Ocala, FL – The $15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic closed out the penultimate week of the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series. Twenty horse-and-rider combinations competed over Bernardo Costa Cabral’s (POR) classic tracks. Nine athletes qualified for the short course, resulting in just three double clean efforts. In the end, it was Grace Debney (GBR) and Temple Equestrian LLC’s Helia Des Bergeries (Untouchable x Ciaobella Des Bergeries) that navigated an outstanding performance to earn the win and champion title.
Debney spoke about today’s closing tracks, “The course had a lot of the same lines as last night’s grand prix and similar tests. It wasn’t super easy and not that many made it to the jump-off, so it was a good feeling to go canter around out there with ease.”
Debney and the ten-year-old Belgian SportHorse mare made light work of the jump-off track to stop the clock at an uncatchable 38.579 seconds.
Debney spoke about her partnership with the talented young mare, “It’s a funny story, we had her in the barn for a Low Children’s rider and we thought she could do a little more. When I got her, she moved up from the .90m to the 1.45m in just a few weeks. She was game for it and wanted to do it. I think she really likes this job, even though she’s tiny, she had no idea and goes out there to win each time.”
It’s been a fantastic day for Debney, the 19-year-old athlete secured top honors in the Medium Jr/Am Jumper Classic earlier this morning and delivered an incredible round in the CSI4* $222,600 Longines FEI World Cup™ at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, Florida.
Priscilla Simpson and her own Zangersheide stallion Cretchon Z (Covina Z x Tzyganne SB Z) were just shy of the leading time in 39.117 seconds to ultimately secure second place.
David Cameron (AUS) rounded out the top three aboard Alan 111 Z (Arko III x Vilotte) owned by Linda Hudy and Sally Watkins. Cameron and the 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding were just coming off of their win from Friday’s $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic. Today, the pair continued their successful path, navigating the course with a fast and clear round in 41.652 seconds.
$15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic Results:
1 Helia Des Bergeries, Grace Debney, Temple Equestrian LLC: 0 | 0 | 38.579
2 Cretchon Z, Priscilla Simpson, Priscilla Simpson: 0 | 0 | 39.117
3 Alan 111 Z, David Cameron, Linda Huddy & Sally Watkins: 0 | 0 | 41.652
4 Seaview Demonstration, Brooke Kemper, CM Sporthorses LLC: 0 | 4 | 39.559
5 Jantien De Muze, Maya Denis, Maya Denis: 0 | 4 | 39.559
6 Fazous, Daniel Geitner, Oak Ledge Farm: 0 | 4 | 40.205
7 HHS Good Times, David Tromp, David Tromp Show Stables, Inc.: 0 | 4 | 40.975
8 Justin Van’t Vennehof, Elisabeth Yeager, Elisabeth Yeager: 0 | 4 | 41.346
9 Eastpoint, Hillary Johnson, Hillary Johnson: 0 | 12 | 44.375
10 Cothalando PS, Manuel Torres, Manuel Torres: 3 | 78.270
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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