Wilmington, Ohio – The $30,000 Grand Prix of World Equestrian Center – Wilmington (WEC) Winter Classic 8 proved technical as only two riders advanced to the jump-off phase. Robert Barton built the track that saw Lani Hutchison (USA) and Sam Pegg (CAN) battle for the top prize.
Pegg and his own 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Casadimo (Cachas x Orissa S), returned first for the short course, securing a double-clear effort stopping the timers in 36.51 seconds.
Hutchison came after, “Obviously Sam [Pegg] is a very good rider. I have always looked up to him. I told my dad that I was just happy with the top two in general,” she laughed. “Being right after him in the jump-off I told myself to go for it and Duke was great.”
Hutchison entered with Duc De Jentiere making a tidy track and an inside turn to the combination that was just enough to secure the win in 35.342 seconds and move Pegg into second.
“We imported Duke about a year ago. We bought him to take me into the 1.50m and teach me the ropes,” Hutchison shared on her partnership with her fan-favorite 12-year-old Selle Francias gelding.
“Looking at the course, it was a little bit technical. I ride a bit more cautious when it is technical, and it ended up being lovely. It was exactly the kind of course that challenges me, and I love that.”
“It was a little hard for me to figure him out because my first horse was so different from him. It has been a lot of fun getting to know him. He is definitely a barn favorite!”
Hutichson expressed her gratitude to her barn family that joined her in the winner’s circle, “I have been with Charlotte [Clark] at Kendalwood Farm for about two years. I have made so many friends, and I love Charlotte. She has done so much for my confidence, and I can’t thank her enough.”
Lanie Thomas (CAN) was the fastest four-faulter aboard Neil Badcock’s nine-year-old Warmblood mare, Zendaya, to round out the top three.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Duc De Jentiere, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 0 | 35.342
2 Casadimo, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 36.51
3 Zendaya, Lanie Thomas, Neil Badcock | 4 | 74.26
4 Maverick, Danielle Urban, Leah Kennedy | 4 | 76.269
5 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 4 | 77.357
6 Falco De Vesquerie, Danielle Urban, Danielle Urban | 4 | 78.432
7 Casey H, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 78.778
8 Comme Cartani, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 4 | 78.978
9 Queen Bee Z, Ragan Roberts, Ragan Roberts | 4 | 79.377
10 HJ Blind Date, Molly Kindness, Molly Kindness | 4 | 80.121
Second Consecutive $10,000 Futures Prix Win for Claire Austin & K T Miel
Claire Austin (USA) continued her winning ways at WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 8, claiming her second consecutive $10,000 Futures Prix win with her own K T Miel (Epleaser Van T Heike x Violet P).
Austin “feels awesome,” after her back-to-back wins. “It is just such a great feeling riding him. I really know his program now, so I stick with it. I took him for a walk outside today and he was so happy!”
The young rider shared more about her development with the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, “We got him in December 2021. We took him to his first horse show in January 2022. He wasn’t very careful, and we had a ton of rails. As soon as we stepped up to the 1.30m, she jumped out of his skin. I knew I had a really cool horse on my hands.”
“I wasn’t riding amazing for a period of time and created a little bit of a stopping issue since it was so new to both of us. We figured that all out and we have come out so much stronger. He is truly amazing now.”
Austin worked hard for her win today, riding every stride of Robert Barton’s tracks.
“He has a big stride and there were a lot of lines. I put less bit in him because I think he jumps better. The lines were a little tight for him so I knew I was going to have to sit in my seat and make it happen. I was trying to make sure I had good distances in and he was so adjustable today,” she said.
The duo moved onto the immediate jump-off phase to stop clock the in 33.318 seconds to clinch another win.
Mara Kranz (USA) and Mint Hill Farm’s eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Wheeler (Nixon Van’t Meulenhof x Belramira Van Het Varenhof), snagged a close second place with a double clear round early in the order, jumping off in a time of 34.393 seconds.
Third place was awarded to Amy Taylor (USA) and her own 12-year-old KWPN gelding, Igor Van Gogh (Van Gogh x Utoloma S), with a time of 37.41 seconds.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 K T Miel, Clarie Austin, Clarie Austin | 0 | 33.318
2 Wheeler, Mara Kranz, Mint Hill Farm | 0 | 34.393
3 Igor Van Gogh, Amy Taylor, Amy Taylor | 0 | 37.41
4 Gold D’elle, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 4 | 40.963
5 Magnificent Tutu, Tatiana Reyes, Tatiana Reyes | 4 | 85.238
6 Zalino De Ganad, Lindsay Adams, Lindsay Adams | 8 | 78.963
7 Canvas Van Hof Ter Naillen, Eric Sassmannshausen, Eric Sassmannshausen | 8 | 79.819
8 KTS Kantoulon, Elyse Jescheling, Elyse Jescheling | 8 | 82.336
9 Goldfish, Melissa Donnelly, Fawn Lake Farm LLC | 28 | 105.699
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Results can be found at horseshowing.com.
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