Ocala, FL – The $30,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix was the feature event of the morning as 50 international horse-and-rider partnerships representing 14 nations competed over a complex track built by FEI Level III course designer Peter Grant (CAN). The very last contender to advance to the jump-off, Jad Dana (LBN) and Springhill Farm 1850, LLC’s After Eight (Diarado x Coco) stepped on the gas to steal the victory.
Of the starting 50 combinations, 17 pairs successfully answered the first round track questions to qualify for the jump-off. The short course proved to be a challenge as only seven jumped double-clear.
One of the double-clean slots was secured early on by Aaron Vale (USA) and Thinkslikeahorse’s Cristo Beech (Its The Business x Ragua). Vale and the 11-year-old Warmblood gelding yielded a very quick jump-off in 34.382 seconds to set the pace for the remainder of the class.
Up against Vale’s leading time, Santiago Lambre (BRA) and his own 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding Cetano Van Aspergem Z (Clinton x Altamira Z) navigated the winding course effortlessly to jump to a commanding lead in 34.040 seconds.
Last to take the field was Jad Dana and the 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare, “After Eight is owned by Amy Hauk and Scott Dehm of Springhill Farm 1850, LLC. My trainer, Leslie Howard showed the mare last year, but she underwent a hip replacement surgery, so I had the privilege of riding the mare for a while. It ended up being an amazing partnership, so I continued to ride her thanks to Amy and Scott.”
Dana knew had was chasing a very quick rider, “I knew it was a quick jump-off where you had to be fast every step of the way in order to beat the rest, so I started out strategically and caught the first fence on a angle so I could land right. Then I just tried to stay on a gallop, until I had to take the inside turn to the in-and-out. After I was clear out of the double, I did a nice seven to the vertical then tried to go as fast as possible to the last oxer and it paid off!”
Dana and After Eight flew through the finish stopping the clock at 33.299 seconds to earn the pair their first featured class win at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.
“We love it here! Everyone is so accommodating, friendly and knowledgeable. The horses love the stalls, the arenas and they all thrive in the atmosphere. Everything is so wonderful, and we are so happy to have such a world-class venue like this at our fingertips,” Dana remarked.
$30,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix Results:
1 After Eight, Jad Dana (LBN), Springhill Farm 1850, LLC: 0 | 0 | 33.299
2 Cetano Van Aspergem Z, Santiago Lambre (BRA), Santiago Lambre: 0 | 0 | 34.030
3 Cristo Beech, Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0 | 0 | 34.482
4 Vick Du Croisy, Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.828
5 Conblue, Rene Tebbel (UKR), Gut Einhaus, LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.887
6 Follow Me, David Jennings (USA), The Follow Me Group: 0 | 0 | 36.149
7 Lacome, Colleen Acosta (USA), Colleen Acosta: 0 | 0 | 38.547
8 Sligo Balou Boy, Luis Larrazabal (VEN), Luis Larrazabal: 0 | 4 | 35.869
9 Oasis Spirit, Ramiro Quintana (ARG), Play The Game LLC: 0 | 4 | 36.560
10 Elvis De Wijnendaele Z, Aaron Vale (USA), Linda Bammann: 0 | 4 | 38.058
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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