THERMAL, Calif. – Kent Farrington on Orafino won the $117,000, CSI5* 1.50m Welcome at the Desert International Horse Park on Thursday, Jan.22.
Kent Farrington on Orafino. High Destert Spor Photo)Farrington was one of 12 entries to advance to jump-off in the Thursday afternoon class, and he finished clean in 33.88 seconds to take the lead.
“With Orafina, if you’re going to bring her out here and put her in the class, then you’re going to put her in to win,” said Farrington. “After me was Karl Cook riding Caracole de la Roque, maybe the best horse in the world and certainly one of the fastest, so if I don’t make him work hard enough, I’m going to give him the class. So, we tried to make him work hard enough!”
Cook ultimately crossed the finish line in 34.84 seconds to take place second, with Skylar Wireman on Tornado third, also clean in 36.02
“Orafina has been an incredible horse from the beginning,” said Farrington of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare that he has owned since 2020. “She’s ultra careful, very fast and a hyper-competitive horse. She’s been a winner since the day I brought her into the stable. I don’t use her for the biggest classes anymore, but for these classes, she’s a great contributor to the team and still a real winner today.”
In addition to Orafina, Farrington has brought another of his top mounts, Toulayna, to California for the two weeks of CSI5* competition at the Desert Circuit, including Desert Circuit 4’s $340,000 CSI5* FEI Jumping World Cup.
“Rabbit Root Stables, based in California, has been an owner of Toulayna together with me since she was 8 years old, so I’m always happy to bring her out here on the West Coast so that they get to see her firsthand,” said Farrington. “Coming here is a change of pace, some place new, some new faces. I have some great people out here in Rabbit Root Stables that have supported my career, and I love to come out and see them and the other people on the West Coast.”
IN WELLINGTON, Susan Pape of Great Britain on Harmony’s Giulilantap won the CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle with a personal best of 81.745%, riding to a Tom Jones-themed test on Friday, Jan. 23 during week three of the Global Dressage Festival.
Susan Pape pn Harmonys Giulilanta (Photo by Centre Line Media)Anna Marek finished second with 76.435% on Fayvel, and Caroline Darcourt of Sweden, was third on Lord Django with 76.04%.
“I wasn’t sure how she was going to cope with the audience because they were very excited,” said Pape, who is based in Germany for most of the year. “But as soon as I started the test, I felt she was with me. We’re a total partnership, and it makes it so very special."
“This horse amazes me every day. Even though she’s already 15, she hasn’t got so much experience under her belt, but it seems that she just gets better and better. I’m so grateful to John and Leslie Malone who let me ride this incredible horse,” said Pape.
“We got her when she was 6 and struggling with learning the flying changes,” she said. “It took her a very long time to make it up to Fourth Level and Prix St. Georges. Now, this is my second season with her at Grand Prix here in Wellington and she’s spicy but incredibly focused.”
“Fayvel always lights up in the Friday night classes,” said Marek, who is based near Ocala, FL, and trains with Anne Gribbons. “I really enjoy riding him in this atmosphere where he gets more excited. At home, we keep things fresh by doing a lot of different stuff like riding out in the field. He’s got such a good temperament that he’s always willing.”
At the Winter Equestrian Festival, Bertram Allen of Ireland won for the second day in a row, this time of Zero K in the $32,000, 1.50m Speed, finishing clean in 66.42.
Ansgar Holtgers Jr. was second again, this time on Kantibes, clean in 67.14, with Lillie Keenan on Chagrin d"Amour third in 67.48 and McLain Ward on Lestro VD Valckenbord fourth in 67.86 and Allen also fifth on Kadans in 68.42, and Ben Maher of Great Britain sixth on Nighthawk in 68.97
