How About Them Apples – Tracy Fenney and MTM Apple Snag $100,000 Juniper Grand Prix Victory
14 JAN 24 Ocala, FL
Ocala, FL – Crowds flocked to World Equestrian Center – Ocala for the second Saturday night event during the 12-week 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series, the $100,000 Juniper Grand Prix. Twenty-nine of the world’s best show jumping athletes vied for the top prize over a challenging track crafted by FEI Level III course designer Ben Townley (GBR). In a thrilling 11-horse jump-off, Tracy Fenney had the crowd cheering as she flew over the final fence with MTM Apple (Favorit Ask x Kong’s Whopsie).
A field of the world’s fastest competitors representing New Zealand, United States, Ireland, Portugal and Australia qualified to battle it out over Townley’s jump-off tracks. Out of the returning field, only five were able to jump double clear.
Aaron Vale (USA) and I.adermie R 4 (Den Ham Blue R x W.adermie 1) led the charge as the first pair to successfully navigate a clear round in the jump-off. The 11-year-old KWPN mare soared around the track in 36.370 seconds with Vale in the irons.
Daniel Coyle (IRL), riding his first entry Farrel (Cardento 933 x Becherry), a 14-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Ariel Grange, was hot on Vale’s heels, finding a time just four tenths of a second short in 36.832 seconds.
Tracy Fenney (USA) entered the arena aboard MTM Apple with a winning mindset. “When she’s on, I know she’s ready to win it, and tonight she was on it. She has such a ginormous stride, I was able to leave out just about everywhere. I think we did one less in almost every spot.”
The 13-year-old Danish Warmblood mare showcased her remarkable step, finding each fence on an open gallop, stopping the clock in a blistering fast 35.032 seconds, securing the lead and earning MTM Farm another grand prix victory during the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series.
“Like Dorrie [Douglas] said last week, ‘you have to win the first one to win them all,’ laughed Fenney. “There’s no other feeling like winning on a Saturday night and walking down that ramp. To have the crowd go crazy and cheering you on is the best feeling. Apple has become such a favorite, everyone knows her and it makes it that much more fun.”
Aaron Vale also secured the fastest four-faulter award with his other mount Prescott with a quick first round time of 72.525 seconds with one rail down.
Audrey Muscari received the ‘Luck of the Draw’ award.
$100,000 Juniper Grand Prix Results:
1 MTM Apple, Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0 | 0 | 35.032
2 I.adermie R 4, Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0 | 0 | 36.370
3 Farrel, Daniel Coyle (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0 | 0 | 36.832
4 Quintin, Daniel Coyle (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0 | 0 | 37.041
5 Scoop De Septon Z, Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 37.578
6 Valentine Car, Sharn Wordley (NZL), Fernando Cardenas: 0 | 4 | 35.684
7 Wellington Grey Goose, Rowan Willis (AUS), Rowan Willis: 0 | 4 | 37.258
8 Elusive, Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0 | 4 | 38.372
9 Psalm, Megan Wexler (USA), Amen Corner Farm, LLC: 0 | 4 | 39.865
10 Seaview Demonstration, Brooke Kemper (USA), CM Sporthorses, LLC: 0 | 4 | 40.960
Spectators are welcome! From now until March 24, 2024, experience the thrill of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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