Ocala, FL – The final feature class of the 2022 Winter Spectacular Show Series closed out today with seventeen competitive entries vying for the win in the $15,000 WEC Ocala 1.45m Jumper Classic. Three renowned course designers, Anderson Lima (BRA), Bobby Murphy (USA), and Chris Barnard (USA) built the elaborate tracks where only two managed a clean first round, and it was Kimberley Bird (NZL) and her own Cera Cassina (Cassini II x Caletta) who managed to keep all the rails up on the short course for a well-deserved win.
Bird and the 13-year-old Holsteiner mare were the first pair to produce a clean first round in 84.228 seconds.
“The course suited my horse very well. The time was tight, but I was lucky because my horse likes to travel. As long as I don’t start pulling, we are usually good on time,” laughed Bird.
Bird had a straightforward plan for the jump-off, “I was aiming to leave up the rails and keep a consistent rhythm.” Bird and Cera Cassina galloped around the course, not touching a single rail to stop the jump-off clock at 40.612 seconds, going clear to ultimately earn the victory.
Bird has been showing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala for duration of the 12-week series, “I flew over on January 1 and have been here ever since. We aren’t ready to go home, that’s for sure,” said Bird. “This facility is unreal. Back at home I jumped around World Cups, but this place is an entire new level. We will be back for sure.”
Rupert Winkelmann (GER) and his own Duverie (Diamant De Semilly x Phenixe Duverie) were the only other pair to produce a fault-free first round in 83.985 seconds. Winkelmann and the nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding advanced to the jump-off rolling around the course to stop the clock at 39.917 seconds, with one rail down.
Harold Chopping (CAN) and Rein Family LLC’s Quadrant 3 (Quadros x O-Carlotta) managed to leave all the rails up in the first round, but the pair incurred one time penalty stopping the clock at 86.129 seconds, just over the time allowed of 86 seconds.
$15,000 WEC Ocala 1.45m Jumper Classic Results:
1.Cera Cassina, Kimberley Bird, Kimberley Bird: 0 | 0 | 40.612
2. Duverie, Rupert Winkelman, Rupert Winkelman: 0 | 4 | 39.917
3. Quadrant 3, Harold Chopping, Rein Family LLC: 1 | 86.129
4. Chapeau, Frank Hendriks, Frank Hendriks: 1 | 86.366
5. Captain Z, Samuel Parot, Samuel Parot: 4 | 79.363
6. Gangster CHS, Kris Killam, Helene Jones: 4 | 82.860
7. Jack Straw, Camille Maddrix, M&M Sporthorses: 4 | 83.858
8. Frieda, Grant Seger, Grey Fox Grossing: 4 | 84.320
9. Cornut GP, Vicente Guillen, Rafael Celis: 4 | 84.632
10. Jarocco Blue, Sam Berry, Sam Berry: 4 | 84.898
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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