Wilmington, Ohio – Canada’s Sam Pegg continued his hot streak with Gin Tonic 158 (Graf Top x Hauptstutbuch) in the $30,000 Grand Prix at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic 1.
The duo was in top form coming off a successful debut at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, where Pegg was crowned Reserve Champion of the Henry Equestrian Canadian Show Jumping Championship.
“It is a like a bucket list thing for every Canadian rider. It is a championship format and your score from the speed carries over from the second night. We were fourth from the first night and then ended up second in the championship. Gin Tonic was double clear, and the tracks were set 1.50m-1.55m. He feels super, he’s like a little ninja. He had a few weeks at home and a little bit of rest before we came here. He will mainly do one class a week when we are here now.”
The duo claimed numerous grand prix wins in last year’s Winter in the Midwest Series, and picked up exactly where they left off, making light work of the tracks.
“I think Guilherme Jorge does a great job. We were busy at home so we couldn’t come until Thursday night, so my horses jumped a class yesterday instead of the Welcome. Typically, the horses jump better as the week goes on with his courses. He is very progressive and doesn’t over face the horses, but it is difficult at the same time,” Pegg shared his thoughts on Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) expert course designing.
The 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding never fails to impress with his scope and fiery personality, and jumped an effortless double-clear with a winning time of 36.657 seconds, leaving Pegg hopeful for his future.
Liz Hutchinson (USA) piloted her own Triskel De Kerliven (Mylord Carthago x Herinys L’enchante) to second place as the only other double clear effort. The experienced 16-year-old Selle Francias gelding jumped a smooth, stylish jump-off round in 42.182 seconds.
The fastest time on the clock of 35.177 seconds with an heartbreaker rail at the final fence landed Welcome winner’s Izzy Beisel (USA) and her 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Vegas H (Valentino x Cobrah) in third.
$30,000 Grand Prix Results:
1 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 0 | 36.657
2 Triskel De Kerliven, Liz Hutchison, Liz Hutchison | 0 | 42.182
3 Vegas H, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 4 | 35.177
4 Corvet Enigma, Patricio Rodriguez, Patricio Rodriguez LLC | 4 | 36.780
5 Big Girl Z, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 4 | 37.937
6 FF Lady Grantham, Jill Gaffney, Freestyling Farms LLC | 4 | 40.004
7 Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel, Izzy Beisel | 4 | 66.015
8 Idool, Stephan Foran, Freedom Woods | 4 | 70.047
9 Kasstender C, Katie Murray, Katie Murray | 4 | 72.742
10 Quincidence, Wilhelm Genn, Wilhelm Genn | 4 | 74.952
Corri Goldman Pilots Gattaca De Vains to Win in the $10,000 Futures Prix at Winter Classic 1
Corri Goldman (USA) returned to Winter Classic 1 for her third year to earn her third consecutive featured win, this time aboard Gattaca De Vains (Kannan x Saga Des Nauves) in the $10,000 Futures Prix.
“I come here once a year, it has been the same week for the past three years. Last year my seven-year-old won the grand prix, and the year before that my other seven-year-old won the futures prix, so it is a lucky week for me!”
Goldman reminisced on the day she tried her mare and had nothing but positive remarks about her admirable qualities.
“She is a seven-year-old Selle Francias. I bought her in her six-year-old year. I saw videos of her and loved her and begged her breeder to sell her to me. They finally said yes, and I went and tried her. I rode her for five minutes and knew she was the one. She’s fast, careful and brave. There is nothing else that I could ask of this mare.”
Gattaca De Vains showed talent over FEI Level IV course designer Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) tracks and jumped an easy double clear effort.
“I thought Guilherme’s courses were great, everything flowed well. The jump-off off was fun with those two options to make tight inside turns. They were tough, but it was clear that you had to go for it to win, but it was nice that there were options for all of the horses. It was comfortable for the horses today. It was challenging enough, but not over done for horses jumping this class,” said Goldman.
In 29.997 seconds, the duo was uncatchable and marked Goldman’s third consecutive win at Winter Classic 1.
Goldman, of Edgewater, Maryland, spoke on her successful experiences developing young horses at WEC – Wilmington, “The past three years I have had seven-year-olds here. The classes that are offered at WEC are really nice opportunities for young horses. I did the welcome with this horse the other day and thought that jumping the height of the grand prix might scare her a bit, so it is so nice to have the futures as an option for developing horses.”
Laura Douglas (USA) of Fox Hill Sport Horses LLC in Lexington, Kentucky, paved the way for a successful winter season ahead with Julia Cumming’s Bastille (Cunningham x Heny Hota Riga). The nine-year-old Holsteiner/Selle Francias mare jumped a quick double clear effort in 30.167 seconds for second place.
Freedom Woods’ 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Colour Your Day (Contendro I x Vision) set an early pace of 30.382 seconds with Stephen Foran in the irons, ultimately landing in third place.
$10,000 Futures Prix Results: 1 Gattaca De Vains, Corri Goldman, Corri Goldman | 0 | 29.997
2 Bastille, Laura Douglas, Julia Cummings | 0 | 30.167
3 Colour Your Day, Stephen Foran, Freedom Woods | 0 | 30.382
4 Dominant Z, Christopher Schenk, Christopher Schenk | 0 | 30.842
5 Claas 30, Sam Pegg, Ten Sixty Stables | 4 | 31.162
6 Karma Balia Blue, Stephan Foran, Freedom Woods | 4 | 39.715
7 Olympic Van De Meyhoeve, Izzy Beisel, Five Way Farm LLC | 8 | 31.511
8 Zendaya, Laine Thomas, Neil Badcock | 4 | 72.196