Ocala, FL – World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) welcomed international athletes, both new and familiar to the WEC Grand Arena to kick-off the first week of the 2023 December Show Series. Nineteen-year-old, Grace Debney (GBR) captured the first international victory of the series in the $40,000 1.45m Speed CSI3* with Zarina De Vidau (Diamant De Semilly x Coeur De Nuit), owned by Temple Equestrian LLC.
FEI Level IV course designer, Guilherme Jorge of Brazil crafted the winding track that had one athlete chasing the next. An even dozen managed to jump-clear with the top three placings separated by tenths of a second.
Debney entered the class toward the middle of the order, but already knew that the course was perfect for her 12-year-old Spanish Sport Horse mare, “When I looked at the course chart, I knew it was going to be a good track for [Zarina De Vidau]. She’s a really quick mare and loves to turn.”
“I stuck with my plan. A lot of people did eight in the first line, but I decided to do nine, because she is such a naturally fast horse. Even with an added stride, she is quicker than the others that may have left one out,” shared Debney.
The pair whipped around the track, taking sharp turns and utilizing Zarina De Vidau’s foot speed to cross the timers in an unbeatable 61.57 seconds.
Debney credited the success to her partnership with her tried-and-true mare, “We’ve had her since she was eight, and she is now 12. She has done all my firsts – my first 1.40m, first grand prix, first FEI class and my first ever four-star. She has done so much for me, I owe her everything, and I am so excited to kick-off the week on such a high note.”
With a time of 61.60 seconds, Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) and Serenity Farm’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding Forever SFN (Azteca Vdl x Non Stop) were just shy of the winning time by three hundredths of a second, to ultimately take home second place honors.
Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Brin D’or De Haute Melen Z, a nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Della Wordley, captured third place with a quick and clear time of 62.19 seconds.
$40,000 1.45m Speed CSI3* Results:
1 ZARINA DE VIDAU: 2011 Spanish Sport Horse mare by Diamant De Semilly x Coeur De Nuit
Grace Debney (GBR), Temple Equestrian LLC: 0/61.57
2 FOREVER SFN: 2010 KWPN gelding by Azteca Vdl x Non Stop
Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA), Serenity Farm: 0/61.60
3 BRIN D’OR DE HAUTE MELEN Z: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Bamako De Muze x Baloubet Du Rouet
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 0/62.19
4 AMIRO B Z: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Asca Z x Concreto
Beat Mändli (SUI), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/62.66
5 BULLS RUN’S HESED: 2014 Oldenburg gelding by Christian 25 x Lord Z
Kristen Vanderveen (USA), Bull Run Jumpers: 0/63.44
6 KIEKEBOE SPIRIT: 2015 KWPN gelding by Darius x Game Boy
Todd Minikus (USA), Spirit Group: 0/64.00
7 CHELSEA 179: 2015 Oldenburg mare by Cador 5 x Laudabilis
Chloe Reid (USA), Live Oak Plantation: 0/64.44
8 WELLINGTON GREY GOOSE: 2011 Warmblood mare by Corlensky G x Grandire
Rowan Willis (AUS), Rowan Willis: 0/64.94
9 EMERSON: 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Eldorado Vd Zeshoek x Berlin
Mario Deslauriers (CAN), Wishing Well Farm LLC: 0/64.97
10 ORALINE VAN PRINSEVELD: 2014 Belgian Warmblood mare by Thunder Vd Zuuthoeve x Convento Van De Helle
Alise Oken (USA), Hi Hopes Farm LLC : 0/67.23
11 BONHOMME RICHARD: 2011 Selle Francais stallion by Catoki x Quaprice Bois Margot
Alise Oken (USA), Hi Hopes Farm LLC: 0/68.40
12 I.UMONIA R 60: 2013 KWPN gelding by Den Ham Blue R x Chellano
Beat Mandli (SUI), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/69.42
Beat Mändli Makes Winning Premiere at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in $6,000 1.40m Speed CSI3*
Beat Mändli (SUI) made his winning premiere at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in the $6,000 1.40m Speed CSI3*, besting a field of 30 top-notch international horse-and-rider combinations.
Mändli and Chartraine Pre Noir, a 11-year-old Selle Francais mare by Kannan x Corrado II, made light work of the opening track built by FEI Level IV course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA). The seasoned pair stopped the clock in 71.83 seconds to gallop away with the victory.
The 2023 December Show Series marks Mändli’s first time competing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “I have heard a lot of great things, so I thought I would try it out and I love it here. I’ve been here for two days now just walking around and seeing everything, and I am just amazed,” he added. “During the winter season, we are normally in Wellington, but I am planning on coming back up here a few times because this facility is incredible.”
Mändli brought several top mounts to compete this week, “’Chartraine’, who won the class, is a seasoned mare. She just won a big class in Washington, and has had many victories throughout her career. I hope to show her in the grand prix on Saturday. I also brought a newer horse [Amiro B Z], a nine-year-old coming 10-year-old. I am very excited about his future and have really high hopes for him.”
The success didn’t top for Mändli on opening day, he also captured fourth place with his new partner Amiro B Z in the $40,000 1.45m Speed CSI3*.
Jenny Rankin (IRL) and Blackwood Group’s 10-year-old KWPN gelding Ibiza (Inshallah De Muze x Indoctro) snagged second place in the 1.40m Speed CSI3* with a time of 74.72 seconds.
Maya Denis (MEX) rounded out the podium with her own nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Chagolando PS (Chacco-blue x Conthargos) in 76.11 seconds.
$6,000 1.40m Speed CSI3* Results:
1 CHARTRAINE PRE NOIR: 2012 Selle Francais mare by Kannan x Corrado II
Beat Mandli (SUI), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/71.83
2 IBIZA: 2013 KWPN gelding by Inshallah De Muze x Indoctro
Jenny Rankin (IRL), Blackwood Group: 0/74.72
3 CHAGOLANDO PS: 2014 Oldenburg stallion Chacco-blue x Conthargos
Maya Denis (MEX), Maya Denis: 0/76.11
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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