Bjorn Ikast Makes It Three in a Row in the $30,000 Gesco Grand Prix
Parker, CO — The third week of the Colorado Summer Circuit ended with big money classes! Jessie Lang riding Margot Snowdon’s C. Quito brought home the blue ribbon and the winning check to Wyoming in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Amateur rider Rachel Boggus bested the pros in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. And in the $30,000 Gesco Grand Prix, Bjorn Ikast made it three in a row by leading the victory gallop in the Prix for the third consecutive week.
$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Hunter riders got the opportunity to ride their Derbies over the big, permanent Linda Allen designed Derby field at The Colorado Horse Park. With banks and hilly terrain, riders were able to show off their horse’s brilliance in an inviting setting over the Skip Bailey-designed courses.
“The course was so beautifully put together,” said Jessie Lang, rider of C. Quito, a nine-year-old approved BWP (Belgian) stallion. The son of Parco (by Darco) won both rounds by a nice margin. After a successful indoor season last fall, including the Regular Conformation Hunter Championship at Harrisburg, C. Quito has had a light show season in 2011 to accommodate his busy breeding schedule this spring. The stallion was obviously in top form, earning a 90 from one judging panel in the handy round and bonus points in both rounds, to finish with a 382 overall.
In between his first and second rounds, C. Quito went over to the Adult Amateur ring with his owner Margot Snowdon, laying down trips that earned him first and fourth place ribbons in that division.
Finishing in second place was Katie Gardner riding Lisa Martinez-Bates’ Brego, with Mark Mead claiming the yellow ribbon on Samsonite for Katya Schwab.
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
If you have believed you were too busy to ride, think again. 29-year-old Rachel Boggus M.D. is in her final days of a three-year anesthesiology residency. Last night she worked the 7:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. shift, came to the horse show without a wink of sleep and bested a field of wonderful horses and professional riders in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby with her horse Classified. “People told me I’d never ride in medical school,” says the Denver, CO resident, who trains with Michael Dennehy. She credits time management with helping her make time for her horses.
In the handy round, Boggus chose the bank options for Classified, an 11-year-old former jumper she purchased three months ago as an investment horse. The Swedish Warmblood gelding, by Elektron, and Boggus have obviously clicked. They also picked up blue ribbons in the hunters throughout the first three weeks of the Colorado Summer Circuit.
On her second ride, Lotario X, by Voltaire, Boggus showed off the former equi horse’s rideability by choosing the inside turns in the handy round, resulting in a third place overall. “I did completely different courses with each horse [in the handy round],” she said. She also praised the first round course that consisted of many long gallops to single fences. “I feel you can show more brilliance that way,” she said. Boggus has just two more days of residency before beginning a one-year Interventional Pain Fellowship at University Hospital.
$30,000 Gesco Grand Prix
Leading the Grand Prix victory gallop for the third time in as many weeks was Bjorn Ikast. The Denmark-native claimed the blue ribbon on Brave Heart, making this the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood’s 25th career Grand Prix win. “He was clear in all three Grand Prix,” Ikast said of the gelding. “He’s a very reliable old friend.”
Ikast praised not only his horses, but also his entire team for their contributions to his victories. He explained, “It’s a team sport. I couldn’t do it without my wife and my daughter. [Their efforts] allow me to fully concentrate on my riding.” Mrs. Clara Ikast is a former international show jumper for Mexico. “She knows all the small details,” he said.
Ikast also gave kudos to The Colorado Horse Park and Showplace Productions for creating a wonderful venue and show for riders. “We feel very welcome here. This is the place to come in the future,” he said.
The Colorado Horse Park relies on the generosity of its sponsors, including Parker Adventist Hospital and Foundation, Littleton Equine Medical Center, Platinum Performance, Holiday Inn of Parker, Hampton Inn of Parker, Super 8 of Parker, Gesco, Griffis Group, Norstar, The Olson Family, Horse Connection, Comfort Suites of Castle Rock, Days Inn of Castle Rock, Nutrena, The Chronicle of the Horse, A Bit of Tack, Horseware Ireland, Grand Meadows and many more.
Check out all of the Flying Horse Photography photo galleries on Facebook and loads of videos on The Colorado Horse Park’s YouTube channel. Visit www.coloradohorsepark.com for more details.
Results
$25,000 Gesco Grand Prix
1. Bjorn Ikast Brave Heart
2. Bjorn Ikast Colorado
3. Armando Hassey La Roche
4. Rodrigo Lambre Ohara Saint Claire La Escondida
5. Paul Rohrbach Simple Kaliber
6. Ceinwen Muma Fly With Me
$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
1. Jessie Lang C. Quito
2. Katie Gardner Brego
3. Mark Mead Samsonite
4. Liz Schmid Air Apparent
5. Liza Dennehy Sir Topham Hat
6. Rachel Roweder Covergirl
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
1. Rachel Boggus Classified
2. Laurie Jueneman Dolce
3. Rachel Boggus Lotario X
4. Jennifer Wallen Remember When
5. Shannan Gossman Acord III
6. Elizabeth Adelson Double Down
Media Contact:
Christine DeHerrera
Equestrian Sports Promotions
303-263-7531
equestriansports@earthlink.net