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Kocher and Ufarno Win the $15,000 Horseflight Open Welcome Week IV

Perfect blue skies made way for blue ribbons for Kocher and Carolina Suarez’ Ufarno in the $15,000 Horseflight Open Welcome.

Friday’s feature jumper competition, the $15,000 Horseflight Open Welcome, saw thirty-three horse and rider teams compete on the world class grass turf grand prix field at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit in Gulfport, Mississippi. Manual Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico designed the 1.40 meter course and set the time to beat at 81 seconds which saw only eight with fault-free first rounds.

Andrew Kocher of Lake St. Louis, Missouri and Arion Legends, LLC’s Cantu 5 were second to go and the first to go clean with a first round time of 69.328 seconds. Their second round in a time of 41.392 seconds was well within the 57 second time allowed and set the time to beat.

Several horses later, Kocher returned, this time in the irons of Aleece Jarman’s Cantori who turned in a clear first round effort in a time of 67.724 seconds and clean second round in 38.929 seconds, taking the lead.

Daniel Bedowa of Magnolia, Texas and his own Quattro were the next horse and rider team to go clean after Kocher’s fault-free rounds. They turned in a first round time of 71.823 seconds and a clean second round time in 38.542 seconds, setting the new time to beat and taking the lead.

Kocher rose to the new time challenge and entered the ring with Carolina Suarez’ Ufarno. The pair turned in back to back fault free rounds in times of 67.188 and 37.984 seconds respectively, and moved back into the first place position.

Tiffany Cambria of Middleburg, Virginia and Allie Rahman’s Varios were the next horse and rider team to turn in double-clean efforts in times of 69.046 seconds and 43.657 seconds, respectively. Their times were not fast enough to grab the win from Kocher and would finish in sixth place overall.

Lincoln Russell of Columbus, North Carolina and Sarah MacMillan’s Vinney Boy turned in the last clear effort of the class in a time of 70.205 seconds. However, four jump faults in their second round in a time of 41.860 seconds would see them finish in eighth place overall.

Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, New Mexico, winner of last week’s $35,000 Cedar Street Advisors Grand Prix was the next pair to turn in double clear efforts on Showcase 81, LLC’s Bon Giorno in times of 67.401 and 40.745 seconds, respectively, which would see them finish in fourth place overall.

Kocher followed Sadler, this time in the irons of his own Heliante. While they turned in a clean first round in a time of 69.698 seconds, four faults in their second round in a time of 39.560 seconds would see them finish in seventh place overall.

In the end it was Kocher who won the class with Carolina Suarez’ Ufarno, followed by Daniel Bedoya of Magnolia, Texas and his own Quattro in second. Third went to Kocher and Aleece Jarman’s Cantori; fourth went to Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Showcase Farm’s Bon Giorno.

Kocher returned for fifth place with Arion Legends’ Cantu 5, sixth went to Tiffany Cambria and Allie Rahman’s Varios, seventh was awarded to Kocher and his own Heliante, and Lincoln Russell wrapped it up in eighth place with Sarah MacMillan’s Vinney Boy.

“My horses are jumping great and hopefully my luck will continue,” Kocher said. “I just got eight new horses in from Europe today and I am hoping they will be in the position to win some classes here,” he added.

The Gulf Coast Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. For more information on Gulf Coast Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at www.gulfcoastclassiccompany.com.

All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director, at lisa@classiccompany.com.

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See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457

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