Wilmington, Ohio – After a 10-week riding hiatus, Nicole Loochtan (USA) returned to the Standlee Sanctuary like she never left with her own It’s Me Du Bosquetiau (Dayton Sitte x Mirette Du Bosquetiau). The duo conquered Joey Rycroft’s (CAN) $10,000 Welcome Stake tracks with ease to take home the first featured win of 2024 at the World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic 4.
“The last couple of months have looked very different for me! I fractured my shoulder in October in a fall,” said Loochtan. “I had to take 10 weeks off and I have only been riding for about two weeks now. I sent my horses to Florida so that they could stay fit. They came back, I rode for two weeks and jumped two 1.30m jumps at home and decided I was ready! My horses are just amazing.”
Loochtan and her top mount have proved their dominance during their partnership together, having claimed numerous back-to-back wins during the 2023 Winter in the Midwest Series and top placings in their FEI CSI3* debut over the summer.
The 10-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion stepped right back into his winning ways, never touching a rail for a quick double clear, claiming the blue in 35.798 seconds.
Loochtan, of Stone Creek Stables, spoke highly of the faces in her barn, “My two main horses are Marvin [It’s Me Du Bosquetiau] and my new horse Birdie [Kupardie]. I am so excited about them both. I have had Marvin for about a year now and we have had a lot of success here at WEC. Now that I am back to riding, I am really hoping to continue showing off the incredible horse that he is.”
Sam Pegg (CAN) returned to the winner’s circle once again with Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC‘s Formidable Diamant (Diamant De Semilly x Nobel Lady). Pegg piloted the nine-year-old Selle Francias gelding to a jump-off time of 35.858 seconds, just shy of the leading time for a respectable second place.
Vanessa Lee’s 12-year-old Holsteiner mare Esra (Bratt Z x Ulibra) rounded out the top three with Paul Halpern (CAN) in the irons. Halpern has used WEC – Wilmington to aid in the development of the talented mare and has been proven successful with numerous wins under their belt. The duo kicked off their 2024 winter series with a third-place time of 36.976 seconds.
$10,000 Welcome Stake Results:
1 It’s Me Du Bosquetiau, Nicole Loochtan, Nicole Loochtan | 0 | 35.798
2 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 0 | 35.858
3 Esra, Paul Halpern, Vanessa Lee | 0 | 36.976
4 Dolla 3, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 0 | 38.659
5 Triskel De Kerliven, Liz Hutchinson, Liz Hutchinson | 0 | 39.158
6 Conquest, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 4 | 34.041
7 Quincidence, Wilhelm Genn, Wilhelm Genn | 4 | 39.481
8 Donatella Du Barquet, Philippe Lacasse, Philippe Lacasse | 4 | 62.419
9 Kupardie, Nicole Loochtan, Nicole Loochtan | 4 | 70.947
10 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 4 | 71.276
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Results can be found at wec.net.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.