Ocala, FL – Twenty-nine horse-and-rider combinations from nine countries took to the Grand Arena at World Equestrian Center – Ocala to contest the $50,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida FEI CSI3* Welcome Prix this evening under the lights. Renowned course designer, Alan Wade (IRL) set the track that saw Kristen Vanderveen and the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding Bull Run’s Prince Of Peace (Cardenio 2 x Contender) rise to the top of the leaderboard and earn the victory.
Vanderveen is looking forward to more internationally-rated competition at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “This venue has endless possibilities. It’s such a wonderful atmosphere for the horses and the riders. It’s a huge asset for us because we are now able to bring our five-star horses and ones that we are developing. It’s truly a spectacular venue.”
Nine pairs representing the United States, Brazil, Ireland, Lebanon, Canada, New Zealand, Austria, Argentina and Portugal successfully navigated the qualifying course. Ultimately, it was the USA who took the top three spots with Vanderveen leading the victory gallop.
Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Prince of Peace were the fifth pair to deliver a fault-free first round. Vanderveen offered her insight on Wade’s track, “It was a challenging course. It seemed much bigger than last week, and Alan always builds tracks that ask a lot of questions. The lines rode fair, which is why we may have seen as many clear rounds as we did.”
Vanderveen and the talented Bull Run’s Prince Of Peace were determined to beat current leader, Evan M. Coluccio and Valdes Z’s (Vigo D’arsouilles x Ircolando) time. The duo flew around the track, leaving out strides with ease to stop the clock at 37.47 seconds to secure first place.
“Everything worked to plan. My goal was to make up my time in the lines and not cut my turns too tight. Prince Of Peace has a very big step, and luckily for us, you can really run horses in that arena. He was able to open his step, which worked out in my favor tonight,” said Vanderveen.
Evan M. Coluccio and nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Hampton Green Farm LLC were the original pace setters for the class, delivering a flawless jump-off in 38.75 seconds to eventually earn second.
Natalie Dean and Marigold Sporthorses, LLC’s 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Chance Ste Hermelle (Calvaro F.C. x Hemmingway) secured their third-place finish in the three-star welcome prix when they left all the rails up in 41.99 seconds.
Final Results: $50,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida FEI CSI3* Welcome Prix
1 BULL RUN’S PRINCE OF PEACE: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Cardenio x Contender
Kristen Vanderveen (USA), Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC: 0/0/37.47
2 VALDES Z: 2013 Zangersheide gelding by Vigo D’arsouilles x Ircolando
Evan M. Coluccio (USA), Hampton Green Farm LLC: 0/0/38.75
3 CHANCE STE HERMELLE: 2008 Belgian Warmblood mare by Calvaro F.C. x Hemmingway
Natalie Dean (USA), Marigold Sporthorses, LLC: 0/0/41.99
4 ALL IN HORSES CAVA: 2011 Oldenburg gelding by Cadensky x Clinton
Santiago Lambre (BRA), All In Horses & Jan De Waard: 0/4/35.50
5 AMEX Z: 2009 Warmblood mare by Andiamo Z x Landaris
Todd Minikus (USA), Bit By Bit Group: 0/4/35.93
6 DARQUITO: 2011 Hanoverian gelding by D’inzeo 6 x Contefino 2
Andrew Bourns (IRL), Andrew Bourns: 0/4/38.20
7 FLEUR-DE-LIS’ CHERIE: 2012 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Lancer II
JAD DANA (LBN), Peter Howard & Laure Sudreau: 0/4/38.99
8 KAMILLA D: 2011 Cheval de Selle Luxembourgeois mare by Kashmire Van Schuttershof x Canturo*bois Margot
Natalie Dean (USA), Marigold Sporthorses, LLC: 0/4/40.00
9 MAESTRO VAN HET BINNENVELD: 2012 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Hunter’s Scendix x Conan Z
Wesley Newlands (CAN), Weslands Farm: 0/8/42.38
10 SHUTTERGOLD: 2010 Hanoverian mare by Silvio I x Forrest XX
Taylor Kain (USA, The Gelt Group: 4/79.05
11 PRESCOTT: 2012 Holsteiner gelding by Lordanos
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 4/79.42
12 VALENTINE CAR: 2009 Warmblood gelding by Son Of Juan Car x Galiani Ch
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Fernando Cardenas Jr.: 4/80.80
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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