Coco Fath and Class Action. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 23, 2018 – Coco Fath of Fairfield, CT topped the field aboard Class Action, an entry of Hillside Farm LLC, in the 11th Annual George H. Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship. The class was held in the International Arena at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center under the lights on March 23 at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL. Alexandra Worthington captured second, Ava Stearns secured third, and Daisy Farish finished up on the leaderboard in fourth place.

Seventeen-year-old Fath, who was fourth in the class last year, was leading both rounds going into round three with an 88.5 and a 90.5, for a grand total of 179 points. Worthington, Stearns, and Farish joined the young Connecticut native in the ring for final testing, of which final scores were not announced.

Although Worthington entered the test in fourth place aboard her mount, Outshine, with a 79.5 and 89 in the first two rounds, the pair took full advantage of the opportunity to highlight their finesse and finished with reserve honors. Following a masterful counter-canter to the first fence, the pair tackled the hand gallop, and impeccably executed the halt and back before returning to the line-up. Stearns finished in third with a total of 172.75 points, and Farish tested second to last to finish in fourth with 169.5. Fath was the last to face the challenges set in round three and secured her position at the top of the class.

Show Jumping’s Future Star Horses Compete in Classics

The $20,000 Spy Coast Farm Developing Jumper 7 Year Old Classic featured some of the top young jumpers in the nation. Out of an opening field of 23 entries, six were clear to advance to the jump-off over a course designed by Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL, who was a co-course designer at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The fastest of three double clear rounds was Gerlos (KWPN gelding by Der Senaat 111 out of Honolulu 111 by Cicero Z van Paemel), ridden by Andrew Ramsay (USA) for Shalanno Farms LLC. They finished in a time of 39.267 seconds for the win. James Chawke (IRL) and Stonepine Stables’ Grasshopper (KWPN gelding by Phin Phin out of Believe In Me, bred by A. Vos Ekkelkamp) were second in 40.691 seconds. Third place went to Chic Chic (Westphalian stallion by Comme Il Faut out of Contendra by Contendro I, bred by Norbert Borgmann), ridden by Stephen Moore (IRL) for Vlock Show Stables LLC in 42.351 seconds.

In the $15,000 Spy Coast Farm Developing Jumper 6 Year Old Classic, it was a familiar face in the winner’s circle. Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Khaleesi (KWPN mare by Gaillard de la Pomme out of Wendy by Sir Corland, bred by W.A.M. Tilbeke), owned by Ariel Grange & Lothlorien, took the win and repeated a victory after winning the 5 Year Old classic in 2017.

In this year’s classic, Coyle and Khaleesi were one of 11 double clears out of 12 in the jump-off and 24 in the original starting order. They stopped the timers in 34.821 seconds for the win.

Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Calina (Danish Warmblood mare by Ci Ci Senjor ASK out of Camelicius by Cornet Obolensky, bred by Lauritzen), owned by One Oak Equestrian, were second in 35.757 seconds. Third place went to Jimmy Torano (USA) riding Elizabeth Eaton’s Cowboy (German Sport Horse gelding by Cardento out of Urnike by Heartbreaker, bred by Redfield Farm), and they finished in 37.658 seconds.

The winner of the $10,000 Gut Einhaus Developing Jumper 5 Year Old Classic was Coppertone, ridden by Lexy Reed (USA) for Littlewood LLC and Ginny Burton. The Hanoverian gelding by Viscount out of Alisa by Acord II (bred by Gunter Wellmann) was the only double clear in the class and recorded a jump-off time of 40.518 seconds.

Five other combinations made it through to the jump-off, and second place went to Emmy Tromp (USA) riding Yolanda Knowlton’s Ibaltic BH (KWPN gelding by Baltic VDL out of Vavanta v/d Renvillehoeve by Burggraaf, bred by F. Buma). They had one time fault in 50.022 seconds. Adam Cramer (USA) and Equi-Sport LLC’s Iris E.S. (KWPN mare by Val de Loir-Imoo out of Bellissima ES by R. Johnson, bred by Equi-Sport LLC) were third with four faults in 45.977 seconds.

Rocksy Music Rocks the Derby Field for First International Win

Only two riders managed to skim under the 40-second mark in the jump-off for the $35,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m Jumper class, with Ireland’s Richie Moloney bettering his 38 rivals. Eleven combinations made it through to the jump-off over Germany’s Olaf Petersen Jr.-designed track, with nine of those managing to pull off a second clear round on the manicured grass of the derby field at Equestrian Village (home to the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival).

This win for the Irish rider, in week 11 of the 12-week 2018 WEF, was the first international victory for Moloney and Rocksy Music, Equinimity LLC’s 10-year-old gelding by ARS Vivendi.

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