Tag Archives: Turf Tour

Kenny Rallies Back, Secures 2nd Consecutive $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Win

Darragh Kenny and GK Casper.

Wellington, FL (February 25, 2021) – Ireland’s Darragh Kenny once again delivered a winning performance during Wednesday’s The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour. Set this week on the expansive fields of Polo West, the Turf Tour has been a favorite of Kenny’s, where until last week he had a 3-for-3 winning streak in the Grand Prix. However, California’s Ashlee Bond snapped a 4th Grand Prix win from him last week at Black Watch Farm, but wasn’t fast enough on Wednesday to keep him from a 2nd $5,000 1.30m Rising Star victory. A new challenger and first time Turf Tour competitor, Dutch Olympian Harrie Smolders, also jumped to a decisive finish that foreshadows his ability to steal victory from Kenny and Bond.

A first double clear effort in the $5,000 1.30m Rising Star by Hartog-Jan and rider Vincent A. Bailleul set the time to beat at 45.679 seconds. That was eventually eclipsed by Jaqueline Colborne, who jumped Lotus Sobral da Costa to the lead in 40.890 seconds. Olympian Harrie Smolders and Calina then threw down the gauntlet, blazing around the 1.30m course in 39.363 seconds. Darragh and GK Casper followed, once again proving how quick and accurate they can be, jumping off in an impressive 38.026 seconds. Last week’s Grand Prix champion, Ashlee Bond, was intent on taking the title from Kenny once again. She had the time, 36.669, but a fateful rail at the final jump, a liverpool oxer, cost her and Contefina LVF the class. Kim Farlinger and Ibalius SMH breezed around the course in 40.555 seconds.

“It is really exciting to have some of the top riders in the sport vying for victory over our jumps at our show,” said Olympian Nona Garson, who co-founded The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour with George D’Ambrosio. “And what is really cool is while this battle of the titans plays out in ring one, we have amateurs, green horses, and juniors warming up over the same jumps and competing adjacent to them in Ring 2. This was our dream with the Turf Tour, to create a show for everyone that offers everything from FEI level Grand Prix action to a training ground for green horses and riders.”

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Bond Breaks Kenny’s Grand Prix Win Streak

Ashlee Bond and Semilly F (Norah McCutcheon Photography/Jaqueline Porcaro Photo Group)

Wellington, FL (February 21, 2021) – Ashlee Bond’s super speedy and scopey Semilly F (a.k.a. Squishy) ended a nearly four week long winning streak by Ireland’s Darragh Kenny on Friday at Black Watch Farm. Bond broke Kenny’s 3 consecutive Turf Tour Grand Prix winning streak, while the Irish rider took second and third place in the $15,000 1.40 class. Kenny has also won the past two $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classics, and Bond is no stranger to victory on the Turf Tour herself, although this was her first win with the CDE (Copyright C x Brisa de Ibio) mare. Turf Tour 7’s competition wrapped up on Friday with nearly 53 entries in the day’s highlight Grand Prix, set on the stunning polo field at Black Watch Farm.

Brief showers punctuated brilliant sunshine and 80-degree temperatures. The spectacular footing and beautiful bougainvillea blooms were highlights of Black Watch’s spacious polo field, which was divided into two rings for the week’s competition. Bond and Semilly F put in a late in the day ride to overcome Kenny’s two top standings with Cicomein VDL and GK Casper. Semilly F raced around the course designed by Leopoldo Palacios to deliver a 33.008 jump-off time, nearly 2 seconds faster than Kenny’s time set earlier in the day. Kenny first jumped GK Casper (Canto 16 x Uleika) in the rain to a time of 37.034 seconds, only to be quickly overtaken by his Wednesday Rising Star Classic champion, Cicomein VDL (Chacco Blue x Pomein) on 35.226.

“I love how you can go to a show at a different location weekly, and compete in different arenas,” said Bond of her Turf Tour experience. “The beautiful and relaxed environment and multiple venue options is really important and beneficial to both horses and riders. It’s great for the horses’ minds, to ride with less pressure and in various locations. A training environment is not something you see often in a show, like you do in Europe, and it’s great to have such a series here in Wellington.”

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Kenny Kills It with Another Rising Star Win, Set to Go 4-for-4 in Turf Tour Grand Prix

Darragh Kenny and Cicomein VDL.

Wellington, FL (February 18, 2021) – With Black Watch Farm’s brilliant bougainvilleas in full bloom, Ireland’s Darragh Kenny once again proved himself a master in the $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic. Over a course designed by FEI and Olympic designer Leopoldo Palacios, Kenny’s effortless riding ascended him to the top of the class, beating out 67 horse and rider combinations. Usually scheduled for Wednesdays during Wellington’s winter equestrian season, February 17’s Rising Star was pushed to Thursday due to inclement weather, and the final day of Turf Tour 7 at Black Watch Farm will commence at 8am on Friday with classes from the .80-meters to a $3,000 1.30m Speed Stake to the highlight $15,000 1.40m Turf Tour Grand Prix.

An early and fast double clear set by Lucy Matz and Bailey would lead the class most of the day, as the nearly 70 challengers raced through a number of tight rollbacks in the jump off in an attempt to beat their time of 38.468 seconds. The only rider to best them was Darragh Kenny aboard Cicomein VDL, gliding around both the first and second rounds to finish on 37.351 seconds in the jump-off. Olympian Peter Wylde and Royal Flush rounded out the top 3, jumping off in 38.352 seconds. Darragh remains poised to continue his domination of the Turf Tour 2021 circuit, having now put in back-to-back wins in the Rising Star Classic and with three consecutive wins in the Turf Tour Grand Prix going into Friday.

“The Turf Tour is a great place to bring the horses,” said Kenny. “Whether the horses are up and coming or one of my experienced older horses, it’s great for them to get out and see different rings. I think it’s a tremendous asset to have shows on the grass as the horses really like it and it freshens them up a bit seeing a different ring and the different weekly venues.”

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Darragh Delivers Turf Tour Grand Prix Hat Trick

Darragh Kenny and Quatinka.

Wellington, FL (February 15, 2021) – Three weeks, three Grand Prix classes, three victories: Ireland’s Darragh Kenny delivered a 1.40m hat trick on Friday, February 12, by winning his 3rd consecutive $15,000 1.40m Turf Tour Grand Prix during Turf Tour 6, held at To-Kalon Farm. The weekly show and Grand Prix series regularly attracts some of the world’s top riders as well as driven amateurs, but for the past 3 weeks Kenny has trounced every combination pitted against him. Headed into Turf Tour 6, to be held February 17-19 at the gorgeous Black Watch Farm, Kenny will defend his triple consecutive Grand Prix title as well as that of winner of the $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic, which he won on Wednesday.

Consistently fast and flawless, Kenny’s ride with SHL Farm’s Quatinka was fiercely contested by a number of top riders including Eve Jobs, Ryan Genn, and Heather Caristo-Williams, but to no avail. Kenny’s third to last effort aboard Quatinka answered Ryan Genn’s leading jump-off time of 35.515 with a time of 33.555, nearly a full 2 seconds quicker. Genn, aboard Shannon Reid’s Dieta, was bumped into second with former class leader Heather Caristo-Williams and Marie VD Vespel Z with a jump-off time of 36.286.

“This was my first time jumping here. I’ve brought clients in the past, and we achieved all of our training goals,” said Caristo-Williams of her performance with Marie, a mare owned by Holly Caristo. “She put in a really fast double clear effort, which was my ideal result. It’s really unique to be able to show when you want and to jump on the grass.” The gray mare, who was whinnying her excitement between her first round clear and the jump-off, also sported flashy bling in her braids.

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Kenny Knocks Out Another Turf Tour Victory

Darragh Kenny and Casper.

Wellington, FL (February 11, 2021) – Napa Valley-inspired To-Kalon Farm’s verdant polo field hosted two arenas of show jumping on the grass for Turf Tour 6, whose Wednesday competition saw Ireland’s Darragh Kenny put another win in his 2021 resume. His two late in the day rides topped the bested a 25 horse field in the $3,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic while .80m-1.20m classes ran adjacent. Kenny is poised to claim his 3rd $15,000 Turf Tour Grand Prix victory of the season on Friday at To-Kalon to wrap up week 6, unless another horse & rider team can match his accuracy and speed.

Kenny and Casper put in an effortless double clear round as one of the last rides in the Rising Star, breezing to a jump-off time of 33.102 seconds. His new time knocked Alex Matz & Jillz (34.118), who had been holding the lead since his first to go ride, into second place. Kenny was quick to assert his dominance with a second double clear effort, this time with Belo Horizonte, in 33.150 seconds, knocking Quentin Judge & HH Zorro Z (37.590) out of the top 3.

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Simon McCarthy & Gotcha Capture $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic

Simon McCarthy and Gotcha.

Wellington, FL (February 4, 2021) – A chilly, windy, and sunny Florida winter day kicked off week 5 on The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour, where 21 horses and riders tackled Wednesday’s top class, the $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic. Simon McCarthy and Gotcha captured the top prize in the Rising Star, jumping to victory on the beautiful expanded grass Grand Prix field at The Ridge at Wellington’s home farm.

Simon McCarthy and Gotcha delivered an untouchable double clear round, with just under a tenth of a second separating his jump-off time from the second place challenger, Wilton J. Porter and Heike Es. Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios set an impressive course on The Ridge’s home field. Starting with a single vertical rollback to a wall, the challenge only grew from there, with a bending line to the Horseflight oxer following the wall. Riders then rolled back to a triple combination, before galloping to a lone oxer followed by a bending line vertical, skinny bicycle jump, in-and-out vertical to oxer combination, and a liverpool oxer. Ending with a two-stride vertical and oxer combination, the course yielded seven double clears. McCarthy and Gotcha cliched the win with a jump-off time of 43.859 seconds, with Porter and Heike Es nipping at his heels in a time of 43.984. Carly Anthony and Sun Song finished 3rd with a time of 43.113 seconds.

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Darragh Kenny and Cazador Ls Top Turf Tour Grand Prix at Polo West

Darragh Kenny and Cazador Ls.

Wellington, FL (February 2, 2021) – The fourth week of Turf Tour competition crowned Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Cazador Ls as the winners of Friday’s $15,000 Turf Tour Grand Prix at Polo West, while riders of all levels enjoyed a weekend of Hunter Derbies held at The Ridge’s home farm.

Darragh Kenny, who is a decorated Turf Tour and international competitor, rode Cazador Ls, a stallion owned by Shl Farms, to the win in Friday’s $15,000 Turf Tour Grand Prix over a course designed by Oscar Soberon and set on the beautiful grass fields of Polo West. Kenny and Cazador Ls successfully navigated a number of challenges, including a triple bar to a skinny, roll backs, long gallops, a closed-faced liverpool, and tight turn options to dominate the class, which had a total of seven first round clears. The pair finished their jump-off in 36.323, beating out the second place ride by Hyde Moffitt and Grafton by less than one second (37.084). The third place finisher, Kevin Mealiff and Tupac Van De Vrombautshoeve Z, flew through the timers just tenths of second after Moffitt, in 37.775 seconds.

Hunter Derby Days have long been an exciting addition to the Turf Tour circuit, and in 2021 The Ridge expanded their Derby offerings to include a 2′ Mini Derby with options to 2’3″, a $2,500 Low Hunter Derby with options to 2’9″, a $5000 3′ Hunter Derby with options to 3’5″, and a $5,000 3’6″ Open Hunter Derby. Sunday’s competition, and the two higher Derbies, were held on The Ridge’s gorgeous grass Grand Prix field, making for a gorgeous and unique show experience for hunter riders. The 2021 Hunter Derby Days are sponsored by Jeremy Greene of the Corcoran Group, HorseFlight, and Tribute Equine Nutrition.

The Mini Derby was won by The Ridge’s own Landego 35 and Courtney Tom, and the $2,500 Low Hunter Derby was won by Candy Crush and Dyanne Rucco. Jennifer Bliss won both the 3′ Hunter Derby and the Open Derby aboard Sugar Man and Poker Face. Many of the riders used the Hunter Derby Days classes to prepare for bigger classes this season, including MDM Equestrian Group’s Kilkenny, who placed 3rd in the Open Hunter Derby with Keri Kampsen in the irons. Hunter Derby Days marked Kilkenny’s first Hunter Derby and his first class in the US, as he perfects his technique for future International Hunter Derby competition.

“Nona Garson and I and all of our staff at The Ridge at Wellington would like to thank all of the exhibitors that found time in their day to come and enjoy our Hunter Derbies hosted on our grass field this past weekend,” said George D’Ambrosio, co-founder of the Turf Tour and The Ridge at Wellington. “We hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed hosting it for you. Looking forward to the rest of the Turf Tour season and March’s Hunter Derby Days!”

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Victoria Gulliksen and Carentina Blaze to Victory in $5,000 Rising Star Classic

Victoria Gulliksen and Carentina.

Wellington, FL (January 29, 2021) – Wide expanses of green grass, brilliantly colored fences, and Turf Tour hospitality were the canvas on which horses and riders of all levels painted their Wellington competition portrait. Returning to Polo West for the first time since 2018, The Ridge and its organizers designed two beautiful rings of show jumping with variety to include everything from a $5,000 1.30m class to .80m jumpers. The beautiful backdrop made for equally idyllic rides, with many double clears in the Rising Star Classic and lots of smiles and pats as riders exited the rings.

Victoria Gulliksen and Carentina topped Wednesday’s $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic, besting a field of more than 30 and delivering the fastest of many double clear rounds. Gulliksen had determination on her face as she rode toward the first fence in the jump-off, the triple bar, and her horse answered her call for speed and accuracy. She and Carentina blazed past the timers in 35.558 seconds, overtaking Ashlee Bond and Imagine’s 37.438. Of the more than 12 horse and riders to go clear after her, many made concerted efforts to catch both Bond and Gulliksen, but both ladies remained on top throughout the class. Alex Matz and Jillz, who won last week’s $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic at Black Watch Farm, finished 3rd on 38.712 seconds.

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Alex Matz and Jillz Take $5,000 1.30 Rising Star at Turf Tour 2021

Alex Matz and Jillz.

Wellington, FL (January 22, 2021) – It’s hard to find a Spruce Meadows vibe in Florida, but Turf Tour week 3 comes gloriously close. With Black Watch Farm as the idyllic backdrop, Wednesday’s exhibitors were greeted by brilliant expanses of perfect grass fields dotted with the brightly colored jumps of The Ridge, as well as a wide selection of classes for all levels of horse and rider. With generous money classes and fantastic sponsors like Horseflight, the Turf Tour continues to deliver an amazing show experience and much needed platform for development. Week 3’s competition continues Friday at Black Watch with heights from .80m-1.40m and as much as $18,000 in total prize money.

Wednesday’s $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic class of 30 horse and rider combinations yielded 5 double clear efforts and an early, speedy jump-off time that could not be caught. Alex Matz and Jillz carved a path of athletic and time saving turns in their jump-off to stop the clock at 34.421, which would prove too quick to beat. Jillz’s sporty run was contested late in the day by Ryan Genn and VDL Gerinus T, who finished the jump-off in 35.892 for second. Kim Farlinger and Ibalius SMH galloped clear in the jump-off in 36.876 for third.

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.

Kevin Mealiff and Cool Hand Luke Cruise to Victory at To-Kalon, Turf Tour Week 2

Kevin Mealiff and Cool Hand Luke (Photo by Romeo Ghete)

Wellington, FL (January 20, 2021) – Turf Tour week 2 at To-Kalon Farm wrapped up Friday with Kevin Mealiff dominating the field aboard the fast and scopey Cool Hand Luke, marking the second Turf Tour Grand Prix victor of 2021.

Mealiff’s early double clear effort set the standard for the rest of the class with a jump-off time of 43.599, and would prove to be the only double clear effort. Unfortunate rails plagued most of the rides throughout the day, with the fastest four fault jump-off round going to Hector Florentino and D’Artagnan for second place, while Riley Mackillop and Amigo took third. The Turf Tour’s Grand Prix courses are designed to provide a versatile stepping stone for progressing FEI horses and riders. Course designer Hector Loyola delivered a field with inviting turns, options to challenge technique, and a few questions including an oxer to double vertical triple combination.

For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.

For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.