Sharn Wordley and Champion League successful the $32,000 UF Well being Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2*. Picture by Andrew Ryback Pictures.
Ocala, FL – The $32,000 UF Well being Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2* headlined Thursday morning’s competitors at World Equestrian Middle – Ocala, drawing 19 prime horse-and-rider combos representing 12 nations. In a aggressive discipline, it was New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley who secured the win aboard Champion League (Cador 5 x Contendro I). Wordley additionally claimed third place with Conto Blanco 4 (Cellestial x Kolibri), each of that are owned by Della Wordley.
FEI Degree III course designer Colm Quinn (IRL) set a technical observe that proved to be a real check, with solely 4 combos advancing to the jump-off.
“I assumed it was an incredible course,” stated Wordley. “It was difficult and technical, however not too arduous. There have been quite a lot of good riders in it, and it was simply tough sufficient to leap clear. I assumed it was improbable.”
Wordley efficiently navigated clear rounds with each of his entries, claiming two of the 4 coveted jump-off spots. He returned first aboard the 10-year-old German Sport Horse gelding Conto Blanco 4.
“My first one was being very cautious within the first spherical, so I didn’t need to go loopy quick,” Wordley shared. “I form of simply cruised round and had one down, which may be very not like him.”
Their jump-off time of 41.83 seconds with 4 faults held the lead briefly. Cristina Padilla (PUR) adopted along with her personal VDL Kirado, additionally incurring a single rail in a slower time of 45.54 seconds.
With the door nonetheless open, Wordley returned on his second mount, Champion League, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, and executed a tidy, environment friendly spherical to cease the clock clear in 41.25 seconds.
“I knew no matter I did, Lauren most likely might beat me if she tried,” Wordley admitted. “So I simply went medium quick and clear to place sufficient strain. She needed to be fast sufficient to catch me, however not too fast that she would have a fault.”
Final to go, Lauren Hough (USA) gave it her greatest shot aboard her nine-year-old AES gelding Clarisall Junior. The pair crossed the timers simply three-tenths of a second slower in 41.60 seconds, sliding into second and transferring Wordley’s Conto Blanco 4 to 3rd.
$32,000 UF Well being Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2* Outcomes
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