AMERICA’s Kent Farrington scooped the third Grand Prix of the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival, the $137,000 NetJets Grand Prix, in Wellington, Florida, last Sunday following victory in the WEF Challenge Cup three days earlier.

A total of 45 combinations challenged the track with 12 qualifying to return for the jump-off. Among the clear rounds was Co Meath’s Cian O’Connor and the nine-year-old Cardento-sired Irish Sport Horse gelding Kilkenny (formally known as MHS Fernhill), bred in Co Kilkenny by the late Ita Brennan. They were one of just four clears against the clock in a time of 43.95 seconds to earn $13,700.

Farrington posted the winning time of 39.14 seconds aboard Austria 2, beating compatriot Spencer Smith into second place with Ayade Hero Z (0/0 39.96). Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts, who would normal contest the World Cup series in Europe at this stage of the year, decided to make the trip to Wellington this winter and he finished in third place with Katanga v/h Dingeshof.

Kenny’s winning ways

Following the national win at the venue earlier in the day, Darragh Kenny won Thursday’s $6,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m Jumpers aboard Sweet Tricia, owned by the SHL Farm.

With 41 entries on the startlist, Kenny and Sweet Tricia (Berlin x Aetrichta), posted the fastest effort of the day over the two-phase track, in 31.95 seconds. Egypt’s Abdel Said and Oak Grove’s Laith also put in a double-clear effort, finishing just off the mark in 33.08 seconds.

Ireland’s Lorcan Gallagher slotted into third place with Heathman Farm’s 11-year-old gelding Sangris Boy in 34.27 seconds.

“She’s a very good mare, and I wanted to just school her around today,” Kenny said afterwards. “She was jumping very fresh at the start, so it was good for her to go a little quick in the second phase. She felt great so I just kind of went with it, and I didn’t really have much of a plan to be honest. I was just going as fast as she felt comfortable.”

Kenny rode Sweet Tricia in 2018 and 2019 before she moved to Brazilian Marlon Zanotelli for a period of time. In November, Kenny got the opportunity to campaign the talented mare once again.

“She was always a super jumper and really, really light and careful so it will be fun to show her again this winter. I have a lot of faith in her and I think I can do some good stuff with her here at WEF.”

Kenny said his large number of horses means an amount of riding that is physically demanding and can take its toll on a rider’s body, but the eighth-ranked rider in the world has established a good program to manage.

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam placed third in Saturday’s 1.50m jump-off class with the nine-year-old gelding Ideal, owned by Sweet Oak Farm and Seabrook LLC. The pair were one of five clears in the 10-horse jump-off, finishing behind Brazilian winner Eduardo Menezes with H5 Elvaro (0/0 41.08), and USA’s Katherine Dinan with the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Dougie Douglas (Ard VDL Douglas x High Roller).

Wachman win

In the $10,000 Karlswood 1.35m Medium Junior Jumper Classic, 17-year-old Max Wachman and Coolmore Showjumping’s Dinaro took the win in a competitive 10-horse jump-off. The pair broke the beam in 32.19 seconds, fractions faster than runner-up Hailey Royce, to land the top prize of $2,500.

Max’s 15-year-old brother Tom placed sixth in Sunday’s 1.45m High Junior Jumpers with Atlantic du Seigneur.