The Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series hosted its $50,000 final event at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) circuit on Sunday, April 2, with a win for Ireland’s Daniel Coyle and Simba de la Roque. With consistent results in classes throughout the 2017 circuit riding Diamonte Darco, Lucas Porter (USA) was the winner of the Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series overall. Coyle also went on to take top honors aboard Dillinger in the afternoon’s $50,000 Suncast® 1.50m National Grand Prix.
Sunday’s competition concluded 12 weeks of top equestrian sport at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. With over $9 million in prize money awarded, the circuit was a huge success for many of the top horses and riders in the world.
Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) set the final track for the Under 25 Grand Prix Series Final, featuring the top 22 competitors from the series overall, and eight clear rounds to jump-off for the final prize. Coyle and Ariel and Susan Grange’s Simba de la Roque cleared the short course in 39.94 seconds fro the win.
Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza and Horst van de Mispelaere finished second in 41.19 seconds. Shawn Casady (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Vanilla placed third in 43.71 seconds. Ailish Cunniffe (USA) also cleared the jump-off track in 44.66 seconds to finish fourth riding Whipstick Farm’s Casper. The final double clear round belonged to Wilton Porter (USA) in 44.71 seconds, guiding Sleepy P Ranch’s Delinquent JX to fifth place.
Simba de la Roque was one of many new horses that Coyle got the ride on for Ariel and Susan Grange at the start of the WEF season. He has used the Under 25 Series to gain valuable experience and get to know the 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Kannan x Allegreto) better.
“I have been aiming Simba for this series throughout the circuit, mainly the $35,000 classes and the grand prix today,” Coyle (22) stated. “I did get a little lucky today; Jessica had a very good round. Just turning back there to the second to last fence, I lost my stirrup and the last two jumps got a little risky, but Simba is a fantastic horse. He has been great here all year.”
Shawn Casady, Daniel Coyle, and Jessica Mendoza in the top three presentation with Hollow Creek Farm representative Jennifer Ward, Susie and Timmy Dutta of The Dutta Corp., and ringmaster Steve Rector.
Coyle continued, “This is a great division to either get to know a horse, or to bring a horse to the next level. That class today was a real competitive class. It was really hard to win. Under 25 classes are really strong now; it is a really strong division. For me to get Simba going at that level is a big step and now I do not feel like I’m that far away from the next level. I think that horse eventually will be jumping the big grand prixs. I am very happy. I had a great last week winning two classes with the young horses, and a great second place finish in the grand prix last night, and today has been brilliant for me.”
In addition to his win on Sunday, Coyle was presented with the Hermès Talented Young Rider Award for the 2017 WEF circuit. The award is given to the top young rider between the ages of 16-25 who receives the most points in FEI competition during the circuit.
Mendoza (20) was also riding a new mount this winter in her ten-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Horst van de Mispelaere (Wandor van de Mispelaere x Polydor).
“This horse is new for me since December, so I kind of used this Under 25 series to get used to him and get him jumping,” Mendoza stated. “My plan all along was to do the $35,000 classes, and this final was my main goal at the end of the season. It really worked out well.”
Commenting on the series further, Mendoza added, “I thought it was great because we got a few different types of classes. We got to jump under the lights at the other venue; we had the Nations’ Cup format, which was a great experience for that horse. Also, the opportunity to jump on the grass was really great. My horse had great experiences in different rings and different formats. I think he is going to be a very versatile horse, and I think this has really helped that.”
Competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival for the first time, Mendoza had great experiences with all of her horses, from the Under 25 Series up to the grand prix level.
“I loved it,” Mendoza acknowledged. “It is nice to get away from Europe for three months and be based in one place. My horses have completely changed and turned into super horses now, so it was a great experience.”
Casady (22), who works for John and Beezie Madden, got the ride on Abigail Wexner’s Vanilla this year for the Under 25 Series and had solid results with the experienced mare throughout the circuit.
“I started riding her at the beginning of circuit, and our relationship has developed through these classes,” Casady said of the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Nabab de Reve x Clinton).
“She has her own personality. She is an old mare, so she has her way, and I have to respect that. Throughout the series we had a lot of four-fault rounds, so it is really nice to come have a double clear today.”
Remarking on his jump-off, Casady stated, “I just wanted to be smooth and not too risky. Like I said, we have had a lot of four-fault rounds, so I just wanted to be consistent and quick. That is a little bit how you have to ride her – just smooth and nice. She does not want you chasing after her.”
Lucas Porter in the winning Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series overall presentation with ringmaster Steve Rector, Hollow Creek Farm representative Jennifer Ward, and Susie and Timmy Dutta of The Dutta Corp.
For his success throughout the circuit and an overall win in the series, Lucas Porter jumped Diamonte Darco, Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s 12-year-old Great Britain Sport Horse mare (by Unbelievable Darco).
As the overall Series winner, Porter (19) will be invited to compete in the CSI2* division of the Chantilly Horse Show, a Global Champions Tour event, from July 13-16, 2017, in France. In addition to his entry, Porter will also receive two tickets to the Chantilly VIP lounge and transportation for one horse generously provided by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte.
“I definitely achieved my goal, and it feels great,” Porter stated. “Coming back from Europe last November, I really pointed Diamonte Darco at the Under 25 Series this WEF. The past few years, I have been fourth or sixth in the overall. It has been really one of my goals since I started the series to win the overall, so I am very happy to do it this year.
“I have been to Chantilly before, but I was really young the last time I went,” Porter added. “I will be over in Europe beginning April 28. I will do a few shows before then, but I will definitely be going to Chantilly, especially now that I get free entry. It is a super show. I am really looking forward to it.”
Porter thanked Hollow Creek Farm for sponsoring the series and putting up the impressive increase in prize money for the FEI sanctioning this year. In its seventh season, the 2017 Under 25 Grand Prix Series, presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, expanded to ten events offering a total of $215,000 in prize money. New for 2017, all classes were sanctioned as CSI-U25 events by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), with the exception of the Team event, and were held under FEI rules.
“On behalf of the Andrade family and Hollow Creek Farm, we would like to congratulate all of these promising athletes on fantastic competition throughout the series,” said Hollow Creek Farm representative Jennifer Ward. “It has been great watching these riders come into their own, and we would like to give special recognition to Lucas Porter, who has enjoyed fantastic results throughout the years and is now standing on the podium as the overall winner of the 2017 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series.”
Coyle Tops Second Class of the Day in $50,000 Sunast® 1.50m
Following his win in the Under 25 Grand Prix, Coyle went on to his second win of the day in the $50,000 Suncast® 1.50m National Grand Prix. Thirty-six entries jumped the final class of the circuit, with five clear rounds to jump-off. Coyle and Ariel and Susan Grange’s Dillinger were the fastest double clear in 39.89 seconds.
Jessica Mendoza (GBR) finished second to Coyle again, this time in 41.86 seconds riding Milena Pappas’s Constance. Liubov Kochetova (RUS) and Urus 2 placed third in 43.87 seconds.
Dillinger is another of the many talented mounts that Coyle took over riding for Susan and Ariel Grange this winter. The rider explained that it has taken him some time to gel with the ten-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Contender x Capitol I), but he is thrilled with how they ended the circuit.
“Dillinger has been a hard one to figure out. He is probably the hardest one of them all,” Coyle admitted. “He has loads of scope and he tries to be very careful; his mind just sometimes gets in the way.
“The end of last year, Sue decided to cut him because he was a stallion up until then,” Coyle continued. “We did not really notice a change to start with, but now I think his attitude has changed, and he is so much more focused. You do not have to work him half as much, so he feels better in his body. I knew he was going to be an uphill battle, but the last several rounds that he has jumped, he has felt like a different horse. I am leaving the circuit feeling really good about him. I think that was probably the best round I have ridden the whole circuit.”
Taking on so many new horses was a big challenge for Coyle this winter, but he took his time to get to know each horse and figure out what they need.
“The start of the circuit was brilliant with Cita,” Coyle recapped. “Then she started to go up and down a little bit, and we changed tactics for her. Then I changed everything with all of the horses. I tried to start from scratch basically and work with them the best that I could. That is where Sue and Ariel are incredible. They really let me take my time.
“The older horses are just starting to progress through now, as we can see in the last week,” continued Coyle. “It is an amazing feeling to leave a big show like this with some great wins. It feels incredible.”
Also competing in the International Arena on Sunday, Claudia Villamil and Quite Close VD Smis won the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior Jumper Classic, presented by Sleepy P Ranch.
Following his unprecedented success this circuit, Chile’s Samuel Parot was presented the Harrison Cup Perpetual Trophy as the horse owner whose horses won the most jumping money in all of the open jumper classes held at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Emotional Win for Kelley Farmer and Kodachrome in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA, and Kodachrome, owned by Nina Koloseike Moore, topped the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the grass derby field to conclude the final week of WEF. Kodachrome won the class last year with Russell Frey, who Moore had purchased the nine-year-old gelding Warmblood gelding for and worked with Farmer up until he passed away in May of 2016.
The class was held over two days with 41 competitors tackling the first round course. The top 25 horse and rider combinations returned on Sunday for a handy round designed by Ken Krome that consisted of ten jumps with four high options and a trot fence. The combinations were scored by two panels of judges: panel one consisted of James Clapperton and Rob Bielefeld, while panel two was made up of Ken Krome and Danny Robertshaw. During both rounds, riders could jump the high option of several fences in order to receive bonus points, and during the second round, riders received a handy bonus from the judges.
Entering the second round, Farmer and Kodachrome were sitting in fourth place with a score of 179.25, but their handy round score of 199.5 brought their total score up to 378.75 to take the win. Peter Wylde of Lake Worth, FL, and MTM Hands Down, owned by Beechwood Stables, LLC, captured the reserve honors. The pair earned a first round score of 173.5, and after winning the hand round with a score of 203.5, they moved up to second place with a combined score of 377. Amy Momrow of Wellington, FL, finished in third aboard Melissa Wight’s Aeroplane. Momrow piloted the new mount to first and second round scores of 181.5 and 193 for an overall score of 174.5.
Commenting on her win, Farmer said, “It was an emotional win. I am thrilled for Nina [Moore]. I just called her, and she was very emotional and excited. We are both thrilled for the horse. I am really honored that Nina let me continue where Russell [Frey] left off and keep going with what Russell had planned for that horse. Russell had big plans for Kodachrome, and the horse has done nothing but try to succeed and fill them.”
Moore originally purchased the horse for Frey with hopes that he had Derby Finals potential. Farmer and Kodachrome have been competitive ever since she picked up the ride and piloted the talented gelding to a second place finish at the 2016 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship.
The riders praised the decision to hold both rounds of the derby on the grass field.
“The horses are so used to being in the ring,” said Farmer. “I think horses and riders can get a little stage fright until they get out there and get comfortable competing on the grass. I think having both rounds out here lent itself to more horses going well and being comfortable. I would love to show on the grass more and more.”
While Wylde’s mount, MTM Hands Down, is a well-known and successful junior hunter, the 14-year-old Warmblood gelding is new to the derby scene, competing in his first derby just a few weeks ago.
“MTM Hands Down is my student’s, Annabel Revers’, Large Junior Hunter,” detailed Wlyde. “She has had great results with him and won Junior Hunter Finals with him. We thought it would be fun to introduce him to derbies. So the first derby I did with him was a few weeks ago, and he was sixth. I thought he was brilliant this weekend. Riding on this grass field is fantastic. The horses jump so well on it, and it is a thrill to ride on.”
Wylde rode MTM Hands Down to win the handy round and move up from ninth place to finish in second place.
Speaking of his strategy going into the handy round, Wlyde said, “I knew I had nothing to lose because I was ninth coming in and I needed to really go for it in the handy. He turned really well, and I tried to make the shortest turns. I was happy to get tens from both judges for the handy score. I think that really helped me.”
Momrow and Aeroplane are another pair new to the international derby scene, but their consistency over the two-day class garnered them a third place finish. Aeroplane was purchased as a junior hunter, but Momrow recently took over the reins to compete in the derbies with the 2006 Hanoverian gelding by Embassy.
“This is our first year really stepping up in the international derbies,” Momrow stated. “Aeroplane has been a really solid and consistent horse. He is very brave and really enjoys being on the grass. The grass field is a great environment, and the horses jump beautifully on it.”
Entering the second round, Momrow sat in third place. She was the only rider who finished in the top three on the first day that maintained a top three final placing. Both Maggie Jayne of Elgin, IL, and Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, who were sitting in first and second going into the handy round, finished outside the top six.
“I changed my strategy,” she continued. “At first going into the handy round, we thought I would just take some of the lower options and be conservative. Then, we decided that since this is our breakout year and we do have the goal of going to derby finals, that we should test ourselves and do all the high options and try to tidy up the turns. I definitely think I could have been handier, but I thought my horse put in a great effort.”
Kelley Farmer and Derby Lane, LLC’s, Point Being finished in fourth with scores of 173 and 196.5 for a 369.5-point total. David Oliynyk and Lori Gaudet’s Generous placed fifth, with an overall total score of 364.75, carrying over a 174 from round one and a 190.75 in round two. Havens Schatt and Mostly Sunny, owned by CH Farm, LLC, rounded out the top six with scores of 165 and 196 for a 361-point total.
Sunday’s competition concluded the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival. Equestrian Sport Productions would like to thank everyone for another spectacular season. For full results and more information, please visit www.PBIEC.com.
$50,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series Final
1. SIMBA DE LA ROQUE: 2006 Selle Francais gelding by Kannan x Allegreto
DANIEL COYLE (IRL), Susan Grange: 0/0/39.94
2. HORST VAN DE MISPELAERE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Wandor van de Mispelaere x Polydor
JESSICA MENDOZA (GBR), Jessica Mendoza: 0/0/41.19
3. VANILLA: 2002 Danish Warmblood mare by Nabab de Reve x Clinton
SHAWN CASADY (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/0/43.71
4. CASPER: 2003 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento x Robin Z
AILISH CUNNIFFE (USA), Whipstick Farm Ltd: 0/0/44.66
5. DELINQUENT JX: 2007 Warmblood gelding by Darco x I Need You
WILTON PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/0/44.71
6. DIAMONTE DARCO: 2005 GBSH mare by Unbelievable Darco x Unknown
LUCAS PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/4/42.58
7. ZEPHIRE: 2004 KWPN mare by Coriano x Animo
HAYLEY BARNHILL (USA), Barnhill LLC: 0/4/45.06
8. TOSCANE DE L’ISLE: 2007 Selle Francais mare by Mylord Carthago x Diableur
SYDNEY SHULMAN (USA), Jill Shulman: 0/8/40.45
9. CHARLY CHAPLIN S: 2007 KWPN gelding by Harley VDL x Burggraaf
KERRY MCCAHILL (USA), Kerry Anne LLC: 2/89.77
10. TEMPORELLE DE FRITOT: 2007 Selle Francais mare by Diamant de Semilly x Nantoung
ROGELIO PELLERANO (DOM), Rogelio Pellerano: 4/80.79
11. WALIBA VDL: 2003 KWPN mare by Quite Easy I x Wellington
MACKENZIE DRAZAN (USA), Mackenzie Drazan: 4/81.00
12. VICTER FINN DH Z: 2008 Zangersheide gelding by Va Vite x Stakkato
EUGENIO GARZA (MEX), El Milagro: 5/84.07
$50,000 Suncast® 1.50m National Grand Prix
1. DILLINGER: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Contender x Capitol I
DANIEL COYLE (IRL), Ariel and Susan Grange: 0/0/39.89
2. CONSTANCE: 2007 KWPN mare by Indoctro x Animo
JESSICA MENDOZA (GBR), Milena Pappas: 0/0/41.86
3. URUS 2: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Canturo x Cento
LIUBOV KOCHETOVA (RUS), Liubov Kochetova: 0/0/43.87
4. SKARA GLEN’S PRESENCE: 2008 Holsteiner stallion by Contendro x Nektn
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Skara Glen, Michael Hayden & Paul O’Shea: 0/4/38.42
5. DUBAI: 2008 KWPN gelding by Cardento x Castello
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Sarah Ryan: 0/8/48.57
6. CORNWALL BH: 2008 Holsteiner stallion by Con Air x Cambridge
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE (GBR), Gochman Sport Horses: 3/83.03
7. CYNAR VA: 2007 Zangersheide gelding by Clarimo x Alcatraz
JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN (USA), Stone Hill Farm: 3/83.55
8. THORNHILL KATE: 2005 Irish Sport Horse mare by Courage II x Clover Hill
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Laura & Mary Chapot: 4/74.90
9. CORTINA 186: 2007 Holsteiner mare by Contendro II x Lavall I
EMANUEL ANDRADE (VEN), Emanuel Andrade: 4/77.05
10. AIR PIA VG Z: 2005 Zangersheide mare by Air Jordan Z x Pilot
MATTIES TROMP (USA), Swede Ventures LLC: 4/77.64
11. COLORADO 210: 2009 Westphalian gelding by Coronas x Lenardo
LUIS PEDRO BIRABEN (ARG), Miguel Madero & Luis Pedro Biraben: 4/77.83
12. U: 2001 KWPN gelding by Monaco x Calypso
EMANUEL ANDRADE (VEN), Emanuel Andrade: 4/78.30
$50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
1 KODACHROME KELLEY FARMER
R1 179.25 R2 199.5 378.75
2 MTM HANDS DOWN PETER WYLDE
R1 173.5 R2 203.5 377
3 AEROPLANE AMY MOMROW
R1 181.5 R2 193 374.5
4 POINT BEING KELLEY FARMER
R1 173 R2 196.5 369.5
5 GENEROUS DAVID OLIYNYK
R1 174 R2 190.75 364.75
6 MOSTLY SUNNY HAVENS SCHATT
R1 165 R2 196 361
7 GALAN AMBER HENTER
R1 166 R2 191 357
8 EDITORIAL MEAGAN MURRAY-TENUTA
R1 173 R2 181 354
9 POKER FACE JENNIFER BLISS
R1 175 R2 170 345
10 LIKE I SAID MAGGIE JAYNE
R1 186 R2 155 341
11 COMMON SENSE ALEXANDRA PIELET
R1 157 R2 181 338
12 CELTIC FIRE ERICA QUINN
R1 147 R2 187 334
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