MYAKKA CITY, Fla.--Daniel Bluman on Gemma W won the $32,000 Welcome Stake over Amanda Derbyshire and a good field of international jumpers at TerraNova on Friday, Feb. 23.
Daniel Bluman on Gemma W (Photo by EQ Media)With WEF hosting a five star weekend, some of the top riders took horses to TerraNova , where the good money offers easier pickings.
A starting field of 29 competed over a course set by Manuel Esparza’s for the Welcome Speed, with13 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 82 seconds.
Esparza of Mexico, an FEI Level 3 course designer, has assisted with courses at five Olympic Games and has previously designed at TerraNova.
Winter Series I Welcome and Grand Prix winners Amanda Derbyshire of Great Britaain on Otto BH was clean in 60.77, taking the lead from Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Chili by 1.36 seconds.
PESSOA, who is also riding his top horse Uncle Tom at WEF in the 5* classes, had held the lead for eight rounds.
While Derbyshire didn’t take the same inside turn to 9AB as Pessoa had, she saved time in other spots.
Derbyshire held the lead until Daniel Bluman of Israel on Gemma W was clean in 58.75.
This was the first trip out this year for Gemma W, a 13-year-old KWPN mare.
“Gemma has been with us for a long time,” Bluman said. “She’s like part of our family. She felt great today, pretty much how she left off last year. She’s a great competitor, she’s always going at speed, and today was a speedy class. I was able to take a couple of risks, and it worked out well. She felt awesome.”
Bluman had a successful 2023 winter season in the TerraNova Hunter/Jumper series.
“I think it's a great event, it's definitely something that fits my program well because I like to bring young horses. Since it’s at the beginning of the year, it almost acts as a preseason for some of the higher level horses.
“It’s a beautiful event, everyone is very kind, and Sarasota is a great town,” he said. “We come for a couple of days, I do at least three or four, so we’re happy to be here.”
Derbyshire and her third mount of the class, Destine To Be was clean in 59.47yo beat her earlier time on Otto BH, giving her second on Destine To Be and third on Otto BH.
