEI Level III course designer, Catsy Crux (MEX) crafted the challenging track for forty-five top competitors from 10 different countries. Ultimately, Olympian Sharn Wordley (NZL) prevailed in the $100,000 Stella Artois National Grand Prix, racing to victory and securing the third place spot on the leaderboard as well.
“The first course was challenging. There was a lot of good horses and riders here tonight, from Olympians to World Champions and only a handful made it clear,” said Wordley. “The yellow double combination was a bit tricky; it was either a flat five or a very short six off a wide oxer. On my first horse, Mick Jagger, I did five and on my other two I did the six, but a lot of riders struggled with that one.”
Pathfinder Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and Serenity Farm’s Isabella Van De Zuuthoeve (Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve x Gamilla De Ninive) posted a time in the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix that was simply unbeatable.
“I know she’s a naturally quite fast, so I used that to my advantage to put enough pressure on the rest of the class, but I do have a tendency of wanting to go a little too quick.”
Taylor Ann Adams and Starfighter found two scores in the 90s during Hunter Derby Friday’s $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby.
“My business partner, Colin Savaira was my voice of reason. He told me that I should aim to have a smooth and consistent round. I don’t have to be the hero. So, I want to thank Colin for his intelligent words today. I couldn’t do any of this without him.”
Tracy Fenney made memories in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby aboard MTM In The Moment.
“We just imported him. His previous owners thought that he was going to be a big four or five star horse, but soon found out that he was just too quiet. So, that’s how I got him.”
Katalena Prusso secured first and second place in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby with scores in the 90s on both mounts.
Camelot is an amazing horse owned by Judy Kerr. He is so much fun to ride and really tries to win for you,” told Prusso. “Viscolano is my mom’s horse. He’s young and just starting to do the derbies. I went a bit wider in the handy with him, because I knew this was all still so new for him.”
Forty-eight accomplished partnerships representing 12 nations took to FEI Level III course designer, Catsy Cruz’s (MEX) first round track in the $30,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix, but it was Luis Sabino Goncalves and Sigma Stables LLC’s Vick Du Croisy (Lord Carthago x Merveille Ducroisy) that emerged with the triumph.
“I try my best to not disturb her. She’s quick with her thoughts, careful and has very fast reflexes. I have to pause for a second and remind myself that she’s so naturally quick, I don’t ever have to rush.”
Harold Chopping and Rein Family LLC’s Quadrant 3 (Quadros x O-Carlotta) prevailed on Sunday afternoon in the $10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic.
“My goal was to lay down a reasonable track that used Quadrant 3’s strengths. He has an enormous stride and the jump-off suit him. The way that the jump-off started, you could count from one to two, then leave out to three. The abstract turn to the oxer was off your eye, then had to do the five to the double. Everyone did the same thing after the double combination to the next fence, then to the last one, it was placed in the corner, where you could gallop, but I didn’t think that was the place to win the class.”
Victoria Alexandris of Dallas, Texas and her own Coolio 28 received a first round score of 81 and a handy score of 87 in the $2,000 WEC Ocala Pony/ Children’s Pony Hunter Derby for the blue ribbon.
Erika Sergent and Sergent Stables, LLC’s Belino 8 captured the victory in the $3,500 2’6” WEC Ocala Non Pro Hunter Derby. The pair also received Reserve Champion in the Intermediate Adult Hunter 18-35 division.
Congratulations to all competitors on another successful week of equestrian sport!
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV.