Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Valentine Car floated to the win in Tryon Stadium, claiming the $139,000 Coca-Cola® Grand Prix CSI 3* win in a time of 31.42 seconds. Jacqueline Ruyle (USA) and her own San Chano, 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Sandro Boy x Chacco-Blue), cleared the jump-off course in 32.14 to take the reserve ribbon, while Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) and Nashville, the 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Sandro Boy x Chacco-Blue), rounded out the podium in a time of 32.57 seconds.
Thirty entries filtered through the first-round course design set by Alan Wade (IRL), with eleven pairs qualifying for the jump off. Wordley and the 2009 Warmblood gelding (Son of Juan Car x Galiani CH) topped the class in style, even with the partnership being fairly new. “He won the qualifier as well; he’s a fairly new horse for me. I got him in the winter from Fernando Cardenas, who bred the horse. I just got him at the beginning of the year, and I just got to know him now where I feel like we have a partnership.”
Wordley was extremely complimentary of Wade’s tough course. “All of Wade’s courses are tough. I thought he did a very good job for the field; it wasn’t too big but it was technical, so you got 11 clears. So, I thought it was a good number and it was a fast jump off. I thought it was a great course, he nailed it again!”