Feature classes for Week III of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Summer Series kicked off early this morning with 41 entries vying for the win in the $15,000 WEC Welcome Prix. The course for the class was designed by FEI Level III course designer Joey Rycroft of Canada.
The course featured a winding track that included a triple bar and triple combination. Twelve entries jumped clear in the first round qualifying them for the speed course. Out of the 12 entries, only six entries went double clear, with Tracy Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Dolce Vita claiming the victory.
Fenney, of Flower Mound, Texas, and the nine-year-old Holsteiner mare, MTM Dolce Vita (Diarado x Philadelphia) collected the $5,000 Fastest First Round 4 Faulter award in last week’s $75,000 Calluna Spa Grand Prix.
“I think she is really comfortable right now at this height, and this past Saturday night’s class was her first time under the lights,” said Fenney. “I over did her a little bit in the beginning, and I am the one that had the second jump down just pushing her too much not knowing how she would handle it, but all the hard parts she did great. I am super ecstatic with her performance and how well she has come along.”
The pair was second in the order and managed a fast first round time of 74.921 seconds, earning them the chance to stay in the ring and jump off. “She’s a naturally fast horse and she is careful,” described Fenney. “I have had her for about a year now, [but] she is still pretty young.”
Fenney & MTM Dolce Vita advanced straight to the jump-off, taking an unexpected and tough inside turn to the double combination that not many other competitors attempted. Fenney and MTM Dolce Vita soared through the rest of the course stopping the clock at 37.679 seconds, earning the first-place finish.
Second place honors went to Jamie Taylor of Temecula, California, and Cocoliche of Greenhill Z owned by Spyglass Hill. Taylor and the 11-year-old Zangershiede gelding were the last pair to enter the class, delivering a clean and smooth first round stopping the clock at 75.566 seconds, qualifying for the jump-off. Taylor and Cocoliche of Greenhill Z (Biscut of Greenhill x Wyazinthe MH) jumped-off immediately, leaving a stride out from the combination to the Lugano oxer, earning them a time of 38.646 seconds.
Diego Perez Bilbao and the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, ABC Quantum Cruise, rounded out the top three in this morning’s $15,000 WEC Welcome Prix. The competitive pair earned fourth place finishes in last week’s Welcome Prix and $75,000 Calluna Spa Grand Prix. Bilbao and Wyndmont Inc.’s ABC Quantum Cruise (O.B.O.S Quality 004 x Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser) navigated a clear and fast first round in 71.855 seconds, well under the time allowed of 78 seconds. Bilbao and ABC Quantum Cruise advanced straight to the jump-off, taking a difficult inside turn to the red vertical, stopping the clock at 39.643 seconds.
$15,000 WEC Welcome Prix Results:
1. MTM Dolce Vita, Tracy Fenney, MTM Farm: 0 | 0 | 37.679
2. Cocoliche of Greenhill Z, Jamie Taylor, Spyglass Hill: 0 | 0 | 38.646
3. ABC Quantum Cruise, Diego Perez Bilbao, Wyndmont Inc.: 0 | 0 | 39.643
4. Cinven CR, Bryn Rose Sadler, Showcase 81, LLC: 0| 0 | 41.682
5. Meadowvale Cruise, Diego Perez Bilbao, Wyndmont Inc.: 0 | 0 | 42.243
6. Chronicle, Megan Wexler, Megan Wexler & Golden Oaks Farm, LLC: 0 | 0 | 42.512
7. Ilyon ES, Shawn Casady, Neil Jones: 0 | 0 | 45.679
8. Elina, Ansgar Holtgers Jr, Gut Einhaus, LLC: 0 | 4 | 40.487
9. MTM Through the Looking Glass, Dorothy Douglas, Davenport Farms: 0 | 4 | 40.658
10. My Love Carthago, Francie Nilforushan, Ali Nilforushan: 0 | 4 | 41.402
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.