Ocala, FL – On a radiant and picturesque morning in Florida, the scene was set for the $50,000 Lugano Diamonds National Grand Prix at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. The intricate tracks for today’s competition were crafted by FEI Level IV course designer, Guilherme Jorge from Brazil. The class unfolded with a riveting seven-horse jump-off, ultimately culminating in Tracy Fenney (USA) and MTM Apple (Favorit Ask x Kong’s Whopsie) claiming top position on the leaderboard.
The seven-horse jump-off consisted of some of nation’s fastest athletes including Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Richard Spooner (USA), Tracy Fenney (USA), Dorothy Douglas (USA), Chloe Reid (USA) and Jenny Rankin (IRL).
Luis Sabino Goncalves and Richard Spooner both fell victim to one heart breaking rail. Tracy Fenney was the next athlete in to attempt to navigate a clear round. MTM Apple was feeling a little fresh, and threw in some playful moments before heading to jump number one, “It’s always a great feeling knowing she’s having fun. I just laugh and try to get her focused for the first jump. She sassed me about four strides out, and I was like, ‘okay, if you’re going to keep sassing me, I am going to have to circle,’ but once she had her eye on the jump, it was game time.”
Fenney and the 12-year-old Danish Warmblood mare did what they do best, leave out strides and take tight turns, “I knew I had to be quick with Luis Sabino and Dorrie behind me, so I had to turn on the burners. I did nine to the double, even with the one fence in the way. To the last, I knew the six was there because Luis did it on his first horse, but with Apple’s stride, I actually had to slow down to fit in the last stride.”
The pair soared through the timers stopping the clock at 33.196 seconds to ultimately gallop away with the victory.
Fenney’s stablemate, Dorothy Douglas (USA) snagged second place with Davenport Farm’s MTM Pablo (Perigueux x Celina). Douglas and the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding were just over a second off the pace with a time of 34.837 seconds.
Chloe Reid (USA) scored herself another grand prix podium finish this morning. With several four-fault scores, Reid opted to take a more conservative approach and pilot Live Oak Plantation’s Luis P (Böckmann’s Lord Pezi x Chat Noir) to a clear round. The pair stopped the clock at 46.854 seconds with all rails up to round out the top three.
Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Mick Jagger secured the fastest four-faulter award with a quick first round time of 69.266 seconds with one rail down.
Stephanie Gallucci received the ‘Luck of the Draw’ award.
$50,000 Lugano Diamonds National Grand Prix Results:
1 MTM Apple, Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0 | 0 | 33.196
2 MTM Pablo, Dorothy Douglas (USA), MTM Farm: 0 | 0 | 34.837
3 Luis P, Chloe Reid (USA), Live Oak Plantation: 0 | 0 | 46.854
4 Vick Du Croisy, Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 4 | 33.655
5 Scoop De Septon Z, Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 4 | 34.596
6 Halcon, Richard Spooner (USA), Molly Ohrstrom: 0 | 4 | 36.402
7 Ibiza, Jenny Rankin (IRL), Blackwood Group: 0 | 4 | 39.143
8 Mick Jagger, Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 4 | 69.266
9 Valentine Car, Sharn Wordley (NZL), Fernando Cardenas: 4 | 72.750
10 Clever Van De Helle, Kyle Dewar (CAN), Kyle Dewar: 4 | 73.034
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
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