Wilmington, OH – National show jumping resumed this afternoon at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington with the $15,000 WEC Welcome Stake. Twenty horse-and-rider combinations set out to contest Bobby Murphy’s (USA) elaborate track that featured two challenging double combinations. Edging ahead of the pack as the fastest of four double-clears, Sean Jobin (CAN) and Foxridge Farms Stable’s Eric De La Chenee (Arko x Hadja De Moricerie) stole the victory and galloped away with the lion’s share of the prize money.
Seven pairings managed to yield a clean first round, advancing directly to the jump-off. The first double clean ride in the jump-off was secured by Darby Pease (USA) and Louisa Robb’s Carel Van Donderen (Acolino x Terania Die Hoeghte). Pease and the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding galloped through the short course swiftly stopping the clock at 37.358 seconds.
Sean Jobin and his other mount Sterrehof’s Edinus were the next pair to navigate a clean jump-off in 40.779 seconds which was good for fourth place.
Last week’s $15,000 WEC Welcome Stake winner, Tiffany Hammack (USA) followed aboard Foxwood Farm’s Ghana FS Z (Glasgow W VH Merelsnest x Uschi-Vira). Hammack and the nine-year-old Zangersheide mare dashed around the short course, taking each inside turn in 38.672 seconds, to ultimately earn third place.
Sean Jobin and the eight-year-old Selle Francais gelding Eric De La Chenee were the final pair to enter the Sanctuary Arena to vie for the lion’s share of the prize money in the $15,000 WEC Welcome Stake.
Jobin spoke about the talented young gelding, “[Eric De La Chenee] is a very athletic horse. We have had him for about year. We love his attitude and willingness. Out of all of the horses in my string, he suits me very well. He is extremely fast across the ground and over the jumps. It’s been a slow and steady progress with him, but he just keeps showing us how talented he is.”
Jobin knew what track would suit Eric De La Chenee in the jump-off, “He’s naturally quick and sporty, so the inside turns weren’t a question. I knew he would be able to ride the inside tracks well, I just needed to keep him focused and not let him go too quick.”
The pair raced around the jump-off track, opting to take a tight inside turn to the yellow double-combination which allowed them to walk down to the final fence. Jobin and Eric De La Chenee finished the jump-off in 35.865 seconds to steal the victory.
“I am excited for Eric De La Chenee’s future. We are going to do the grand prix this Saturday, then he will have some time off while I go travel to Mexico and California for the Global Show Jumping Champions Tour. Then, when I get back, we head down to Ocala for the winter,” said Jobin.
$15,000 WEC Welcome Stake Results:
1 Eric De La Chenee, Sean Jobin, Foxridge Farms Stables: 0 | 0 | 35.865
2 Carel Van Donderen, Darby Pease, Louisa Robb: 0 | 0 | 37.358
3 Ghana FS Z, Tiffany Hammack, Foxwood Farm: 0 | 0 | 38.672
4 Sterrehof’s Edinus, Sean Jobin, Antrim Equestrian: 0 | 0 | 40.779
5 Jazil Du Houssoit, Kady Abrahamson, Abrahamson Equestrian LLC: 0 | 4 | 39.701
6 Joberlina VG, Natalie Thornell, Loveland Equine Investments: 0 | 4 | 42.481
7 G-Star, Loic Cannaert, Orpen Horses: 0 | 8 | 40.764
8 Cuba Libre, Sean Jobin, Foxridge Farms Stables: 0 | 73.644
9 Caiman Des Sequoias, Nicole Loochtan, Nicole Loochtan: 0 | 76.881
10 Hendrik Wildricks, Richard Rinehart, Chris Richards: 0 | 77.693
Photos courtesy of Winslow Photography
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