Week II of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Summer Series hunter/jumper horse show brought another exciting week of equestrian sport with repeat wins for several riders in feature classes. The week included an increase in prize money for several classes, as well as a VIP dining/viewing experience courtesy of Stirrups Restaurant of The Equestrian Hotel on Saturday night for the $75,000 Calluna Spa Grand Prix.
Featured competition kicked off Week II with the $15,000 WEC Welcome Prix. Fifty-one horse and rider combinations took to the WEC Grand Arena to contest a technical course designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. Nineteen entries achieved a clear first round qualifying them for the jump-off. Eight pairs ultimately went clean over the short course, but it was Jordan Petersen and Diamant’s Legacy (Diamant De Semilly x Courtney Love II) that emerged victorious, stopping the clock at 33.721 seconds.
More than fifty beautiful hunters took to the CaptiveOne Indoor Arena Friday to contest the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6″-3’9″ Hunter Derby and the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3′ Hunter Derby at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Doug Russell designed the elegant, winding course that contained natural fences and abundant greenery allowing riders to demonstrate their horse’s brilliance.
Erin McCabe Clayton and Champs Élysées returned for the second week of Ocala Summer Series claiming their second consecutive win in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby. Clayton and the recently imported nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Bays and Greys LLC, brought home a total score of 181 for the win.
Earlier Friday morning, Timothy Maddrix and Cypress the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding conquered the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Hunter Derby. The pair started off strong taking all four high options and were granted the highest first round score of 87.5 for their efforts. Maddrix and Missy Nolen’s Cypress returned for the handy round, taking two inside turns that no other competitor attempted, earning a score of 90, for a two-round score of 177.5 for the win.
Saturday night’s $75,000 Calluna Spa Grand Prix hosted 52 entries under the lights of the WEC Grand Arena. 2016 Olympic Games course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed a technical track that included a triple bar to a narrow triple combination, as well as a double oxer combination. A familiar face in the winner’s circle, Aaron Vale of Williston, FL, and Major topped the class once again, besting 16 jump-off contenders. Vale brought his A-game on Saturday night, qualifying all four of his entries to the jump off with Major taking the victory, stopping the timers at 37.527 seconds.
The $10,000 Futures Prix hosted 32 horse and rider combinations Saturday morning in the WEC Grand Arena which featured another technical course designed by Guilherme Jorge. Just seven pairs qualified for the jump-off, with only Carlo Graziani of Wellington, FL, and Erato M going clear. Graziani and Erato M, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion produced a smooth jump-off round, leaving a stride out from the Lugano fence to the tall vertical coming toward The Equestrian Hotel, stopping the clock at 38.456 seconds for the win.
Week II of World Equestrian Center – Ocala Summer Series also featured two additional derbies including the $5,000 Pony Hunter Derby and the $7,500 Non Pro 2’6” Hunter Derby. It was Lilyana Spafford and Silver Wishes the 17-year-old Welsh Pony gelding who topped the $5,000 WEC Pony Hunter Derby. Spafford also took home the third-place finish on her other mount Cherrybrook Just Blue (Cherrybrook Sky Blue x Cherrybrook Blue Genes).
Wendy Rice and Meadowood Farm, LLC’s Sandrimo, the Non Pro Derby winner from last week, took home the blue ribbon once again in the $7,500 Non Pro 2’6″ Hunter Derby. The pair completed two beautiful rounds securing a first round score of 79, and a handy score of 85, for a total of 164 for the win.
Congratulations to all entries on another great week of equestrian sport!
Additional prize money continues for the next two weeks of shows June 23 – 27 and June 30 – July 4 in celebration and appreciation of the outstanding support the WEC Ocala Summer Series has received. Visit wec.net for more information and the updated Summer Schedule.
Enjoy a Saturday night Grand Prix from the terrace of The Equestrian Hotel with an exclusive VIP viewing and dining experience courtesy of Stirrups Restaurant. The VIP private table overlooking the Grand Arena will include a 3-course Chef’s dinner, along with complementary beer and wine. Tables are available each week of Summer Series. Purchase your table by calling 352.414.7864 or email OcalaDiningReservations@wec.net.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.