OCALA, Fla.--Sharn Wordley of New Zealand on Valentine Car won the $100,000 Grand Prix and finishing third as well on Saturday, March 15 at the World Equestrian Center as the event took place for the first time under the lights of the WEC Stadium.
Sharn Wordley on Valentine Car (Photo by Andrew Ryback) Over a course designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal. an FEI Level IV course designer, five were clean from a starting field of 31 competitors from 11 nations.
Going first in the jump-off, Wordley on Valentine Car set a blistering pace, finishing clean in 41.168.
“I knew I had to go as fast as I could on Valentine because Tracy Fenney and Aaron Vale were behind me, and that’s a lethal combination,” said Wordley. “I just tried to put a bit of pressure on them.”
Filippo Pignatti of Italy opted for a clean round on Ideaal Es, finishing in 46.311 seconds.
Vale chose to retire Cristo Beech, saving him for another night.
Wordley had one more in the jump-off, a younger horse, Brin D’or De Haute Melen Z.
“HE'S 9 coming 10-year-old, and has only done a few night classes," said Wordley. "I just started jumping him a little bit higher, so I took things a bit slow in the jump-off to give him a good experience.”
Wordley was clean in 48.608 seconds for third.
“The atmosphere here is fantastic," said Wordley. "It’s like the horses are showing at a different venue, and it makes a world of difference. I think that’s something that sets this place on a whole different level. It’s already the most amazing place in the world, and this ring makes it even more incredible.”
Wordley will compete as an individual for New Zealand in the five star competition at the World Equestrian Center next week.
“The riders that are coming here have been everywhere in the world, and I just know they are going to be shocked by just how amazing World Equestrian Center – Ocala is,” he said. “I had a quick peak at the WEC Grand Arena and what they are building is going to be incredible. I’ve been to the Olympics and world championships, and they don’t compare to the atmosphere that we are going to have here next week.”
