Wilmington, Ohio – Thirty-three horse-and-rider combinations met at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) first thing Thursday morning for the $32,000 Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2* of Spring II. Not only was Ireland’s David Blake the pathfinder, but he also managed to pilot both of his mounts, J.Diago and Cornwall BH, to double clear efforts to secure a one-two finish.
Aboard the Pine Hollow Farm entry, J.Diago (Diarado x Tara), Blake was the first in the ring and the first of only three horses to jump clear over the track designed by Catsy Cruz (MEX).
“I went first on him [J.Diago]. I like to add early in the course with him, so he had a little bit of his own plan. I think it maybe distracted people a bit because it was a different plan than most horses,” Blake noted. “I think it was a good course; jumps came down everywhere. It was just one of those days where a lot of people had four faults.”
The partnership is new, but the 11-year-old KPWN gelding’s winning mentality has proved evident to Blake, “He is fairly new. We have only had him for a few months but so far, at every show he seems to deliver. He is a small horse, but he tries so hard. It is really nice to have one like that.”
Blake was also awarded the red ribbon with Amanda Derbyshire’s 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Cornwall BH (Con Air x Cambridge 8), the second of two to jump double clear.
Blakes first trip to Wilmington has been, “so far, very good,” he laughed.
“We have been to WEC – Ocala and we love it there, so we assumed this would also be a nice show. The footing is great, the courses are very good, and the staff is very accommodating. The stabling is world class.”
Saturday’s grand prix winner, Victoria Birdsall (USA), rounded out the top three with a four-fault jump-off round aboard Abigail Wexner’s nine-year-old KWPN mare, Las Lajas (Glenfiddich VDL x Quasimodo Z).
$32,000 Grand Prix Qualifier Results
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Results can be found at wec.net.
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