Jim Ifko aboard Un Diamant Des Forets, the Selle Francais stallion, was victorious in this evening’s $40,000 Grant Production Testing Services Cup CSI3* with a time of 38.15 seconds. “[Un Diamant Des Forets] loves the jump offs. He is such a fast horse – I stuck to my plan and he did the rest,” said Ifko. Austin Krawitt piloted Choose Me 4 into second place with a time of 40.74 seconds in the jump off. Third place was awarded to Bryna Closson on Cair Paravel with 41.18 on the clock.
In a class of 42 – fifteen made it clear through the difficult course of 15 efforts designed by Werner Deeg. “You can never under estimate Werner and his courses,” explained Ifko, “when you have so many in the jump off – you know you’re going to have to go fast and put it all out there.”
“I have had [Choose Me 4] for six months now. I haven’t done too many jump-offs with him but I have always tried to be efficient,” said Krawitt when asked about his horse tonight, “he has a big stride, it’s easy to make up time”. The spotlight is on Austin Krawitt as he continues to make headlines in the Equitation and Grand Prix rings. At only 15 years old, Krawitt is producing quite the incredible resume; at Maclay Regional Finals he finished 6th, Reserve Champion in the Talent Search Finals West, 2ndplace overall at the J.C. Anderson Legacy Medal 1.20m National Finals and many top placings in CSI2* as well as CSI3* Grand Prix. During tonight’s jump off, Krawitt had Royal West in its entirety cheering for him, “that was pretty amazing knowing that walking in I had a bit of a cheer – that motivates you!”
John Anderson, host, organizer and competitor of Royal West, announced the retiring of Terrific at tonight’s Press Conference. Terrific was only four when he first met Anderson, now turning nineteen; these two have been together through many events together. “I am officially retiring [Terrific] from International Competition,” explained Anderson, “it’s the right thing to do – this horse owes me nothing and it is not worth pushing a horse you’ve done everything with in your career.”
Rk / Rider / Horse / Faults Time
1 Jim Ifko / Un Diamant Des Forets / 0 38.15
2 Austin Krawitt / Choose Me 4 / 0 40.74
3 Bryna Closson / Cair Paravel / 0 41.18
4 Conor Swail / Koss Van Heiste / 0 43.17
5 Joelle Froese / Romeos Child / 0 43.30
6 Vanessa Mannix / Valentino D’elte / 0 43.56
7 Laura Jane Tidball / Concetto Son / 0 51.69
8 Tayah Sobie / Dahy Lalan / 4 38.71
More from Horse Sport:
