Ocala, FL – This afternoon at the WEC Grand Arena, an elite group of horse-and-rider combinations vied for top honors in the $31,500 1.45m Winning Round CSI4*. Gregory Bodo (FRA) and Pieter Viste (BEL) crafted the tracks that asked several questions, but it was Richie Moloney (IRL) and his trusted partner Rocksy Music (Ars Vivendi x Diamond Serpent), owned by Equinimity LLC, that seized the lead and took home the lion’s share of the prize money.
The Winning Round CSI4* introduces a new class format at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. This class brings back the top 10 horse-and-rider pairs after the first round, regardless of previous faults or time, to the ‘Winning Round’ in reverse order, resetting all scores to zero. Today, all 10 contenders delivered clear first rounds, setting the stage for an exciting jump-off.
With each competitor faster than the last, Moloney had a strategic plan. “It helped to be a little bit quicker in the first round, because I was eighth to go in the jump-off, so I had a good idea what everyone else was doing,” he shared.
“The first two jumps, everyone was doing nine, and I did eight because I had to do something different. From the water tray to the oxer, I did eight again, where everyone else did nine, so there were two places where I think I had the time.”
Moloney and Rocksy Music blazed through the timers, clinching victory with a time of 33.40 seconds, a full second ahead of second place.
Reflecting on his partnership with the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Moloney expressed, “I’ve had him since he was nine, so it’s been seven years. I know him very well. He’s always a great one to have at these shows for the speed classes. He seems to always pick up a little bit of prize money and help us pay for the week,” Moloney laughed.
Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) secured another podium finish, this time aboard Paseo Farms, LLC’s 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding Quick Step (Quintender 2 x Calido I), clocking an efficient time of 34.43 seconds.
Charlie Jones (GBR) claimed third place with Morning Star Sporthorses, LLC’s 13-year-old Holsteinter gelding Capitale 6 (San Patrignano Cassini x For Pleasure), just shy of Pessoa’s time in 34.68 seconds.
$31,500 1.45m Winning Round CSI4* Final Results:
1 ROCKSY MUSIC: 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ars Vivendi x Diamond Serpent
Richie Moloney (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/0/33.40
2 QUICK STEP: 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Quintender 2 x Calido I
Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), Paseo Farms, LLC: 0/0/34.43
3 CAPITALE 6: 2011 Holsteiner gelding by San Patrignano Cassini x For Pleasure
Charlie Jones (GBR), Morning Star Sporthorses, LLC: 0/0/34.68
4 JAGGER HX: 2014 KWPN gelding by Ustinov x Bustique
Amy Millar (CAN), Team Eye Candy: 0/0/35.86
5 BIG BOY Z: 2013 Zangersheide gelding by Big Star Jr K Z x Carido Z
Conor O’Regan (IRL), Delshore Horses LLC: 0/0/37.11
6 ATOUT DES TRAMBLES: 2010 Selle Francias gelding by Nectar Des Forets*hn x Apache D’adriers
Nicole Walker (CAN), Nicole Walker: 0/4/34.06
7 CONNY 409: 2014 Oldenburg mare by Conthargos x Cassini II
Kama Godek (USA), Kama Godek: 0/4/34.09
8 BRIN D’OR DE HAUTE MELEN MELEN Z: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Bamako De Muze x Baloubet Du Rouet
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 0/4/36.48
9 NINDINO PS: 2015 Oldenburg gelding by Nintender x Diarado
Tiffany Foster (CAN), 5 Roosters: 0/4/37.08
10 FARREL: 2010 KPWN gelding by Cardento 933 x Stakkato
Daniel Coyle (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0/8/33.68
Visit HorseShowing.com for final results.
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.
A limited number of weekly stalls remain for the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series, book your stall today!
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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