Wednesday welcomed the first day of the Kentucky Spring Classic and the start of international show jumping competition with the $36,000 Welcome Speed 1.45m CSI3* in the Rolex Stadium. Thirty-seven horse-and-athlete combinations challenged the 14-effort speed track built by Kelvin Bywater (GBR), but the uncatchable fault-free time of 63.89 seconds set forth by Brian Moggre (USA) and Major Wager LLC’s MTM Flutterby proved worthy of the win by more than one full second.
Brian Moggre and MTM Flutterby. Photo by Phelps Sports
The one-round speed track tested athletes over twelve obstacles with two combinations where Moggre completed two of the ten clear rounds produced. Moggre first entered aboard MTM Los Angeles, also owned by Major Wager LLC, finishing with a clear and conservative time of 71.97 seconds that would ultimately earn the tenth place award.
Over halfway into the class, Moggre returned riding his second mount, MTM Flutterby, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. With five years of partnership shared between the two, Moggre had seen the track and knew where he could take risks aboard his trusty mare. The duo has captured countless career-highlighting wins, including the Black Barn $250,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix and individual bronze at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior Championships in 2016. Moggre’s blazing time of 63.89 seconds would best the previous leading time of 67.88, put forward by Luiz Francisco De Azevedo (BRA) and Collin, by nearly four seconds.
“I knew on my second horse, the mare, that I could leave a stride out and turn tighter in certain places. I knew that if she was going to win one class this week that this was likely going to be it. I went for it and she was amazing. There were a lot of fences out there and so I had to make a plan during my course walk. I think that I had I had a consistent efficiency throughout the whole course that helped me be a little faster than everyone else.”
Brian Moggre and MTM Flutterby. Photo by Phelps Sports
Abigail McArdle (USA) immediately followed to challenge Moggre with the 13-year-old Hanoverian stallion, Victorio 5. The pair flew to a time of 65.63 seconds, but were unable to catch Moggre and temporarily take over the second-place position.
Andy Kocher (USA) and his own Abelone O.T Lowlands Z followed just behind McArdle to continue the pace set by the previous two leading athletes, riding to another quick time in 65.25 seconds. Kocher and his 8-year-old Zangersheide mare slid just between Moggre and McArdle to capture second place, moving McArdle to finish in third.
Wednesday’s win adds to a successful campaign for Moggre at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show series after capturing last Thursday’s win in the $36,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3* with MTM Vivre le Reve.
Competition will resume in the Rolex Stadium Thursday morning at with the Open 1.35m Jumper at 8 a.m. and will highlight the second event in the Hagyard Challenge Series, the $36,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, at 5:30 p.m. Based on his win in the series’ first event at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, Moggre currently tops the standings with 250 points. Athletes look to top the overall standings to earn the $50,000 Leading Rider Award presented during the Kentucky National Horse Show in September.