In the series finale of the Developing Jumper Series (DJS) sponsored by Spy Coast Farm, for five-year-old Developing Jumpers, Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Lovely Boy P, owned by Ariel Grange, produced a stellar double clear effort to take the blue ribbon. The new partnership is blossoming quickly as Friday’s win marked just the third time Coyle has ever ridden the five-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Campbell VDL x Arezzo VDL. The pair finished in a tie for fourth place on Wednesday in the qualifier.
With eight horse-and-rider combinations qualifying to jump-off over a shortened track in Sunday’s final, Coyle piloted the talented youngster effortlessly around the course to finish in a time of 35.17 seconds, taking the win by nearly a full second.
“On Wednesday I thought he jumped just okay, and today he was much better,” explained Coyle. “I didn’t make any adjustments after Wednesday because I don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me, so I thought I’d just jump him again and see how it goes. Today he was great! It’s always a sign of a good horse, when they get better every time you jump them, so it’s exciting.”
Lovely Boy P was purchased by Ariel Grange a few weeks ago in the WEF Sport Horse Auction, which features horses from the distinguished VDL Stud.
“I watched him in the auction and thought he was super,” said Coyle. “He has everything you want in a young horse; he’s very, very balanced, easy, and a very good jumper on top of that. Hyde Moffat tried the horse before the auction and also said it was very good, so Ariel [Grange] decided to buy him and I’m glad she did.”
Grange and her team have experienced great success over the years with horses purchased from the WEF Sport Horse Auction including Farrel, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cardento 933 x Stakkato, who continues to produce top results with Coyle in the irons at the top international level.
“With the young horses, you can see a lot without a rider on them. His innate skill as a youngster is very impressive,” said Grange of Lovely Boy P. “His mental state is very good. He’s very calm on his own, which is rare.
“Janko Van De Lageweg’s program [VDL Stud] and all of his horses are really, really top end,” continued Grange continued. “I’ve seen the stallions and his handlers. Everything is very well done. The sport horse coming here fits the atmosphere really well. I have confidence that the horses [in the auction] are brought up properly for the most important years when they’re growing and that they get all the basics done right.”
Following the class, a series of special awards were presented for both horses and riders in each category.
In the seven-year-old division, Victoria Colvin (USA) was named the Best Under 25-year-old Rider, Ben Meredith (AUS) was awarded the Best Over 25-year-old Rider and Katherine Kaneb was recognized for the Best American Bred seven-year-old with One and Only.
In the six-year-old division, Delaney Flynn (USA) was named the Best Under 25-year-old Rider and Taylor Flury (USA) was awarded the Best Over 25-year-old Rider as well as being recognized for the Best American Bred 6-year-old with Palano ABF.
In the five-year-old division, Hayley Ianotti (USA) was crowned the Best Under 25-year-old Rider and Matthew Boddy (GBR) was named the Best Over 25-year-old Rider while also being recognized for having the best scores over the week aboard Roxette, bred by Gotham Enterprizes, as the Best American Bred five-year-old horse.
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