Lexington, KY – May 17, 2010 – G&C Farm had a very successful week at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show in Lexington, KY, on May 12-16, 2010. Professional rider Pablo Barrios rode to the win in eight classes during the week in various jumper divisions. He placed first and second with G&C Sinatra and G&C Blanchee Z in the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Grand Prix, CSI 2*. G&C Farm’s state-of-the-art jumper facility is based in Wellington, FL, and owned by Gustavo Mirabal.
Pablo Barrios and G&C Sinatra with Gustavo Mirabal
Barrios had two mounts qualify for the jump-off in Thursday’s $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Grand Prix, CSI 2*. There were eight horse and rider combinations in the jump-off, and Barrios went third in the shortened course on G&C Sinatra, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding by Epilot x Libero H, owned by Barrios and Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal. He set the winning time at 41.04 seconds.
Barrios and G&C Sinatra
Barrios returned last in the jump-off with G&C Blanchee Z, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Utrillo Van De Heffinck x Darco. He and G&C Blanchee Z were just off the winning pace in 41.55 seconds for second place. Barrios also rode G&C Napoleon to 11th place. They had just four faults in the first round, and it was Napoleon’s first grand prix class. G&C Napoleon went on to place fifth in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic on Saturday.
“The horses were really good,” Barrios noted. “It was the first grand prix win of the year for Sinatra. The jump-off was very fast. They both have a huge stride, and there was a lot of galloping so it suited them very well.”
The G&C Farm horses had a nice break following the end of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), and Barrios, who took time to teach clinics in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, was ready to get back into the show ring. “It was very nice to win again and to come back from a break. After the break, I feel like I want to ride and win again,” he smiled.
Barrios and G&C Blanchee Z
Barrios and G&C Blanchee Z also competed in Sunday’s $55,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix, CSI 2* and placed fourth after a solid performance in the jump-off.
The week started out well for Barrios and G&C Farm when they won four classes on the opening day of competition.
In the Young Jumper Championship (YJC) Five Year Old division, Barrios won the first class with his horse Simply the Best, a Oldenburg mare by Couleur Rubin. They went on to place first and second during the week. Barrios has been very pleased with her performances this year. He pointed out, “She did 10 weeks at WEF and was clear in every class. I think she’s going to be a superstar. She’s fast, careful, nice to ride, and is very smart.”
Barrios and Simply the Best
In the YJC Six Year Old division, Barrios was second, third, and fourth with G&C Quitvola d’Orval. Barrios rode G&C Leroy, an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Looping x Grannus, who was very diverse this week and won in the YJC 7/8 Year Old division, the 1.35m Jumpers, and the 1.40m Jumpers.
“Leroy is a very nice horse, very careful and very, very fast,” Barrios described. Leroy, originally bought for a junior rider at G&C Farm, will work with Barrios this year to gain mileage and experience before going into the junior jumpers next year.
Barrios and G&C Leroy
G&C LaGran won the 1.40m Jumper class on the opening day, while G&C Quick Star 11 won in the 1.45m Jumpers. Flash placed fourth in the 1.30m Jumpers, and G&C Lepanto was fourth in the 1.40m Jumpers.
Luis Fernando Larrazabal placed fourth in the Low Junior Jumper Classic with G&C Quest Z. He won in the High Junior Jumpers on Sil McCarthy and was fourth on Kourgann de Reis.
G&C Farm will stay in Lexington this week to compete in the Kentucky Spring Classic Horse Show on May 19-23.
Please visit www.farmgc.com for more information on G&C Farm, their riders, and their horses. You can also find out more by visiting the G&C Farm page on Facebook or follow G&C Farm on Twitter.
G&C Farm brings exceptional horses and top Venezuelan jumper riders to the highest levels of competition. Their state-of-the-art, full-service facility is located in Wellington, FL.
The vision of G&C Farm is to improve the instruction and training of their top jumper riders and horses in order to seek a place on the Venezuelan team for all high level tournaments and top competitions, including the World Equestrian Games and Olympic Games. G&C Farm sponsors top grand prix rider Pablo Barrios of Venezuela, as well as other up and coming riders. The technical advisor at G&C Farm is Olympic Games course designer Leopoldo Palacios.
For more information on G&C Farm, please visit www.farmgc.com.
Photo Credit: All Photos © 2010 Shawn McMillen Photography. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.