Wellington, FL – March 16, 2017 – Ireland’s Darragh Kenny jumped to victory with brand new mount Gasper van den Doorn in Thursday’s $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 10 at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
WEF 10, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, features CSI 3* competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on March 15-19, 2017. The week’s highlights include the $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* and the $35,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series Semi-Final, presented by The McNerney Family. All of the week’s live streaming can be viewed HERE. The 12-week WEF circuit continues through April 2, 2017, awarding over $9 million in prize money.
Darragh Kenny and Gasper van den Doorn
Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) set the course for Thursday’s Challenge Cup, with 78 starters and 21 clear rounds. Four entries opted not to jump-off, leaving 17 to continue on to the short course. Kenny and Vlock Show Stables’ Gasper van den Doorn jumped the fastest of eight double clear rounds in 38.13 seconds.
Marilyn Little (USA) and Karen O’Connor’s Clearwater finished second in 40.05 seconds. Jimmy Torano (USA) placed third with Missy Clark and North Run’s Betagravin in 40.14 seconds. Stephanie Macieira (BRA) and Bonne Chance Farm’s Randon Pleasure placed fourth in 41.26 seconds, and Eve Jobs (USA) riding Tiny Toon Semilly rounded out the top five in 41.65 seconds.
“I did a turn that nobody else did in the class,” Kenny said of his winning jump-off. “I watched a few people go, and I kept looking when I was in the warm-up ring. I was like, ‘I think that turn is there.’ Then I went in the ring and I saw it. He is such a nice horse that I know he is never going to stop or do anything wrong, so it was only up to me to get the right distance. Then I did everything that everybody else did. I think that turn was where I won the class.”
Darragh Kenny and Gasper van den Doorn in their winning presentation with ringmaster Steve Rector.
Kenny, who just began riding Gasper van den Doorn two weeks ago, has a gift for quickly forming winning partnerships with his horses. Kenny’s student, Teddy Vlock, purchased the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Calvaro x Larome) from 2008 Canadian Olympic team silver medalist Mac Cone, and plans to ride the horse in the future. Gasper was both the 2015 and 2016 Canadian Show Jumping Reserve Champion with Cone.
“I was just playing about with him for a couple of weeks just trying to get to know him a little bit for Teddy,” Kenny noted. “I am now very lucky that Teddy has agreed to let me show him for a few more weeks because I am a little bit short of a grand prix horse.
“Today he was really excellent,” Kenny continued. “I have only jumped him 1.40m before this, but he jumped big classes with Mac Cone before. He jumped clear in World Cup qualifiers at Deeridge and Toronto. He is a really exceptional horse.”
Detailing the horse further, Kenny stated, “He is really fun and super competitive. He is very easy. He is like the perfect horse. He is beautiful to ride, he has this amazing canter, and his jumps are fantastic. He is a really cool horse.”
Kenny and Gasper van den Doorn can be seen back in action together in Saturday night’s $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*.
Also competing in the International Arena on Wednesday, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) and Daisy won the $8,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m.
Katherine Strauss and All In
Katherine Strauss and All In stand for their winning presentation with Hollow Creek Farm representative Jennifer Ward and ringmaster Steve Rector.
The $10,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series Welcome was held in the afternoon with a win for Katherine Strauss (USA) and All In. The Series also hosted a 1.40m competition, which saw a win for Kerry McCahill (USA) and Charly Chaplin S.
Scott Stewart and Holly Orlando Earn Tricolor Ribbons in Bainbridge Green Hunter 3’
Scott Stewart of Wellington, FL, and Playbook, an entry owned by Fashion Farm, were champions of the Bainbridge Green Hunter 3’ division. Stewart and the coming seven-year-old Warmblood gelding by Samba Hit dominated the division, winning three over fences classes and the under saddle, as well as placing second in another over fences round. The pair have been strong contenders in the division throughout the winter circuit, earning the championship title during weeks one, three, and eight.
Speaking of Playbook, Stewart said, “He is really easy and has a big stride. He moves and jumps incredible and is just the whole package! I rode him in Kentucky in the Baby Greens last May, and he didn’t show again until coming down to Wellington. He has been amazing.”
Scott Stewart and Playbook
Holly Orlando of Wellington, FL, captured the reserve title aboard Lion King. The duo earned two seconds, third, and fifth place ribbons over fences, and fourth place under saddle. An entry of Sam Edelman’s S & L Farms, Lion King began his hunter career with Orlando at the beginning of the winter circuit as he previously competed in the Five-Year-Old jumper division.
“Lion King is one of my favorite horses,” said Orlando. “He is a very good jumper and is so my type: very soft, carries himself, and looks beautiful through the bridle. I can really gallop out of the turns on him, and he jumps the same every time.”
Orlando was quick to credit much of the six-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding’s success to Nathanael Estes, who works for Sam Edelman.
“I couldn’t do it without Nate [Estes],” Orlando explained. “He helps ride Lion King and is an excellent person to have on the ground. Nate puts a lot of effort into the horse, and we are both really excited about the gelding.”
Competition continues on Friday featuring the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m speed class in the International Arena. The Ariat National Adult Medal will determine a winner in the Rost Arena. For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.
Final Results: $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 10
1. GASPER VAN DEN DOORN: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Calvaro x Larome
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/0/38.13
2. CLEARWATER: 2007 Holsteiner gelding by Clearway x Come On
MARILYN LITTLE (USA), Karen O’Connor: 0/0/40.05
3. BETAGRAVIN: 2006 KWPN mare by Quasimodo Z x Grandeville
JIMMY TORANO (USA), Missy Clark & North Run: 0/0/40.14
4. RANDON PLEASURE: 2005 Selle Francais mare by For Pleasure x Quidam de Revel
STEPHANIE MACIEIRA (BRA), Bonne Chance Farm: 0/0/41.26
5. TINY TOON SEMILLY: 2007 Selle Francais gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Kannan
EVE JOBS (USA), Eve Jobs: 0/0/41.65
6. ADARE: 2005 KWPN mare by Royal Bravour x Burggraaf
PARIS SELLON (USA), Paris Sellon: 0/0/41.97
7. CALETTO CABANA: 2007 Holsteiner stallion by Cassini I x Capecanaveral
WILTON PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/0/42.81
8. BONZAY: 2006 KWPN by Numero Uno x Heartbreaker
JONATHON MILLAR (CAN), Isotropic: 0/0/44.14
9. AYMARA DES BERGERIES: 2006 Belgian Sport Horse mare by Canturo x Cavalier Royale
SANTIAGO LAMBRE (MEX), Santiago Lambre: 0/4/39.08
10. CHAVENTYNO: 2006 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco Blue x Aventyno
YANN CANDELE (CAN), Legacy Stables LLC: 0/4/39.33
11. CHECK PICOBELLO Z: 2006 Zangersheide gelding by Cardento x Orlando
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC & Torrey Pines: 0/4/40.62
12. CAS 2: 2007 KWPN gelding by Indoctro x Numero Uno
AUDREY COULTER (USA), Copernicus Stables LLC: 0/4/41.03
Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, Official Photographer of the Winter Equestrian Festival. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.