OCALA, Fla.--Kady Abrahamson of Lexington, Ky., on Any won over a starting field of 33 in the $75,000 Grand Prix 1.50 at the World Equestrian Center Stadium on Feb. 6 in Ocala.
Kady Abrahamson on Any (Photo by Andrew Ryback)The track for the class, designed by Peter Grant, featured 16 jumping efforts including a triple combination, a double combination, multiple liverpool fences and a triple bar.
Just four entries advanced to the jump-off, but it was amateur Kady Abrahamson who won over Olympians Sharn Wordley and Scott Keach.
New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley was one of the first on course on Esmee, and a clean round qualified him for the jump-off, followed by a clear round by Abrahamson on Any, a newer ride for Abrahamson.
Austrailian Scott Keach on Falcon De Hus Z was clean to make the jump-off, and Keach also was clean on Wild Thing but had two unfortunate time faults to finish fifth.
First in the jump-off, Wordley was clean in 41.837 seconds.
Abrahamson has limited experience on Any, but she flew through the course, crossing the timers clean in 40.274 seconds, then Keach was next, clear in 43.526 seconds for third behind Abrahamson and Wordley.
"ANY IS A newer horse for me," said Abrahamson. "Sharn Wordley actually used to ride her for her previous owner, Arnoud Dobber. I got the ride on her in December and we showed in the highs twice. I did my first grand prix with here two weeks ago with one down. After that, I told my parents that we should really try to buy her and last week we ended up getting her, which turned out to be the perfect decision. It’s funny because she really reminds me of my other mare, Charline 28, who won a bunch. It’s crazy how similar they are, I feel right at home on her.”
“When I walked the course, I was actually scared that it was a bit big for a horse that I don’t know too well," said Abrahamson. "I train with Sharn and used to train with Scott Keach, and they are both mentors, so I talked with them and they urged me to do the class. She ended up jumping incredibly well and even crossed her legs over the last oxer because she was trying so hard.”
“In the jump-off, I thought that I would see what Sharn did, then do the same," she said. "I knew everyone in the jump-off was going to be quick, so I figured that I could end up fourth and still get a good check. The win was really a surprise. Everything on course just came up right out of stride and she is just such a fast horse.”
"It’s funny that Sharn, Scott and I ended up being top three because we are ‘Team European Select Auction,'" said Abrahamson "There were actually five of us in the top 10 that are part of that team. It’s a new auction coming up that we are all involved in and it will take place the first or second week of March. The first set of horses arrive Tuesday.”
“I would like to thank everyone who helped make this happen today: Sharn Wordley, Scott Keach, Afton Chmela who works for us, Evita Hermans who works for us and Matt Wildunge who is my barn manager," she said. "She is not an easy horse, so everyone puts in a lot of effort.”
