Wilmington, Ohio – It was an exhilarating night in the Standlee Sanctuary at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington as a group of top jumping athletes contested the $30,000 Shires Grand Prix of Winter Classic 17. Michael Pegg’s (CAN) first round track saw nine proven quick combinations move onto the jump-off phase, where the top three were separated by just tenths of a second.
In the end, it was the winningest duo of Sam Pegg (CAN) and Gin Tonic 158 (Graf Top x Hauptstutbuch) that picked up right where they left off.
Pegg returned to chase the junior riders, particularly Luke Rinehart (USA) and his Captain America 10, and knew he had to make up as much time as possible.
“Luke [Rinehart] and Izzy [Beisel] both are riding really well and exceptionally fast. Captain America is a quick horse. I was lucky that I got to watch him go. I saw him do eight strides from one-to-two, and I thought that I could straighten it up and make it there in seven. I tried to keep the pace up the rest of the way because he did five in the last line, and my plan was six, so I knew I had to be quick in all the turns before that,” Pegg shared.
Rinehart set the leading time with his 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Contendro in 38.447 seconds.
Pegg stuck to his track, just catching Rinehart in 38.299 seconds to move to the top of the leaderboard.
The 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Gin Tonic 158, has proven to be Pegg’s top mount and always shows off his cheeky personality to the crowd.
“Gin Tonic has been really consistent. He has won six grands prix in the 2024 season. He won a couple here in January and a few in Florida. He has a big personality. He is proud of himself when he jumps clear, and he always knows that the second part is the speed phase,” Pegg laughed.
Beisel (USA) and her speedy 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Diaz Barbotiere (Messire Ardent x Quambera Barbotiere) were the first duo to jump double clear, rounding out the podium in 38.788 seconds.
$30,000 Shires Grand Prix Results:
1 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg | 0 | 38.299
2 Captain America 10, Luke Rinehart, Catherine Rinehart | 0 | 38.477
3 Diaz Barbotiere, Izzy Beisel, Izzy Beisel | 0 | 38.788
4 Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier, Sarah Meier | 0 | 39.343
5 Duc De Jentiere, Lani Hutchison, Lani Hutchison | 0 | 40.694
6 Magnificent Tutu, Rafael Ribeiro, Tatiana Reyes | 0 | 42.537
7 Kinsella, Charlotte Clark, Charlotte Clark | 4 | 38.892
8 HJ Blind Date, Molly Kindness, Molly Kindness | 4 | 42.070
9 Vegas H, Izzy Beisel, David Beisel | 20 | 59.687
10 Formidable Diamant, Sam Pegg, Harlow Investment Enterprises | 4 | 70.909
Elizabeth Parish & Darius De W Clinch Victory in the $10,000 Horse Vans LLC Futures Prix
Sixteen horse-and-athlete combinations met in the Standlee Sanctuary to kick off show jumping action of WEC – Wilmington Winter Classic 17 over Michael Pegg’s (CAN) tracks for the $10,000 Horse Vans LLC Futures Prix. Elizabeth Parish (CAN) and Natalie Parish’s Darius De W (Berlin x Zuera De W) ultimately bested a six-horse jump-off, making their first debut in Wilmington together a winning one.
As the 12th pair to go in the posted order, Parish had a time to beat of 41.853 seconds, posted by Emma Linton (USA) and Shady Lane Ranch’s Victory RW Broekkant Z (Vigo D’arsouilles x Evolution).
In just her second futures prix debut, Linton and her 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding made light work of the track, to ultimately land second place.
Parish entered with her seasoned 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, jumping an easy double clear to set them up for a successful summer circuit ahead, securing victory in 39.177 seconds.
“We just started our partnership last year. He has been super. We are just warming up for the season. We are planning to do the U25s this year. He has had the winter off and is gearing up for summer. I couldn’t be more excited,” Parish shared.
Parish was pleased with her long journey from Burlington, Ontario, “It has been amazing here. It is always such a positive and organized environment. They make it so much fun here.”
Parish felt that Darius De W rose to the challenge of Pegg’s technically set track, “He jumped it super. There were a lot of difficult turns. The triple bar to the tall vertical was a really short seven and Darius has a massive step. So, I just decided to take out that stride and let him flow.”
Lanie Thomas (CAN) piloted Neil Badcock’s fiery seven-year-old mare, Zendaya, to third place in a time of 42.869 seconds.
$10,000 Horse Vans LLC Futures Prix Results:
1 Darius De W, Elizabeth Parish, Natalie Parish | 0 | 39.177
2 Victory RW Broekkant Z, Emma Linton, Shady Lane Ranch | 0 | 41.853
3 Zendaya, Lanie Thomas, Neil Badcock | 0 | 42.869
4 Frere D’arme, Jessica Lobmiller, Jessica Lobmiller | 4 | 39.972
5 VDL Maverick, Amanda Harris, Amanda Harris | 4 | 44.707
6 Karlina T, Devin Milan, Garo Kazan | 8 | 38.517
7 Triskel De Kerliven, Sonia Talwar, Liz Hutchinson | 4 | 72.144
8 Katinka, Wilhelm Genn, Klaus Mauer | 4 | 76.818
9 Billionaire, Alexandria Nelson, Sarah Meier | 4 | 79.054
10 Lagerfeld, Ashley Stumm, Dawn Stumm | 8 | 77.283