Ocala, FL – Week XI of the 2022 Winter Spectacular Show Series featured the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix under the lights on Friday in the WEC Grand Arena. The Futures Prix features riders or horses who are moving up to the higher levels of competition, and to help gain experience the class was held in a different atmosphere. FEI Level IV course designer Alan Wade (IRL) created the rolling tracks where just six out of the 49 entries found the key to a clean first round, but it was Rowan Willis (AUS) and Peter Moore’s Copain that were early starters that held rank for the entirety of the class.
Willis and Copain were the sixth pair down the ramp into the WEC Grand Arena. Willis and Copain yielded a flawless first round in 71.852 seconds, just within the time allowed of 72 seconds.
Willis spoke about Friday’s course, “It was an Alan Wade course, he didn’t let us have an easy part,” laughed Willis. “The time allowed was very tight, I luckily just made it within the time and I usually don’t have a problem with time on Copain, but he jumped super. It was a long wait till the end of the class.”
Willis and the 11-year-old gelding advanced straight to the jump-off, “My plan was to be very efficient. He’s very quick across the ground and can take tight turns.” Willis and Copain flew through the timers to stop the jump-off clock at 35.808 seconds, a time the was simply uncatchable.
Tanimara Macari (MEX) and her own Starfly (Starpower x Safrane De Messitert) secured the second place finish in Friday’s $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. Macari and the nine-year-old mare navigated a smooth first round in 70.362 seconds. The pair went straight to the jump-off, flying through the course in 36.002 seconds.
Vincente Guillen (VEN) and Tranquility Farm’s Rustica LS LA Silla (Rubens LS x Escarlata LS) rounded out the top three in the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. Guillen and the nine-year-old LA Silla mare delivered a speedy first round in 68.200 seconds. The pair jumped-off immediately soaring through the course not hitting the brakes once in 37.294 seconds.
$10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1.Copain, Rowan Willis, Peter Moore: 0 | 0 | 35.808
2. Starfly, Tanimara Macari, Tanimara Macari: 0 | 0 | 36.002
3. Rustica LS LA Silla, Vincente Guillen, Tranquility Farm: 0 | 0 | 37.294
4. Downtown’s Main Event, Shannon Sullivan, Shannon Sullivan: 0 | 0 | 38.854
5. Carel Van Donderen, Darby Pease, Three-Eight Properties, LLC: 0 | 4 | 38.025
6. Renkum J’Adore, Justine Dutton, Justine Dutton: 0 | 4 | 40.920
7. Everse W, Justine Dutton, Justine Dutton: 1 | 72.114
8. Hanea, Adolpho Franco, Capital Equine LLC: 1 | 72.248
9. Cesar De B’Neville, Willie Tynan, Morlynn Farm: 1 | 72.322
10. MTM Unicorn’s Love Me Tender, Ashley March, Roberta Milas: 2 | 73.348
Tiffany Hammack & Ghana FS Z Prevail in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic
Twenty-six entries took to the WEC Grand Arena on Friday afternoon to vie for the top prize in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic. FEI Level IV course designer Alan Wade (IRL) created the winding tracks where eight entries managed clean first rounds and six jumped double clear, but it was Tiffany Hammack and Foxwood Farm’s Ghana FS Z (Glasgow W VH Merelsnest x Uschi-Vira) that secured the fastest time.
Hammack (USA) and Ghana FS Z recently earned second place honors in the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. Hammack and Ghana FS Z continued their successful path on Friday producing a smooth first round in 73.278 seconds.
Hammack and Ghana FS Z have had a partnership for a while now, “We imported Ghana FS Z from Europe when she was six-years-old, she is now nine. She’s super speedy, careful and loves her job. We have been slowly moving her up because she is very careful and we have been focusing on keeping her confidence.”
Hammack and the nine-year-old Zangersheide mare advanced to the jump-off, soaring from fence one to two to fly through the rest of the course not pumping the brakes once to stop the jump-off clock at 31.018 seconds, that held rank for the remainder of the class.
“My plan wasn’t necessarily to win. I was supposed to focus on counting strides around all of the turns,” laughed Hammack. “I guess the track that I chose ended up being the quickest. It was nice to earn a win because her owner was here to see her. I wanted to thank Amanda Flint for helping me with my jumpers, she’s been incredible.”
David Jennings (USA) and Amy Shafmaster’s Infante SK were just behind the winning pair. Jennings and the nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding yielded a fast first round in 70.513 seconds, well within the time allowed of 77 seconds. The pair went straight to the jump-off dashing around the track in 31.264 seconds.
Third place was conquered by Dorothy Douglas (USA) and Davenport Farm’s MTM Pablo (Perigueux x Celina). Douglas and MTM Pablo created an effortless first round in 75.139 seconds. Douglas and the nine-year-old Warmblood gelding went directly to the jump-off, soaring through the course while taking tidy turns to stop the clock at 31.497 seconds to round out the top three.
$12,500 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic Results:
1.Ghana FS Z, Tiffany Hammack, Foxwood Farm: 0 | 0 | 31.018
2. Infante SK, David Jennings, Amy Shafmaster: 0 | 0 | 31.264
3. MTM Pablo, Dorothy Douglas, Davenport Farms: 0 | 0 | 31.497
4. Ballinaguilkey Quality, Kara Chad, Kara Chad: 0 | 0 | 32.206
5. Ivaro N, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Barbara Disko: 0 | 0 | 32.652
6. Catch The Dollar, Bryn Sadler, Showcase 81, LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.056
7. Diamant’s Legacy, Jordan Petersen, Derek Petersen: 0 | 4 | 30.637
8. Bengtsson, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Lisa Goldman-Smolen: 0 | 4 | 31.457
9. San Pedro 15, Carly Campbell-Cooper, John Jamieson: 2 | 78.754
10. Jack Straw, Camille Maddrix, M&M Sporthorses: 4 | 72.390
Jumper Groom’s Class
On Friday, World Equestrian Center – Ocala hosted the first ever Jumper Groom’s Class with $2,500 in cash and prizes by Tenney’s Custom Saddlery and Alorian Saddlery sponsored by MTM Apple, Whoop De Doo, Billy Porter, Clever Van De Helle, KT Adonis and Everse W. Twenty-four grooms brought gorgeous horses well prepared for the jumper ring, but it was Esteban Jimenez and Zeitgeist Equestrian’s Elliot that earned the top prize.
Mark your calendars for next week’s Hunter Groom’s Class in the WEC Stadium!
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV.