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!”
For his jump-off strategy, Wordley said his goal was to simply go fast. “I saw Luiz go and he was quick; he did all the numbers I was going to do. So, I had to at least go as fast as him. So, I did the same numbers as him but my horse is just a bit of a faster mover. That was about all I could do; there was maybe one less to the last but I didn’t want to risk it.”
“It’s great to be here in Tryon as always,” Wordley concluded, “I jumped here at the very first show they ever did and I’ll be back again in two weeks time.”
RESULTS: $139,000 Coca-Cola® Grand Prix CSI 3*
1. Valentine Car, 2009 Warmblood gelding (Son of Juan Car x Galiani CH)
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Fernando Cardenas: 0/0/31.42
2. San Chano, 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Sandro Boy x Chacco-Blue)
Jacqueline Ruyle (USA), Jacqueline Ruyle: 0/0/32.14
3. Nashville, 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Diamant De Semilly x Darco)
Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA), Eurohorse BVBA: 0/0/32.57
4. Huzaar, 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Untouched x Skippy II)
Richie Moloney (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/0/32.96
5. Caristina, 2010 mare (Unknown x Unknown)
Vasco Flores (PUR), Juan Carlos Morstadt: 0/0/35.50
6. Ideaal ES, 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ukato x Conway)
Filippo Marco Pignatti (ITA), Take the High Road, LLC: 0/0/38.13
7. Narcotique V/H Dingenshof, 2013 Belgian Warmblood mare (Harley VDL x Chacco-Blue)
Erynn Ballard (CAN), Ilan Ferder: 0/4/33.12
8. Cappuccino 194, 2012 Westphalian gelding (Comme Il Faut 5 x Sir Shutterfly)
Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), Louisburg Farm: 0/4/35.36
9. Kinky Boy van het Gildenhof, 2010 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Nabab de Reve x Darco)
Juan Ortiz (VEN), Jos Lansink and Frank Schuttert: 0/4/35.99
10. Verdini D’Houtveld Z, 2011 Zangersheide gelding (Verdi TN x Caretino 2)
Lauren Balcomb (AUS), Lauren Balcomb and Sharn Wordley: 0/15/47.47
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