OCALA, Fla.--Sharn Wordley rode Gatsby to win the $75,000 Grand Prix oevr a field of 30 competitors under the lights at the World Equestrian Center on March 13.
Sharm Wordley on Gatesby (Photo by Andrew Ryback)The class saw fierce competition with 13 entries advancing to the jump-off and six jumping double clear, but it was Wordley and his own Gatsby that had the win.
Nine countries were represented in the night class with several Olympians vying for the win.
One of the first entries to deliver a clear first round was Mexico’s Santiago Lambre on his own Comtess , who had won last week’s $75,000 Grand Prix.
Lambre also qualified for the jump-off on Easy Girl. who had been second in last week’s $75,000 Grand Prix.
New Zealand’s Wordley had been second place in Week 7’s $75,000 WEC Grand Prix.
Lambre on Comtess was near the top of the order in the jump-off, and was clean in 42.802 seconds, setting the time to beat.
LAMBRE returned later in the order on Easy Girl, still holding the lead with Comtess. but raced through the timers at 43.275 seconds, moving into second place.
One of the last entries to return was Wordley, and, knowing the time he needed to beat, he shot through the timers at 42.766 seconds, just ahead of Lambre, to win the class.
“Santiago had five in the class and four in the jump-off, and he’s always really hard to beat," said Wordley. "In the jump-off, my plan was to go just a little bit faster than Santiago. There weren’t too many options on course; there was one option to leave a stride out, but only a couple of people did it and Santiago didn’t do it, so I chose not to. I went a little bit faster in the combination, then was a little bit slower to the last jump, so that’s why the time was so close. Gatsby is quick in the air, he just skims over the jump, so that always helps.”
When asked about his plans for the remainder of the season, Wordley replied, “I didn’t show last week, but Gatsby was second just before that. I am planning to stay here here for the remaining weeks and we’ll do the $200,000 Grand Prix during Week 12.”
“I love this place," said Wordley. "I love the management, I love the classes, I love the crowd, I love everything. I’ve show jumped in 36 countries around the world and this is by far the best place that I’ve been to. It’s so nice to have it on my doorstep, too.”
