Ashlee Bond & Contefina LVF Begin New Turf Tour Grand Prix Winning Streak
Ashlee Bond and Contefina LVF.
Wellington, FL (March 1, 2021) – As the final February Turf Tour wrapped up on Friday at Polo West, the battle of the speed agents entered a new chapter, with California’s Ashlee Bond delivering her second consecutive win in the $15,000 1.40m Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour Grand Prix. Bond and an international group of some of the world’s best show jumpers have been vying for supremacy in the series. Last week at Black Watch Farm, Bond and Semilly SF won the 1.40m, edging out Darragh Kenny and ending his 3-week winning streak. During Turf Tour 8, Dutch Olympian Harrie Smolders, Egypt’s Nayel Nassar, Ireland’s Jordan Coyle, and the USA’s Kim Farlinger thew their hats into the arena, challenging Bond and Kenny and promising even more exciting competition on Wellington’s most unique show circuit.
A tight race in week 8’s Turf Tour Grand Prix saw less than a second separating the top three spots. Ashlee Bond and her homebred mare, Contefina LVF (Contefino 2 x Southern Girl) delivered some serious girl power to Friday’s Grand Prix, blazing around the course in 32.421 seconds. Harrie Smolders and Calina (CI CI Senjor Ask x Carmelicius) were less than a tenth of a second behind her, going double clear in 32.495. Jordan Coyle and Centriko Volo galloped to third on 32.620 seconds. Nayel Nassar, Kim Farlinger, and Darragh Kenny rounded out the top 6, all with fast, double clear efforts over the course designed by Catsy Cruz.
Friday morning’s $3,000 1.30m Speed Stake was won by another international show jumper, Australia’s Riley Mackillop and Ha’czelle JSF (a.k.a. Hazel). Another great option for riders on the Turf Tour, the Speed Stake hones valuable “against the clock” skills and offers a great way to win extra prize money each week. “Hazel has been jumping really nicely and she was really well suited to the course today [in the 1.30m Speed Stake],” said Mackillop. “She loves jumping on the grass which makes the Turf Tour a great opportunity for us. Being able to come and jump around super courses on beautiful fields against top riders each week is really special.”
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For more info, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.