Ocala, FL – World Equestrian Center – Ocala buzzed with excitement for the first international grand prix of the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series, the $120,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix CSI3*. Saturday night’s field featured some of the world’s top equestrians, but it was 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson (USA) who captured a sweet victory aboard Keminko N, owned by Will Simpson Stables, Inc.
FEI Level III course designer Ben Townley (GBR) set intricate and challenging tracks that narrowed the field, allowing only seven of the 27 combinations to advance to the jump-off. The returning field was packed with talent, including rising star Delaney Flynn (USA), emerging talent Václav Staněk (CZE), Olympic Silver Medalist Kent Farrington (USA), ‘Master of Faster’ Richard Spooner (USA), Olympian Daniel Coyle (IRL), and veteran Jumping star Will Simpson.
Twenty-five-year-old Delaney Flynn impressively piloted both of her mounts into the jump-off. She was first to return aboard Cassinnia, delivering a quick 42.18-second round but suffering an unfortunate rail.
Václav Staněk followed with Ariel Grange’s 15-year-old KWPN gelding Quintin (Quaprice Bois Margot x Emilion), delivering the first clear round and setting a swift pace at 37.60 seconds.
World No. 4 Kent Farrington entered the ring aboard Artisan Farms, LLC’s Kadans, blazing through the course in a blistering 36.30 seconds. However, a heartbreaking rail at the second-to-last fence kept him out of contention for the top spots.
Richard Spooner (USA) gave it his all with his new partner, Lyjanair, but also encountered a rail, finishing in 38.35 seconds. Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Farrel put forth a good effort, but also fell victim to rails down.
Second-to-last in the order, Will Simpson was focused on the win. “I wanted to come down to the ring and watch a few. When I walked the jump-off, the first line was walking a 10 or 11, but then the first one went in and did nine. So, I watched those great riders and wanted to try to get as close as I could to them,” Simpson said.
“The nine was easy for ‘Kemmy’ from one to two. I liked the 11 to the next jump because then you can make a real nice turn back to the Coca-Cola jump. I didn’t do the seven, but I got the eight done. Then the horse jumped beautifully through the double, and I think I did 10 or nine to the last. So I added a couple here and there, but the horse has quick feet, which is nice to have.”
The pair soared over the final oxer, stopping the clock just three-tenths of a second faster than Staněk, at 37.34 seconds, to claim the top spot on the leaderboard.
Simpson expressed pride in the rising 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Grand Slam. “He’s still so green. He just started this, it seems like yesterday. He’s already such a pro under the lights and in the cold, and still fast in the jump-off. He’s catching right up, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the circuit with him. I might just have to make a new plan for him. He’s one of those horses that likes to win.”
Delaney Flynn was the last to attempt the jump-off on her second mount Namamia (Fantomas De Muze x Berlin), a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Windsor Show Stables. She was quick and clear in 41.16 seconds to ultimately round out the podium.
$120,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix Final Results
1 KEMINKO N: 2015 KWPN gelding by Grand Slam
Will Simpson (USA), Will Simpson Stables Inc.: 0/0/37.34
2 QUINTIN: 2010 KWPN gelding by Quaprice Bois Margot x Emilion
Václav Staněk (CZE), Ariel Grange: 0/0/37.60
3 NAMAMIA: 2013 Belgian Warmblood mare by Fantomas De Muze x Berlin
Delaney Flynn (USA), Windsor Show Stables: 0/0/41.16
4 KADANS: 2015 KWPN gelding by Grand Slam x Carosso Vdl
Kent Farrington (USA), Artisan Farms, LLC: 0/4/36.30
5 LYJANAIR: 2014 Holsteiner gelding by Lyjanero x Coriano
Richard Spooner (USA), Show Jumping Syndications Int’l: 0/4/38.35
6 CASSINNIA: 2014 Holsteiner mare by Casalito x Cento
Delaney Flynn (USA), Windsor Show Stables: 0/4/42.18
7 FARREL: 2010 KWPN gelding by Cardento 933 x Stakkato
Daniel Coyle (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0/8/40.05
8 CONSTANTIN DE HUS: 2012 Selle Français gelding by Ugobak Des Baleines x Creve Coeur
Kyle Dewar (CAN), Sigma Stables LLC: 1/77.26
9 CANDID 14: 2012 Mecklenburg gelding by Cellestial x Converter 2
Václav Staněk (CZE), Adelaide Toensing: 1/77.85
10 HALCON: 2015 Argentinian Sport Horse stallion by Con Air 7 x Cardento 933
Richard Spooner (USA), Molly Ohrstrom: 2/78.05
Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
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