Podium finish for Scott Keach at the Lexington International CSI2* Grand Prix
© Josh Winslow Photography
Aussie Scott Keach finished in third place in the 1.45 FEI Grand Prix, with the 9-year-old chestnut gelding, Falcon De Hus Z. The duo finished with a time of 41.98 seconds.
The trip from his home base in California to Kentucky paid off for Karl Cook and Caillou 24, winners of the $72,000 Amalaya Investments 1.45 Meter FEI Grand Prix, the featured event of the Lexington International CSI 2* held May 23-26, part of the Split Rock Jumping Tour.
Karl Cook and Caillou 24, winners of the $72,000 Amalaya Investments 1.45 Meter FEI Grand Prix
© Josh Winslow Photography
The course, designed by Oscar Soberon from Dallas, TX, featured 13 numbered obstacles and a time allowed of 77 seconds, which was extended to 79 seconds. Only seven horse and rider combinations managed to clear the first-round course without penalty.
The first to come back for the jump-off was Performance EP and Sarah Segal (USA) riding for Robert Segal. They were out of contention when they had a stop at the third fence. They finished with a score of 23 faults in a time of 66.08 seconds.
Pablo Barrios, riding for Venezuela, brought forth Le Vio, owned by Gut Einhaus, to contest over the second round course. They ran into trouble at the first element of the double combination and finished on a score of four faults in a time of 37.90 seconds.
Falcon De Hus Z and Scott Keach (AUS) were the first to navigate the jump-off without penalty. The 9-year-old chestnut, owned by Five Henry Stables, had the crowd cheering as the crossed through the timers in 41.98 seconds. They would finish in third place.
The game had changed for Abigail McArdle (USA) and Victorio 5, owned by Victorio Equine Group. They could not just go clear, they had to go faster than Keach in order to win. Never one to shrink from a challenge, McArdle and the 13-year-old Hanoverian cleared the course fault free in a time of 39.43 seconds. They would eventually be beaten by Cook and finish second.
Andrew Ramsay (USA) and Stranger 30, owned by The Stranger Group, were next in the ring. They lowered one fence on course for a score of four faults and a time of 37.97 seconds. The pair finished the class in fifth place.
Cook (USA) and Caillou 24, a 12-year-old Holsteiner owned by Signe Ostby, now had their opportunity to shine, and shine they did. Cook legged the big grey into a gallop and with his seemingly effortless style, crossed through the finish timers clear in 37.67 seconds to take the lead.
The last entry on course, Andrew Kocher (USA) and Fashion V, owned by Eye Candy Jumpers, tried their best to defeat Cook, but lowered the height of two fences for a score of eight faults in 38.31 seconds. The final placing for the pair was sixth.
“It was an interesting course,” said Cook after the class. “With the ring being narrow you have to go up and back longways which is a challenge for the course designer, but it was nice because you had multiple challenges. You had to collect, you could leave out one or add one, so you could pick your track for the horse you were on.
“Caillou takes so much time to add because he has such a big stride that the goal with him is to just get a stride and not pull on the reins. If you pull you add seconds just like that,” continued Cook. “I tried with the tracks I chose today to bend instead of adding a stride and it worked for us.”
Gemino and Peter Wylde
© Josh Winslow Photography
Finishing on top in the $5,000 Animo Youngster Bowl with two clear rounds in a time of 39.79 seconds, were Gemino and Olympic Gold Medalist Peter Wylde. Gemino is a 7-year-old KWPN stallion by Manhattan x Democraat, out of Heliolight, owned and bred by Jessica Siuda.
“This horse is a clone,” said Wylde. “I got him last summer. His owner was riding him and thought he had potential and asked if I would take him. He basically is a winner. He has won roughly 80% of the time. You have the feeling, when you ride him in a class, that you know you can win.”
Luminaria LS La Silla, an 8-year-old mare owned by San Francisco Stables and ridden by Luis Fernando Larrazabal placed second with two fault free rounds in a time of 40.87 seconds.
Haley Barnhill took third place with Donald Cheska’s Gregory ES, an 8-year-old by Echo van T Spieveld. They completed the two rounds without penalty in 43.32 seconds.
The $5,000 John Deere 1.45 Meter Junior/Amateur Final went to Emma Sargent and Beezie, her 13-year-old Dutch mare. It was the second class in the division that was won by this pair. The were the only horse and rider combination to post a clear round in the jump-off.
Francesca Bolfo was second with Jadalco. Bolfo had the fastest time of all the four faulters in the jump-off, 33.29 seconds.
“I would love to keep this streak going,” said Sargent. “I took a break after WEF and went back to school and took my finals so I have to say thank you to everyone at Cheska Inc. who keep my horses going for me.”
Anne Arredondo Brekke and Anne Kamilla’s Loreley led from start to finish in the $5,000 Cheska Inc. 1.10 Meter Child/Adult Final. Brekke and Loreley turned in two clean rounds in a jump-off time of 33.45 seconds for the win. Also double clear, but in a slower time, Daniel Kerins and Trefoil Farm’s Delight Mg C De Leuze took second place.
The 1.0 Meter Child/Adult Final was won by Charlotte Ruff and Magnus Flora Mail and second place going to Chapin Cheska with Skribbelino.
For the past five years, the SRJT has been revolutionizing the sport of show jumping in the U.S. Modeled after successful European shows, the SRJT gives competitors, sponsors and spectators an “Unparalleled Show Jumping Experience” by hosting competitions at world-class venues, offering top prize money, awards and numerous first-class amenities for riders, horses, owners, sponsors, and spectators, with close attention paid to every detail. Garnering rave reviews from many of the world’s top riders, it’s no surprise that the SRJT draws large fields of top entries from a multiple nations.
The SRJT is presenting six FEI shows at five world-class venues as part of its 2019 Tour. Its culminating event, the Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier Jumping Columbus CSI3*-W, is one of just 14 events in the Longines FEI World Cup™ North American League that will help determine which North American riders will qualify to go to the 2020 Longines FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada next April.
Additional information about the event can be found here.
Source: Event press release
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