Ocala, FL – Another beautiful sunny Florida day set the scene for the highlight event of the afternoon, the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. Thirty-one aspiring starters competed over tracks set by FEI Level II course designer Tucker Williams (USA), but it was Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) that posted the fastest time toward the end of the order aboard his brand-new partner Scoop De Septon Z (Hunters Scendro x Kageena Van’t Hoogeinde) owned by Sigma Stables LLC.
In the Table II.2b format class, an even ten horse-and-rider combinations jumped their way to a clear first round effort to qualify for the immediate jump-off, but only four managed to yield a double-clear effort.
Goncalves and the nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding made light work of the first round to head straight to the jump-off. Goncalves wanted to use the track as a learning experience for his new partner, “I tried to be sharp from one to two to three. I want him to learn how to be competitive at a high level and he turned so nicely I was able to be even tighter back to the vertical. Then I got a good gallop to the last two fences.”
The pair flew over the final vertical halting the timers at 40.710 seconds to snag the lead.
Goncalves spoke about his up-and-coming partner, “He’s a new horse that I bought two months ago in Europe. This is our second show together. He’s already had a clear round in the 1.45m Welcome, but I wanted to compete today in the Futures and tomorrow in the 1.40m Classic to get him more acclimated with the atmosphere. I hope he will do the grand prix soon,” shared Goncalves.
With a quick and clear time of 42.870 seconds, Luis Larrazabal (VEN) and Abril Kontendra (Contendro 1 x Gama Quintana), an eight-year-old Warmblood mare owned by San Francisco Stables LLC, earned the second place spot on the leaderboard.
Megan Wexler (USA) and April Miller’s 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Camiro Blue PS (Cabochon x Chamilda) earned third place in this afternoon’s $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix with a clear and efficient performance in 44.455 seconds.
$10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1 Scoop De Septon Z, Luis Sabino Goncalves, Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 40.710
2 Abril Kontendra, Luis Larrazabal, San Francisco Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 42.870
3 Camiro Blue PS, Megan Wexler, April Miller: 0 | 0 | 44.455
4 Sandalo, Luis Pedro Biraben, La Cuadra Stables, LLC: 0 | 0 | 45.878
5 Can Take To Me TD MTM, Tracy Fenney, MTM Farm: 0 | 4 | 44.939
6 Sovereigns Cadel, Peter McMahon, Maleah Lang McMahon: 0 | 4 | 45.705
7 Finefleur De Ravel, Cody Quintana, Maya Aryal: 0 | 4 | 46.298
8 Jameson, Lauren Hough, Beerbaum Stables Gmbh: 0 | 4 | 47.014
9 Bayra, Brooke Kemper, Bayra LLC: 0 | 8 | 43.342
10 MTM Caden, Dorothy Douglas, Davenport Farms: 0 | 77.485
Sabine Haddon & Allure Charm the Crowd in the $2,000 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper 1.30m-1.35m
On Friday evening, the WEC Grand Arena played host to the $2,000 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper 1.30m-1.35m to give developing athletes a chance to compete in a unique atmosphere under the lights. Thirty junior and amateur riders put forth their best efforts over tracks built by Tucker Williams (USA), but it was Sabine Haddon and her own Allure that charmed spectators with their victory.
Haddon and her 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare posted a blistering time of 42.794 seconds. Haddon spoke about her seasoned partner Allure, “I purchased her back in 2019 to jump 1.10m and she actually ended up being a lot more difficult than I thought, but we were able to move up through the levels. We actually did the High [Junior/Amateur Jumpers] during the Winter circuit, but I feel like the 1.30m is perfect for her. She always tries so hard. For a horse that I was just going to jump little jumps with, she’s fantastic. She’s fun, spicy and has taught me how to ride better. I owe her everything.”
Haddon had a blast showing under the lights, “It was such a great idea! I feel good about it now that I’ve done it and won, because I was a little nervous,” laughed Haddon. “Allure loved it out there and jumped even better with a little bit of pressure. It’s different with the lights. There was a very appreciative crowd with everyone clapping and cheering us on. It was a lot of fun.”
$2,000 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Results:
1 Allure, Sabine Haddon, Sabine Haddon: 0 | 0 | 42.794
2 Harmony, Mustafa Shah, Mustafa Shah: 0 | 0 | 44.345
3 Lady Kolibri, Angus Gordon, Anna Moon: 0 | 0 | 44.453
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.