Kent Farrington Hails Home Win at Wellington International in Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix

Kent Farrington & Greya. Photo © Sportfot

World no. 3 Kent Farrington stormed to a five-star victory on home ground in the $385,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix aboard his 2024 FEI World Cup™ Final partner Greya in the Wellington International stadium during the Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) ‘Saturday Night Lights’.

In front of a sold-out crowd, a true test was built by 2024 Paris Olympic Games course designer Gregory Bodo (FRA), who made his U.S. debut exactly one year ago at the same event in Wellington. Despite the challenging first round, eleven pairs managed to advance to the tie-breaking jump-off. Nine of the world’s top 20 athletes made up the original order with five nations represented in the jump-off.

For the second ‘Saturday Night Lights’ in a row, German Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk led off with his Paris 2024 partner Checker 47. They set a standard that remained at the top until Farrington returned to challenge.

Acknowledging the tough position Kukuk was in returning first, Farrington said, “In the end, our time was fractions faster. That’s the difference between being a tiny bit more inside or outside in a line, and I think that’s probably where I caught him today.

“I’m very proud of this horse,” continued Farrington of 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Greya (Colestus x Contender). “I’ve been riding her since she was six and she’s an incredible athlete. It’s a great feeling to ride this horse in the ring; she’s a fighter and incredibly careful. It was fun sport [tonight], regardless of the outcome. It’s nice to come out with the win but I was thrilled with the horse either way.”

By less than four tenths of a second, Farrington bested Kukuk — winner of the WEF 3 NetJets CSI4* Grand Prix earlier this season and the 2024 Rolex Grand Prix at Wellington International. The U.S. Olympic team silver medalist broke the timers in 35.11 seconds to Kukuk’s 35.45 as he held onto the runner-up position.

“I’m really pleased with Checker; he jumped his third grand prix here and third clear round. I’m very happy about that,” said Kukuk of the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding (Comme Il Faut 5 x Come On) owned by M. H. & Partner Gbr & Madeleine Winter-Schulze. “My basic instinct told me after I came out that it wasn’t enough today, and I knew exactly who was going to beat me. I tried my very best and I got a good jump-off. I think we had exactly the same strides everywhere, but in the end I got a slow jump to the last.”

Kukuk is focusing Checker on the five-star offerings while spending his first full season in Wellington and acknowledged that his number-one goal is to defend their title in the $750,000 Rolex U.S. Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix during the finale week of the season.

Wellington International
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