Ocala, FL – A strong field of horse-and-rider combinations competed in the WEC Grand Arena this morning, aiming for top honors in the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix. FEI Level IV course designer Steve Stephens (USA) crafted a challenging track, but it was Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson (USA) and Keminko N (Grand Slam VDL x Deminka N) who found the path to success.
Seven combinations managed to jump clear in the first round and returned for the jump-off. Simpson and Keminko N were the third pair to return. “I saw the first two go, and they were both fast. There weren’t many options. The first turn didn’t look faster to go inside, especially to a combination. So, I decided to go around, and Sharn [Wordley] took the same track. It was a seven and a six stride, and you had to do those numbers. I guess someone could maybe do the leave out to both, but at this height, I wouldn’t think it’s advisable. It’s called risk management,” laughed Simpson. “I have an advantage over bigger, longer-strided horses because I can keep moving.”
“Then I took a real risk to the last. Truth be told, I had nothing. There was nothing there. I thought, ‘should I pull out, should I stay?’ Then he stuttered on his hind end, and next thing I knew, once he did that, I had a green light and a beautiful distance. I don’t know if he’s that smart that he stuttered because he knew he was in trouble too, but I sure didn’t do it. I think he’s just that smart. That gave me a great jump out of nothing, and the last five showed up nice. That’s how it all went down.”
The pair flew through the timers, stopping the clock in a mere 31.893 seconds, more than two seconds faster than second place.
Simpson spoke about his partnership with the nine-year-old KWPN gelding, “I started him about a year and a half ago, beginning in the 1.20m and working up from there. We got him from Elysian Stables in Miami, and they had a lot of junior and amateur jumpers, but he didn’t fit into that model. So, we did some horse trading which worked out for everyone. He has all the heart in the world, which I think is the most important thing to have in this sport.”
Sharn Wordley (NZL) had another great day piloting two horses owned by Della Wordley to podium finishes. He earned second place aboard Conto Blanco 4 (Cellestial x Kassandra), a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding, with a quick jump-off time of 34.198 seconds, and he was right behind himself for third with Hagelin (Stolzenberg x Grafin Top) in 34.209 seconds.
Results: $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix
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Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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