Wellington, FL – March 25, 2016 – Darragh Kenny (IRL) continued his recent string of successes at the Winter Equestrian Festival on Friday with a win in the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic aboard Chanel for owner Kerry Ann, LLC.
The pair bested a field of 59 over a one-round speed track built by course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER). From the 48th position in the order, Kenny and Chanel, an eight-year-old Oldenburg mare (Challan x Lordanos) stopped the clock in 62.43 seconds for the win. Two trips later, Andrew Ramsay (USA) set out to take the lead, but came up nearly two seconds short with a time of 64.88 seconds to settle for second place in the irons of The Doodle Group’s Cocq A Doodle.
Abdel Said (EGY) and California took third in 65.39 seconds for owner American Equestrian Association II, LLC. Conor Swail (IRL) and Cita, owned by Ariel and Susan Grange, claimed fourth in 54.50 seconds, while Margie Engle (USA) and Elm Rock, LLC’s Böchmann’s Lazio rounded out the top five in 65.60 seconds.
With two grand prix wins to his credit and coming off the heels of a victory in the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 on Thursday, Kenny is pleased with how the 2016 season is shaping up for him and his horses.
Darragh Kenny and Chanel in their winning presentation with Ann Louise Cook and Suzie Reed of Illustrated Properties, and ringmaster Christian Craig. Photo: Sportfot
“It’s been going really well, and the horses have been great,” he said. “I haven’t rushed at all this circuit, and I never tried to pressure the horses. I have been waiting until they feel like they are ready to do the classes that I want to do well in and it has worked out.”
Kenny got the ride on Chanel in September and has jumped the mare sparingly throughout the winter season with goals to produce it into a young rider mount for Kenny’s student and owner, Kerry McCahill.
“She jumped clear on Wednesday and today she felt like she could go fast, so we did,” said Kenny. “She felt great in the warm-up, and I knew she was jumping well. I was quick to fence one and two and then very tight back to three. I got there deep and she tried really hard, and then kept the pace and felt like she got better and better.”
Week 11 of WEF is the first time Chanel has competed at the FEI level, and while Kenny has worked to perfect the mare’s rideability, he feels she has what it takes to be competitive at the top level.
“She is still young, but she really wants to be careful,” he said. “We bought the mare with the intention of her jumping big classes, and I think she is going to be very good.”
Also competing in the International Ring on Friday, the $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40m Speed Challenge saw a win for Lucas Porter (USA) and B Once Z, owned by Sleepy P Ranch, LLC.
WEF 11 continues on Saturday with the $50,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series Final, presented by Equiline, on the derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC beginning at 11:10 a.m. with a brunch hosted by Equiline in the Tiki Hut at The Stadium beginning at 10:30 a.m. The $130,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* will be the feature event in the International Ring on the main show grounds on Saturday evening beginning at 7:45 p.m. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Final Results: $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic
1. CHANEL: 2008 Oldenburg mare by Challan x Lordanos
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Kerry Anne LLC: 0/62.43
2. COCQ A DOODLE: 2007 KWPN mare by Tolan R x Niagara
ANDREW RAMSAY (USA), The Doodle Group: 0/64.88
3. CALIFORNIA: 2007 KWPN mare l’Esprit x Libero H
ABDEL SAID (EGY), American Equestrian Association II LLC: 0/65.39
4. CITA: 2006 Holsteiner mare by Casall x Pik Ramiro
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Ariel and Susan Grange: 0/65.60
5. BÖCKMANN’S LAZIO: 2000 Westphalian stallion by Lancer II x Cor de la Bryere
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Elm Rock LLC: 0/66.48
6. AUSTRIA 2: 2008 Holsteiner mare by Casall x Corrado I
VICTORIA COLVIN (USA), Take The High Road, LLC: 0/66.96
7. THORNHILL KATE: 2005 Irish Sport Horse mare by Courage II x Clover Hill
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Laura & Mary Chapot: 0/68.88
8. LADY MARIA BH: 2006 Holsteiner mare by Cartani x Corrado I
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE (GBR), David Gochman: 0/69.63
9. CONFU: 2007 Holsteiner gelding by Contact Me x Cambridge
LAURA KRAUT (USA), St. Bride’s Farm: 0/70.10
10. CORETTE: 2007 KWPN mare by Lupicor x Clinton
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Rachel Udelson: 0/70.44
11. POLIAS DE BLONDEL: 2003 Selle Francais gelding by Desir du Chateau
ALEXANDRA PAILLOT (FRA), Paillot Equine Consulting Inc: 0/71.17
12. BACHELOR 4: 2002 Rheinlander by Baloubet du Rouet x Grosso Z
FREDDIE VAZQUEZ (PUR), Messenger Hill: 0/73.21
Lauren Fisher and Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.