Lexington, KY – November 1, 2012 – After spending the summer in Europe, Lauren Hough and Quick Study made a triumphant return to the United States during the Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition. The pair bested a 14-horse jump-off with a speedy double clear effort during the $75,000 Double H Farm International Open Jumper class. Ireland’s Richie Moloney galloped into second place position aboard Slieveanorra, while Kent Farrington and his young mount Venus left all the rails in place for the third place honors.
The riders found the key to Richard Jeffery’s first round early on, which featured a triple bar, a liverpool, an oxer-vertical double combination, and a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination. Fourteen horses returned to the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park for the jump-off, which would prove to be a foot race over a bending line to a single airy vertical, part of the triple combination, and two final wide oxers.
Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts was the first to conquer the challenge with Stal De Kalvarie’s Denver Van’t Goemanshot, but his fault-free round in 44.41 seconds would only be good enough for seventh. Aaron Vale and Palm Sunday, owned by Amen Corner Farm, bested the pair in 42.830 seconds, but their effort eventually placed fifth, with Great Britain’s Tim Gredley and Unex Timo IV, owned by Unex Competition Yard LTD, slipping into sixth at 42.88 seconds.
It looked like Ireland’s Richie Moloney was going to be the victor after he set a time of 40.66 seconds, well ahead of the other competitors with Equinimity LLC’s Slieveanorra. Just prior to Moloney, Kent Farrington had set the time to beat with Venus, owned by Raylyn Farm’s Venus at 41.39 seconds. Unfortunately, Moloney and Farrington would have to settle for second and third, respectively, after veteran duo Lauren Hough and Quick Study, owned by Laura Mateo, entered the arena.
Making his first appearance in the United States since this spring, Quick Study was right on point, easily clearing the obstacles in his path to victory. They sliced the single vertical for the combination and deftly maneuvered through the inside turns to one of the final oxers. Hough and Quick Study’s swift pace and path added up to the win as they dashed for the cash in 40.51 seconds, one tenth of a second ahead of Moloney.
“My horse has a severe right drift, so I sort of made a last minute adjustment in the first line and Quick Study was good to clear the second jump,” admitted Hough. “It set up my turn well to that second vertical. I was quite quick from the double onwards; I think that is where I made up time. I think it was quite close.”
Hough continued, “At this stage in his life, Quick Study is quite rideable; he used to be a handful. We know each other quite well at this point, and I am thankful to have him. I have had a run of unlucky streak of four fault rounds this summer. The last show in Europe was in Vienna. We made the second round, but had the first jump down in second round. He’s been knocking on the door, I just had to stay patient and not change anything. Last week he hung out with Joe Fargis in Middleburg, Virginia, for the week. He’s a pretty easy keeper these days; we keep him fit and happy.”
Moloney was also pleased with his horse’s performance stating, “He’s a good indoor horse, naturally very quick. I am just doing these shows for now and will see what happens. I will probably jump my other horse on Saturday during the World Cup Qualifier though.”
Farrington will also ride a different horse for Saturday’s World Cup Qualifier, his leading mount Uceko. “This is still a pretty green horse to be doing this level, especially inside. He jumps a lot behind; he doesn’t have the best front end right now. Inside these are still quite difficult courses right now for this horse. This is the comfort level right now.”
Hillary Simpson slipped into fourth with Nopus Du Gue Joubert, owned by Quiet Hill Farm. Australia’s Matt Williams and Watch Me VD Mangelaar, owned by Samantha Tuerk, had slower round of 45.66 seconds that went into eighth. Margie Engle and Royce, owned by Elm Rock LLC, had the slowest clear round, clocking in a conservative 48.19 seconds. Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W did have the fastest round of the night, but they had an unfortunate rail before the combination for four faults to round out the top ten.
Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumpers Highlight Afternoon
Earlier this afternoon, the Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumpers got underway in the Alltech Arena. Beginning with the $10,000 Deeridge Farm Junior Jumper Welcome Stake, riders had to show over a 12-fence speed track designed by Richard Jeffery. The course featured multiple inside turns, a vertical-oxer double combination, an oxer-vertical double combination, and an airy vertical across the middle that added four faults to many of the riders’ scores.
Kalvin Dobbs was the first rider to complete a fault-free effort over the course, and was also only the second competitor in the ring with Ultimate VDL, owned by Treesdale Farm. They set the pace at 68.120, which would be good enough for fourth place. Two trips later, Catherine Tyree and Wetter jumped to an eventual second place finish after crossing the timers in 65.083 seconds with all the rails intact. Gabrielle Bausano was close on Tyree’s heels later in the class riding her own Ubico H. Their fault free effort was good enough for third place after they broke the beam at 67.268.
Abigail McArdle and her speedy mount Cosma 20 would prove to be the best of the day. Even with adding a stride in one of the lines, their smooth turns and quick track bested the competition as they stopped the timers at 62.983 seconds, three seconds faster than Tyree. The pair returned to the ring at the end of the class to claim their blue ribbon and lead the victory gallop.
“The turn on the way to the last line was actually a lot tighter and harder than we expected,” noted McArdle after her win. “The main part of making up was galloping between the fences. Cosma is just really fast across the ground. I was really happy with the way she went because it’s really spooky in there, even for the experienced horses.”
McArdle added, “Cosma was amazing at Harrisburg, so she went home and had some paddock time and went on some trail rides. As long as she kept her fitness up, we kept it easy. After today I feel super confident, because she was really good everywhere. It’s nice to start with a speed class with her because it helps to open her up and gallop her around.”
The amateur riders took their turn over the same track during the $10,000 Chansonette Farm Amateur-Owner Jumper Welcome Stake. This time 10 riders managed to leave all the rails in their cups and finish with no faults to their name. Kelsey Thatcher led the victory gallop after crossing the finish line in a blazing 61.743 seconds with Everything. They were only the second pair to enter the ring, but they were right on point at they shaved off seconds in the air and across the ground. Meagan Nusz came the closest to catching Thatcher, tripping the timers at 63.014 seconds aboard Vesuvius, owned by Amalaya Investments, for the second place honors. Alise Oken and Kaid Du Ry, owned by Hi Hopes Farm, rounded out the top three after their clear round came in at 63.662 seconds.
“Everything is a very fast horse across the ground naturally,” explained Thatcher. “He’s a fast jumper, he lands far away from the jump and he hunting the next fence. We bought him at the end of WEF from Cian O’Connor and he’s been great so far. It was a nice course today because there were areas where you could go fast and areas where you could take your time.”
“This is a great show,” concluded Thatcher. “The exhibitor lounge is phenomenal. It is over the top. Those little things that this horse show does to make it better for the exhibitors make it that much more of a positive experience.”
Tomorrow’s highlight events at the 2012 Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition, will include each of the $10,000 Amateur-Owner and Junior Jumper classes, the Chartis Insurance Company $50,000 International Open Jumper Speed class, and the Alltech National Horse Show $50,000 International Open Jumper Puissance. The weekend will wrap up with the $250,000 World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix on Saturday night and the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Championships on Sunday. For more information about the 2012 Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition, please visit www.nhs.org.
Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com