WELLINGTON, Fla,--Straight from a win in the $37,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 on Friday, Kent Farrington and Austria 2 won the $137,000 Grand Prix CSI3* on Sunday, Jan. 31, at WEF.
Kent Farrington on Austria 2 (Photo by Sportfot)A total of 45 competed over the first round course set by Canadians Peter Grant and Joey Rycroft, with 12 qualifying to return for the jump-off.
Farrington took off at a full gallop and didn’t stop, crossing the timers in 39.13 seconds, electing to do 12 strides to the second fence, while most of his competitors two or three less strides, which gave Farrington the opportunity to angle the oxer for a more direct route to the third jump on course.
“I tend not to count in very long lines,” said Farrington. “I like to ride off what I feel the horse needs. She’s a small horse so if you are running and jumping too long or too flat, you risk a rail, so I think it’s better to run up to the jump and get their hocks underneath them. It allows them to get more height and make a short turn about a stride out when I land. It’s different styles for different horses, but that’s what suited my horse.”
THE FIRST to post a double-clear effort was Spencer Smith on Ayade Hero Z, who finished less than one second off the mark in 39.95 to place second.
“She’s a super mare,” said Smith. “She came from Eric Lamaze when I was working there. He bought her as a 7-year-old and then sold her to Ransome Rombauer. She’s taken her through the High Amateur-Owners and the U25s. Every once in a while, I grab her back and jump a big class with her. She’s so game; I know if I’m on it, I can win.”
Smith is one of the United States’ top up-and-coming professionals.
The 25-year-old rider already has multiple top 10 finishes in CSI3* competition at WEF this season with a string of talented horses, and he’s only nine spots away from cracking the top 100 in the world rankings lists.
Rounding out the top three was Nicola Philippaerts of Belgium on Katanga Van Het Dingeshof with a double-clear effort in 42.48 seconds.
“It’s great to be here and see a little bit more of what my horses can do,” said Philippaerts. “So far, this mare is doing really well; she’s jumping very good. She’s one of my best horses so I’m really excited for what she can do the rest of the season here.”
The 28-year-old rider elected to cross the pond for WEF in its entirety, and the decision is already paying off in the early weeks of the 13-week circuit.
“In Europe there’s not too much going on,” said Philippaerts. “I brought five horses with me. It’s a long enough season we can give the horses long breaks between the classes and try to compete a little bit. It’s going to be really nice after having not much to jump in Europe over the summer, to get the chance to jump some of the bigger classes.”
It was no surprise to the crowd to see Farrington put forth a speedy effort; after all, he’s one of the most familiar faces in the International Arena’s winner’s circle, and after Friday’s win, he felt confident but did not take the task of a tough track lightly.
“Often in those classes where you’re riding a horse that you know is capable of winning the danger is always that you beat yourself,” he said. “A lot of times you put in a great round, and my goal is to go quick enough to hopefully nick his time and not overcook it where I’m two seconds faster than I need to, and I end up having a rail down towards the end. I was really just trying to do the best for my horse.”
