Ocala, FL – The $31,500 1.45m Speed CSI4* stole the spotlight this afternoon for the first Fédération Equestre International (FEI) CSI4*/CSI2* week of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series. Top athletes from nine different nations took to the WEC Grand Arena to compete over Gregory Bodo (FRA) and Pieter Vitse’s (BEL) speed track, but it was Amy Millar (CAN) who claimed the quickest time aboard Team Eye Candy’s Jagger HX (Ustinov x Bustique).
Millar kicked off her first week at World Equestrian Center – Ocala on a successful note. Piloting the 10-year-old KWPN gelding through a lightning-fast track, the duo clocked in at an impressive 71.25 seconds, nearly four seconds ahead of second place to take home the winning title.
Gregory Bodo is the appointed co-course designer for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Millar was particularly interested in jumping his tracks this week, “Part of the reason I came here to show this week is to jump [Gregory Bodo’s] courses. He is very talented and tricky. You walk the course and it looks nice, then you find out as the class goes on that there are little difficulties everywhere. I think that’s what happened to a lot of people today,” shared Millar.
For Jagger HX, this marked his debut in a four-star competition. “I’ve owned him for two years with Erica Hatfield from Eye Candy Jumpers. We’ve been bringing him along and training him to where he needs to be. He just turned 10 this year and has really come into his own. He’s so much fun to ride, it’s just easy for him. This is his first ever four-star competition, and after today, I am even more excited about his future.”
World Equestrian Center – Ocala, a new venue for Millar, left a lasting impression. “It’s unbelievable. I have never seen anything quite like this. I am blown away by the quality of everything. All of the attention to detail; the hotel is incredible, the stabling is beautiful, there is so much space and the rubber flooring is great for the horses. It’s such a unique place.”
Sharn Wordley (NZL) found the second fastest time aboard Della Wordley’s 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Brin D’or De Haute Melen Z (Bamako De Muze x Baloubet De Rouet) in 74.94 seconds.
Conor O’Regan (IRL) secured third-place honors, riding Delshore Horses LLC’s 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Big Boy Z (Big Star Jr J Z x Caridor Z) to a time of 76.73 seconds.
$31,500 1.45m Speed CSI4* Results:
1 JAGGER HX: 2014 KWPN gelding by Ustinov x Bustique
Amy Millar (CAN), Team Eye Candy: 0/71.25
2 BRIN D’OR DE HAUTE MELEN Z: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Bamako De Muze x Baloubet Du Rouet
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 0/74.94
3 BIG BOY Z: 2013 Zangersheide gelding by Big Star Jr K Z x Carido Z
Conor O’Regan (IRL), Delshore Horses LLC: 0/76.73
4 CONTHARGRAN: 2011 Oldenburg gelding by Conthargos
Juan Pablo Gnecco (COL), Juan Pablo Gnecco: 0/77.24
5 QUALITY STAR Z: 2013 Zangersheide gelding by Quality Time Tn x Cash
Bliss Heers (USA), Bridgeside Farms L.L.C: 0/77.89
6 FARINJO DES MEC: 2015 Selle Francias stallion by Carinjo x Kannan
Bliss Heers (USA), Bridgeside Farms L.L.C: 0/79.49
7 ROCKSY MUSIC: 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ars Vivendi x Diamond Serpent
Richie Moloney (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 4/70.83
8 EXCELLENT B: 2009 KWPN gelding by Berlin x Heartbreaker
Nicole Walker (CAN), Nicole Walker: 4/72.73
9 QUICK STEP: 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Quintender 2 x Calido I
Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), Paseo Farms, LLC: 4/73.25
10 MANCHESTER: 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Quidam De Revel x Codex
Conor O’Regan (IRL), Delshore Horses LLC: 4/73.83
Caelinn Leahy and The Gray Man Top The 1.40m Speed CSI4*
In the 1.40m Speed CSI4*, twenty horse-and-rider pairs competed in the WEC Grand Arena, navigating courses designed by Gregory Bodo (FRA) and Pieter Vitse (BEL). Ultimately, it was Caelinn Leahy (USA) and Steve Schaefer’s 16-year-old KWPN gelding The Gray Man (Tjungske x Calando I) who clinched the victory with an impressive time of 68.94 seconds.
1.40m Speed CSI4* Top Three Results:
1 THE GRAY MAN: 2008 KWPN gelding by Tjungske x Calando I
Caelinn Leahy (USA), Steve Schaefer: 0/68.94
2 COQUELICOT VH HEUVELLAND Z: 2012 Zangersheide gelding by Catoki x Cassini II
Sean Jobin (CAN), Foxridge Farms Stables: 0/74.16
3 ELECTRIQUE: 2014 Zangersheide mare by Emerald x Voltaire
Tiffany Foster (CAN), Cox: 3/79.23
Will Simpson and Keminko N Snag the 1.40m Speed CSI2*
Thirty elite horse-and-rider combinations opened international competition this morning in the 1.40m Speed CSI2*. Thirteen talented pairs managed to stay under the time allowed, while leaving all rails in their cups, but Will Simpson (USA) was the quickest aboard Will Simpson Stables Inc.’s nine-year-old KWPN gelding Keminko N with a time of 59.58 seconds.
1.40m Speed CSI2* Top Three Results:
1 KEMINKO N: 2015 KWPN gelding by Grand Slam
Will Simpson (USA), Will Simpson Stables Inc.: 0/59.58
2 CARMEN DE BONNIERES: 2012 Selle Francais mare by Kannan*gfe x Socrate De Chivre
Conor O’Regan (IRL), Ericka Houlihan: 0/63.08
3 CSF PRINCESS BLUE: 2014 Irish Sport Horse mare x Ars Vivendi
Bretton Chad (CAN), Stone Ridge Farms LLC: 0/63.33
Visit HorseShowing.com for final results.
Spectators are welcome! From now until March 24, 2024, experience the thrill of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
A limited number of weekly stalls remain for the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series, book your stall today!
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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