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International Jumping Riders Club
KENT FARRINGTON AND GAZELLE GALLOP TO VICTORY IN SPRUCE MEADOWS
Calgary, Alberta—July 9
Kent Farrington and Gazelle scored their second major win at Spruce Meadows in as many weeks as they topped the coveted $500,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup during the North American’ Tournament CSI5*, presented by Rolex.
Jumping clear through three rounds of competition, Farrington and Gazelle emerged victorious over Elizabeth Gingras of Canada and Zilversprings in second, and Eric Lamaze of Canada aboard Check Picobello Z third.
Farrington and Gazelle have had an impressive summer that includes also winning the $375,000 Pan American Cup, presented by Rolex, during last week’s competition at Spruce Meadows.
“That horse has really come on strong,” Farrington said. “One of her strengths is that she has a lot of blood and a lot of energy, so she kind of gets better as she goes. I don’t want to say I am totally surprised because I always thought she was a very good horse."
Farrington has had the ride on the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro) that he co-owns with Robin Parksy for three years. She was his mount for the U.S. team at the 2015 Pan American Games (Toronto), where the team won bronze.
“She has had her ups and downs like all of them. You never know what they are going to be in the end. She hit a little bit of a rough patch when I put her in some bigger classes and she got overly careful and was struggling a little bit, so I dropped her back down at the end of Florida, did some smaller classes and built her back up. I always had hopes that she would be where she is today, so I am very pleased,” he said.
Course designer Santiago Varela from Spain set a challenging first round track for the competitors in Saturday’s $500,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The competition took place over two rounds with a jump-off if necessary. The first round was a speed track against the clock, which saw 39 entries in total. The top 12 competitors from the first round then returned for Round 2 in reverse order of penalties.
Seven entries jumped clear over the first round course, and six of those also cleared the second round track to necessitate a jump-off. Jonathan McCrea was first to tackle the shortened course aboard Candy Tribble’s Aristoteles V. The pair completed another clear round in the jump-off to eventually finish fourth with a time of 45.52 seconds. Hardin Towell and Jennifer Gates’ Lucifer V had one rail down in the jump-off in 45.33 seconds to place sixth.
Next to go, Farrington and Gazelle raced through the timers in an unbeatable time of 40.59 seconds. “I am not one that really plays it safe,” Farrington said. “I like to try to win and I do not think you win as much if you are playing by trying not to lose. I usually have my own plan of what I think is within the horse’s ability, and I try to work within those limits, and make the most of that track for what my horse can do.
“I never think that my time will hold up until the competition is finished,” Farrington added. “I am not that confident, because I think that is when you get caught, but I thought I put a lot of pressure on everybody else to really have to try.”
Tiffany Foster and her own and Artisan Farms LLC’s Southwind VDL followed with the fifth place time of 46.04 seconds. And then Lamaze then jumped the third place time of 43.98 seconds riding Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable’s Check Picobello Z. Last to go, Gingras and Zilversprings galloped into second place in 42.63 seconds.
Gingras was excited by her result with Zilversprings, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Silverstone x Emilion) that she has had for three years.
“I have been watching Conor Swail, and Kent, and Eric all tour, and they are all so fast,” Gingras remarked. “I just went as fast as I am capable of at this point in my career, and hopefully I will just keep watching them and get as fast as them, or maybe even faster.
“Obviously I am really thrilled,” Gingras said of her result. “My horse was absolutely amazing. I am just so happy to have him back again. We had a little hiccup for a while, so I have been building him all tour, and to end on this note is really great. He is very special to me.”
Final Results: $500,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup Rd. 1 Score/Time - Rd 2. Score/Time - Jump-off Score/Time
1. GAZELLE: 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Robin Parksy & Kent Farrington: 0/76.75 – 0/59.94 – 0/40.59
2. ZILVERSPRINGS: 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Silverstone x Emilion ELIZABETH GINGRAS (CAN), B. Gingras Equestrian Ltd: 0/74.99 – 0/59.91 – 0/42.63
3. CHECK PICOBELLO Z: 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Cardento x Orlando ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC & Torrey Pines: 0/75.39 – 0/59.09 – 0/43.98
4. ARISTOTELES V: 11-year-old KWPN stallion by Padinus x Lux JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 0/77.91 – 0/61.32 – 0/45.52
5. SOUTHWIND VDL: 17-year-old KWPN gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Ahorn TIFFANY FOSTER (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC: 0/76.73 – 0/60.79 – 0/46.04
6. LUCIFER V: 10-year-old Westphalian gelding by Lord Pezi x Garndeur JACK HARDIN TOWELL (USA), Jennifer Gates LLC: 0/77.04 – 0/60.89 – 4/45.33
7. BALARINA 3: 11-year-old Oldenburg mare by Balou de Rouet x Sandro Song ANTONIO MAURER (MEX), Mario Onate: 1/78.84 – 0/64.09
8. BABEL: 9-year-old CCDM Warmblood gelding by Billy du Lys x High Flyer PATRICIO PASQUEL (MEX), Patricio Pasquel: 4/75.62 – 0/59.87
9. HH CISKE VAN OVERIS: 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Celano x Darco MAGGIE MCALARY (USA), Double H Farm: 0/76.73 – 4/61.92
10. GRAFTON: 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Calvaro x Vondeen CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Susan & Ariel Grange: 1/78.30 – 4/59.99
11. UTOPIA: 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Ircolando x Notaris JOHN PEREZ (COL), John Perez: 4/75.44 – 4/61.38
12. CHIVAS Z: 17-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Cumano x Lord Gotthard RICHARD SPOONER (USA), Little Valley Farms: 4/76.19 – 6/71.80
press release
image: Kent Farrington and Gazelle on their way to the victory. Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services
Kent Farrington and Gazelle scored their second major win at Spruce Meadows in as many weeks as they topped the coveted $500,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup during the North American’ Tournament CSI5*, presented by Rolex.
Jumping clear through three rounds of competition, Farrington and Gazelle emerged victorious over Elizabeth Gingras of Canada and Zilversprings in second, and Eric Lamaze of Canada aboard Check Picobello Z third.
Farrington and Gazelle have had an impressive summer that includes also winning the $375,000 Pan American Cup, presented by Rolex, during last week’s competition at Spruce Meadows.
“That horse has really come on strong,” Farrington said. “One of her strengths is that she has a lot of blood and a lot of energy, so she kind of gets better as she goes. I don’t want to say I am totally surprised because I always thought she was a very good horse."
Farrington has had the ride on the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro) that he co-owns with Robin Parksy for three years. She was his mount for the U.S. team at the 2015 Pan American Games (Toronto), where the team won bronze.
“She has had her ups and downs like all of them. You never know what they are going to be in the end. She hit a little bit of a rough patch when I put her in some bigger classes and she got overly careful and was struggling a little bit, so I dropped her back down at the end of Florida, did some smaller classes and built her back up. I always had hopes that she would be where she is today, so I am very pleased,” he said.
Course designer Santiago Varela from Spain set a challenging first round track for the competitors in Saturday’s $500,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The competition took place over two rounds with a jump-off if necessary. The first round was a speed track against the clock, which saw 39 entries in total. The top 12 competitors from the first round then returned for Round 2 in reverse order of penalties.
Seven entries jumped clear over the first round course, and six of those also cleared the second round track to necessitate a jump-off. Jonathan McCrea was first to tackle the shortened course aboard Candy Tribble’s Aristoteles V. The pair completed another clear round in the jump-off to eventually finish fourth with a time of 45.52 seconds. Hardin Towell and Jennifer Gates’ Lucifer V had one rail down in the jump-off in 45.33 seconds to place sixth.
Next to go, Farrington and Gazelle raced through the timers in an unbeatable time of 40.59 seconds. “I am not one that really plays it safe,” Farrington said. “I like to try to win and I do not think you win as much if you are playing by trying not to lose. I usually have my own plan of what I think is within the horse’s ability, and I try to work within those limits, and make the most of that track for what my horse can do.
“I never think that my time will hold up until the competition is finished,” Farrington added. “I am not that confident, because I think that is when you get caught, but I thought I put a lot of pressure on everybody else to really have to try.”
Tiffany Foster and her own and Artisan Farms LLC’s Southwind VDL followed with the fifth place time of 46.04 seconds. And then Lamaze then jumped the third place time of 43.98 seconds riding Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable’s Check Picobello Z. Last to go, Gingras and Zilversprings galloped into second place in 42.63 seconds.
Gingras was excited by her result with Zilversprings, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Silverstone x Emilion) that she has had for three years.
“I have been watching Conor Swail, and Kent, and Eric all tour, and they are all so fast,” Gingras remarked. “I just went as fast as I am capable of at this point in my career, and hopefully I will just keep watching them and get as fast as them, or maybe even faster.
“Obviously I am really thrilled,” Gingras said of her result. “My horse was absolutely amazing. I am just so happy to have him back again. We had a little hiccup for a while, so I have been building him all tour, and to end on this note is really great. He is very special to me.”
Final Results: $500,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup Rd. 1 Score/Time - Rd 2. Score/Time - Jump-off Score/Time
1. GAZELLE: 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Robin Parksy & Kent Farrington: 0/76.75 – 0/59.94 – 0/40.59
2. ZILVERSPRINGS: 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Silverstone x Emilion ELIZABETH GINGRAS (CAN), B. Gingras Equestrian Ltd: 0/74.99 – 0/59.91 – 0/42.63
3. CHECK PICOBELLO Z: 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Cardento x Orlando ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC & Torrey Pines: 0/75.39 – 0/59.09 – 0/43.98
4. ARISTOTELES V: 11-year-old KWPN stallion by Padinus x Lux JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 0/77.91 – 0/61.32 – 0/45.52
5. SOUTHWIND VDL: 17-year-old KWPN gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Ahorn TIFFANY FOSTER (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC: 0/76.73 – 0/60.79 – 0/46.04
6. LUCIFER V: 10-year-old Westphalian gelding by Lord Pezi x Garndeur JACK HARDIN TOWELL (USA), Jennifer Gates LLC: 0/77.04 – 0/60.89 – 4/45.33
7. BALARINA 3: 11-year-old Oldenburg mare by Balou de Rouet x Sandro Song ANTONIO MAURER (MEX), Mario Onate: 1/78.84 – 0/64.09
8. BABEL: 9-year-old CCDM Warmblood gelding by Billy du Lys x High Flyer PATRICIO PASQUEL (MEX), Patricio Pasquel: 4/75.62 – 0/59.87
9. HH CISKE VAN OVERIS: 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Celano x Darco MAGGIE MCALARY (USA), Double H Farm: 0/76.73 – 4/61.92
10. GRAFTON: 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Calvaro x Vondeen CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Susan & Ariel Grange: 1/78.30 – 4/59.99
11. UTOPIA: 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Ircolando x Notaris JOHN PEREZ (COL), John Perez: 4/75.44 – 4/61.38
12. CHIVAS Z: 17-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Cumano x Lord Gotthard RICHARD SPOONER (USA), Little Valley Farms: 4/76.19 – 6/71.80
press release
image: Kent Farrington and Gazelle on their way to the victory. Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services