Wilmington, Ohio –Nicole Loochtan (USA) returned to her winning ways on Saturday evening with her It’s Me Du Bosquetiau (Dayton Sitte x Mirette Du Bosquetiau) for the $30,000 Grand Prix at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic 4.
Joey Rycroft’s (CAN) track saw five horse-and-athlete combinations move onto the jump-off phase, where Loochtan, of Stone Creek Stables, was the only double clear effort of the night.
“The track was a little bit windy today. Usually, my horse drifts hard to the right, but today he stayed really straight. I thought it was a super course with just the right amount of technicality,” said Loochtan. “I wanted to play it safe in the jump-off. My horse is super careful, so chances are if I ride him correctly, he will give me a clear round. I thought it was better to be safe than sorry this time around!”
The 10-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion was the winner of Thursday evening’s $10,000 Welcome Stake and impressed with his scope and talent once again. The duo jumped to a winning clear round time of 40.346 seconds.
“I want to thank Sharn Wordley for keeping my horses fit while I was out. He did a phenomenal job and made it a lot easier for me to come back and do what I am doing. I want to thank all of my sponsors, Natural Equine Essentials, CWD, EnviroEquine, and Fabbri. They make a huge difference for me and my program,” Loochtan expressed gratitude for the team behind-the-scenes.
Returning as the last to jump-off, Sam Pegg (CAN) and Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC’s Formidable Diamant (Diamant De Semilly x Nobel Lady) needed a clear, tidy round to top Loochtan, but the nine-year-old Selle Francias gelding posted an unlucky four faults in 37.368 seconds to ultimately claim the red ribbon.
Sarah Meier (USA) returned with her own 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Nightshade SCF (Baldev x Olisina) to round out the top three on four faults in 45.673 seconds.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 It’s Me Du Bosquetiau, Nicole Loochtan, Nicole Loochtan | 0 | 40.346
2 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises LLC | 4 | 37.368
3 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 4 | 45.673
4 Quincidence, Wilhelm Genn, Wilhelm Genn | 8 | 44.309
5 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 9 | 52.795
6 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 4 | 79.458
7 Big Girl Z, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 4 | 83.336
8 Brook De Brekka, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 4 | 83.485
9 Dolla 3, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 4 | 83.736
10 Esra, Paul Halpern, Vanessa Lee | 4 | 84.082
First Time’s a Charm for Jessica Lobmiller & Frere D’arme in the $10,000 Futures Prix
In their first $10,000 Futures Prix together, Jessica Lobmiller, training out of Kendalwood Farm, and her own Frere D’arme (Quick Star x Quamtchatka) rode to the top of the podium at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic 4.
“This is my first futures win ever! I had another horse that I have done this class on, but it is my first time with ‘Frere.’ We did really well here in December and were champion in Low Amateur Jumpers. I said my next goal was to win the Futures Prix, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon!”
Though Lobmiller recently partnered up with the nine-year-old Selle Francias gelding, Frere D’arme is a fan favorite at WEC – Wilmington having been under the guidance of Lobmiller’s trainer, Charlotte Clark.
“Charlotte [Clark] imported him almost two years ago. I had never sat on him until July of this year. I wanted to go take a lesson and she put me on Frere, and I fell in love! We started talking about ways to make it work because I had a horse for sale at the time and I couldn’t do anything until he sold. Long story short, he officially became mine in October! My goal was to move up to the 1.30m-1.35m with him, so this is a huge accomplishment!”
An easy double clear and a jump-off time of 33.672 seconds was unbeatable, leaving Lobmiller and her loveable Frere D’arme decorated in blue as they headed back to the barn with their supportive friends and family.
“I really liked the courses this week. For our first time moving up, there were tough challenges, but he didn’t build anything that was impossible or super intimidating, so I really liked it today,” Lobmiller shared on Joey Rycroft’s tracks.
Lobmiller was not the only entry of Kendalwood Farm in the winner’s circle. Lani Hutchison and her new 11-year-old Selle Francias gelding, Duc De Jentiere by Vagabond De La Pomme, set the tone for a bright future ahead with a smooth double clear in 37.502 seconds to round out the top three.
Canada’s Paul Halpern found his place on the podium once again, this time with Elizabeth Grace Thomassin’s Schillino Rold TF (Christian x Schillino Rold). The nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding was quick and careful with Halpern in the irons, claiming the red ribbon in 34.27 seconds.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results:
1 Frere D’arme, Jessica Lobmiller, Jessica Lobmiller | 0 | 33.672
2 Schillino Rold TF, Paul Halpern, Elizabeth Grace Thomassin | 0 | 34.27
3 Duc De Jentiere, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 0 | 37.502
4 Kupardie, Nicole Loochtan, Nicole Loochtan | 4 | 32.584
5 HJ Blind Date, Molly Kindness, Molly Kindness | 4 | 33.437
6 Right This Way, Mark Roskens, Lisa Roskens | 4 | 34.917
7 Billionaire, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 12 |36.082
8 Rokeechobee STB, Sam Pegg, Brockelsby INC | 1 | 78.593
9 Fortysix & 2, Lyriss Jaeger, Lyriss Jaeger | 2 | 79.84
10 Karlina T, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 4 | 73.025
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Results can be found at wec.net.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.