News

Wellington 1.40 GP Series sees success from Ward

Jan 26, 2013

It has been over a decade since Mida Farm has heard the sound of galloping hoof beats on its grass field, but today marked a page in history for this prestigious location. The Ridge at Wellington was welcomed to "The Topps Field" for the $175,000 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix series. The grass arena offered the epitome of footing for the horses as top riders from across the globe gathered to compete for the weekly $15,000 purse leading up to the $24,750 Grand Prix Invitational Series Finale. It was McLain Ward and Coco 135 who dominated the standings, laying down a double-clear effort in a speedy 29.97 seconds, taking the third week of the series' victory.

Fourteen horses completed the first course within the 81 seconds time allowed and left all rails in place, but only seven went double clear over the short track.

Jackie McQuade was the first of the riders to successfully navigate the course. She piloted her own Copilot to a time of 38.843 seconds, leaving all rails in their cups. As the pathfinder, she wore a target on her back as the other riders tried to catch her time, but there was a clear correlation between accuracy and speed, with many earning faults when they took their turn at the jump-off. McQuade eventually netted the sixth place ribbon for her efforts.

McLain Ward entered the ring with clear fortitude aboard Coco 135, owned by Tequestrian Farms. After clearing the first round, he moved the bay gelding into a smooth pace, and took his try at the short track. He sliced the turns with ease, and broke the beam in only 29.97 seconds. His blazing time sealed the victory for the day.

As the day continued, the competition heated up. Alise Oken, trained by last week's winner Laura Kraut, rode Kaid Du Ry to the speedy time of 33.548 seconds. Oken used her mount's speed to her advantage, closing in on McLain's time; however, she still fell 4.578 seconds shy.

Toward the end of the class, Andrew Bourns and Gatsby stole the third place position from Oken, forcing her into fourth with their time of 32.982 seconds. Andy Kocher slid into the fifth place position with Vantos V, and Vanessa Paschini tripped the timers in 41.088 seconds with the last of the double-clear efforts. It was Peter Wilde who left his mark on the competition, piloting Zidane to the second place position with a time of 32.385. His turn to fence seven was flawless, shaving seconds and ranking him behind Ward for the red ribbon.

1.40m Invitational Grand Prix III Results

1 MCLAIN WARD COCO 135 000 000 29.970
2 PETER WILDE ZIDANE 000 000 32.385
3 ANDREW BOURNS GATSBY 000 000 32.982
4 ALISE OKEN KAID DU RY 000 000 33.548
5 ANDY KOCHER VANTOS V 000 000 37.633
6 JACKIE MCQUADE COPILOT 000 000 38.843
7 VANESSA PASCHINI NEOLISTO VAN HET MIERENHOF 000 000 41.088
8 RODRIGO PESSOA PALOUCHIN 000 444 32.115
9 PAUL HALPERN VIA VENETO 000 444 32.851v

Source: pressrelease by Phelps Media Group.