THERMAL, Calif.--Kent Farrington on Toulayna led the $340,000 World Cup qualifier in Thermal from beginning to end on Saturday night, Feb. 1 to win by over three seconds.
Kent Farrington on Toulayna (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)In a thrilling night of top sport, the number four rider in the world scored his second victory of the World Cup season after winning the season's opening leg in Traverse City on Greya,.
Farrington was the first to go in the field of 21 over the course set by Alan Wade, and he was the the first of seven clear rounds.
As the first to go in the jump-off, Farrington was clean in a fast 32.33 seconds.
Jos Verlooy of Belgium on FTS Killossery Konfusion finished second as the only other to go clean, finishing in 35.37 seconds.
McKayla Langmeier on Mimosa vd Rollebeek had the penultimate vertical down but finished in 24.21 to place third as the fastest of the jump-off's four-faulters.
“I'm pretty confident in my plan; when I decide that I'm going to do something, I stick to it,” said Farrington. “When you know a horse well, whether you go first or in the middle often makes no difference. If you have fast riders coming after you, it also doesn't make a difference. Sometimes it can work to your favor too – then you don't change your mind. You stick to your own plan. Luckily that worked for me tonight.”
AS THE FIVE riders after Farrington had rails down, it all came down to the final rider, Verlooy, who had only the second clean jump-off round, but in a time of 35.37 seconds to place second by more than three seconds.
Jos Verlooy on FTS Killossery Konfusion (Photo by High Desert Sport Photo)“I had my plan, but I knew Kent is very fast,” said Verlooy. “Kent’s horse is very fast, so I knew it was very hard to beat, probably impossible. So, I was just thinking of my second place, what I had to do to be second. My horse jumped again his heart out, and I think I should be very happy with my second place tonight.”
For third placed Langmeier, the evening marked a career milestone, giving her, her first World Cup podium placing.
While the 24-year-old had a rail in the jump-off, she came closer than any other competitor to Farrington's winning time.
"I decided to come out to the Desert Horse Park, because I wanted to start to get some points to maybe compete at World Cup Finals," Langmeier said. "That was kind of on the goal list to do this year, but I have to see how the horses are doing and play off that."
“Toulayna is naturally a fast horse, which is a big advantage in our sport today,” said Farrington of the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare. “If you naturally have a horse who already wants to be quick, then, as a rider, it's much easier to do less and just not interfere, which is more or less my job in riding her.”
“I own her together with Rabbit Root Farm based here in California," he said. "So that was great for me to bring her out, and they were here tonight to watch her. She’s been an incredible winner her whole career. She's already won quite a few grand prix. She's super competitive, and she's careful. So, she's a pleasure to ride, and I'm so happy to have her a part of my team.”
Farrington’s second World Cup qualifier win moves him to lead the North American League standings with 54 points, which puts him in prime position to secure a spot at the World Cup Final in April.
“I'm not sure at this time whether that'll be a focus, but I am interested in earning the points so that I have it as an option,” said Farrington. “If I feel in good enough form to contend and to compete for the win, then I'll go. If I don't think I'm there, then I'll skip it. I'll let the horses tell me what I'm doing.”
Farrington has the same amount of points as Daniel Bluman of Israel, but he broke the tie with his World Cup wins, and Kristen Vanderveen is third with 35 points.
The North American League next heads to Pubela, Mesico on Feb. 8.
