We are kicking off 2020 with a bang at World Equestrian Center with the continuation of our ‘Winter in the Midwest’ circuit, encompassing sixteen more weeks of of AA rated horse shows through the end of April. Jumper highlights include a weekly $5,000 Welcome Stake, $7,500 Futures Prix and $25,000 Grand Prix. Hunter highlights feature a weekly $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and $2,000 Non Pro 2’6″ Derby, along with a $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Member Events taking place next week during WEC Winter Classic #5. Watch all of the action live from the Sanctuary and the R+L arena online via ShowNet.biz. Tune in to WEC.net for the livestream link.
Competition was fierce in the Sanctuary tonight for the $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35m sponsored by CWD Sellier. The course for tonight’s class was designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky and featured fourteen jumping efforts including two one-stride combinations and forward bending lines. Entries were neck and neck with just six tenths of a second separating first and second place, but it was Charlotte Clark and her own Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist) that snagged the win near the end of the order. While Clark and Kinsella have won several Grands Prix at World Equestrian Center, tonight marks their first Welcome Stake win.
The pace setter in tonight’s class was David Beisel and his own Essince W (Chacco Blue x Rossan). The pair are no stranger to the winner’s circle at World Equestrian Center, taking several Grand Prix and Welcome Stake wins in 2019. This evening, Beisel and the ten year old KWPN gelding were first to take to the course, jumping clear in a time of 71.212 seconds, well under the time allowed of 82 seconds. The pair continued straight to the jump off of the Table II 2b event, taking the inside track to fences five, six and ten. Beisel and the scopey dark bay gelding galloped through the timers at a quick 39.761 seconds, setting the time to beat for the remaining entries.
Summer Hill and Daryl Ziegler Henning’s Lasco 29 (Laptop x Acorada) also managed a pair of double clear rounds. The pair regularly earn top placings in 1.30m-1.40m jumper classes, preparing them well for tonight’s 1.35m track. Hill and the fourteen year old Hanoverian gelding managed a clear first round in 75.898 seconds and continued to the jump off. The competitive pair took the inside track, shaving seconds off of their time and crossing the timers at 40.809 seconds, sliding into second place just behind Beisel and Essince W.
Beisel and Essince W held the lead in the class until Charlotte Clark and her own Kinsella (Capitalist x Jerpoint Mist) took to the course near the end of the order. The pair have a fantastic rapport, having earned top honors in four $25,000 World Equestrian Center Grands Prix in 2019 alone. Tonight, Clark and the nine year old Irish Sport Horse mare were quick and clear in the first round in a time of 72.455 seconds. They advanced straight to the jump off, mirroring Beisel and Essince W’s inside track. Knowing the time they needed to beat, Clark and Kinsella cleverly opted for a tidy inside turn to approach fence eleven. Their efforts paid off, stopping the clock at 39.157 seconds and moving into the lead.
Beisel was last in the order aboard Maarten Huygen’s Angelo (Conthargos x Grand Ronja). The pair earned three Welcome Stake wins in 2019 and were on track for another win tonight. Beisel and the eight year old Mecklenburg gelding jumped a clear first round in a time of 73.673 seconds. The pair continued straight to the jump off, navigating the inside track and mimicking Clark and Kinsella’s inside turn to fence eleven. The pair had the time at 37.664 seconds, but took an unfortunate rail as they crossed the timers, leaving Clark and Kinsella in the top spot.
Clark of Kendalwood Farm in Sunbury, Ohio took a moment to chat with us ringside about her win in tonight’s class, “This is my first Welcome Stake win ever, so I’m really excited about that. Kinsella jumped really well in the first round. The jump off actually didn’t suit her so well because we’re better at going fast and around. We actually did the inside turns on this course and she was really careful and quick across the ground. I did plan the inside turn to fence eleven, then I said I was not going to do it. I had been a little slow turning back to fence five in the jump off, so I decided I had to go inside to eleven. Actually, she was bright turning inside and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be.”
When asked about her plans for the rest of the Winter, Clark replied, “I’ll be at World Equestrian Center about two weeks per month throughout the rest of the Winter. Kinsella is a long-time partner for me. She’s been so consistent. I’m looking forward to the Winter with her. ”
Clark also added, “I’d like to thank my grooms Rachel Vogel and Layne Turner. I have a great team.”
$5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35m Results
- Kinsella, Charlotte Clark – 0 | 0 | 39.157
- Essince W, David Beisel – 0 | 0 | 39.761
- Lasco 29, Summer Hill – 0 | 0 | 40.809
- Gotham, Rachael Howard – 0 | 0 | 43.740
- Angelo, David Beisel – 0 | 4 | 37.664
- Zonderling, Genevieve Munson – 0 | 8 | 36.928
- Harakiri Z, Madeline Reich – 4 | 73.898
- Contendro Star, Genevieve Munson – 4 | 74.051
- Kennedy Vd Rechri, Julia Curtis – 4 | 74.434
- Cassius 74, Stephen Foran – 12 | 72.956
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.