©Flying Horse Photography. Nick Haness and Edgewood’s Cilantro on their way to a win in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.
THERMAL, CA (February 11, 2014) – Nick Haness characterized seven-year old Edgewood’s Cilantro as the underdog in Sunday’s $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. But, as the prize money climbed higher, Cilantro rose to the occasion and topped a field of 42 for owner Sarah-Maeve Hersh-Boyle.
Edgewood’s Cilantro is a first-year green hunter and just started showing in the amateur-owner division with Hersh-Boyle. She planned to compete the gelding in amateur-owner classes herself this weekend, but a delayed flight kept her from the show altogether and gave Haness the ride in the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final qualifier.
“We figured we would put him in the prix again, get some more mileage and some good experience,” said Haness of Cilantro, who jumped to ninth in last week’s Devoucoux Hunter Prix. “He made some green mistakes last week, but today I felt like I was riding a made derby horse.”
Haness and Edgewood’s Cilantro earned the highest score of the first round with an 89 and returned in the second to post an impressive 91. “The first round was pretty straightforward, but the second round got tricky – going up the hill once on each lead, coming down to a two stride – it left a lot of room for the horses to get spooky or crooked, but Cilantro listened, tried hard and responded really well to everything,” beamed Haness.
The rides for second, third and fourth came down to fractions of a point. Philip Cillis of Encinitas, California piloted Julie Hancock’s Willow CBF to second after a first round score of 86, and lead the second round with a 92. Shelley Campf of Canby, Oregon earned an 88 and an 88.5 aboard Diane Laycoe’s Perseverence for third and Haness jumped into the top placings for a second time in fourth with Edgewood Equestrian’s Edgewood Denver with scores of 87 and 90. After a win last week, John French of Woodside, California and Lee Kellogg Sadrian’s Comex Gold rode to an 87.25 and 87 to cap the top five.
After consistent top finishes at HITS Thermal, Haness is again planning to head east in September for the HITS Championship. The Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final will take place during the HITS Championship September 5-7 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, makers of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. Devoucoux offers a wide range of saddles in many colors and sizes and matching accessories. Devoucoux craftsmen are devoted to creating beautiful products that reflect their obsession with quality and lovingly finished work. For more information on Devoucoux, visit devoucoux.com.
$5,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Over the last three weeks, Katie Cook of Newport Beach, California has done nothing short of dominate West Coast Qualifying for the Platinum Performance $250,000 Hunter Prix Final, which will take place during the HITS Championship in Saugerties, New York. In a last minute catch ride, Cook jumped Pamela Moellenhoff’s Santos to a win on Sunday in the $5,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at HITS Thermal.
“He is an amazing horse,” said Cook of the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding that only stands 15.3 hands tall, but moves big. “He is the best little jumper with a huge stride and it was really nice to see the judge reward that today.”
Cook, who trains with John Bragg at Bridgeport Farm in Woodside, California, took the win with scores of 85 and 90, and also rode to fourth on Amy Knox’s Symphony – the mount that carried her to hunter prix wins during the first two weeks at HITS Thermal. They scored an 88 and 78.
Based on her success in the qualifying classes, Cook is looking forward to a possible trip to the HITS Championship in September. “I would love to go east for the Championship,” she said. “I am going to do my best to make it work.”
Stephanie Goodson of Beverly Hills, California jumped to second after earning scores of 86 and 87 aboard her own Poetic. Polly Sweeny of Pasadena, California was third in the irons of her own Duet with scores of 83 and 85, while Jerrie Calandra capped the top five on Moonlite Beach, LLC’s Wonderwall.
About Platinum Performance
Platinum Performance provides more than 10 supplements essential to your horse’s health and conditioning in just one scoop. Platinum Performance Equine addresses a horse’s total body health from joint and hoof care to athletic performance and coat health, and is the 2014 sponsor of the $250,000 Hunter Prix Final and all qualifiers. For more information on Platinum Performance, visit platinumperformance.com.
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