The Kentucky Spring Horse Show closed out in the Rolex Stadium on Sunday with the $35,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. With 44 starters challenging each other, it was Darragh Kenny that once again could not be beat in the jump-off, this time winning with Vlock Show Stables’ Scarlett Du Sart Z. Kenny also walked away with the Leading Open Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Envisian Products, after accumulating the most points through his top placings in the Welcome Speed, Hagyard Lexington Classic, Kentucky Spring Grand Prix, and Sunday’s grand prix.
“I’m really excited about the ride on this new horse,” shared an elated Kenny. “She’s a really talented mare and I’m very thankful to Vlock Show Stables for giving me the ride on her. This was her first week showing at the FEI level and she performed super. The team at Oakland Stables and the Vlock’s are really excited for her future.”
Darragh Kenny and Scarlett du Sart Z. Photo by Phelps Sports
The course, designed by Anderson Lima, challenged athletes over 16 efforts to be completed in the time allowed of 80 seconds. Featuring technical elements throughout, such as a triple combination (oxer-vertical-oxer), the course produced seven clear rounds. Eugenio Garza and El Milagro’s Pappa Ante Portas were the pathfinders for clear rounds, being the third horse-and-rider combination on course. Other top pairs would follow, such as Margie Engle and Indigo and Kenny aboard another mount, SHL Farm’s Sweet Tricia.
Kenny and Scarlett Du Sart Z, a 9-year-old Zangersheide mare, went first in the jump-off, switching up the order to accommodate his two mounts. The pair raced around to cross the timers in 37.082 seconds, a time that could not be touched by the following six competitors.
Kenny reflected: “The course was really suited to Scarlett, Anderson [Lima] once again created a fantastic course. She was really willing to make some tighter turns and really move between the lines. I think that’s how we made up a good bit of time.”
Garza and the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding were second to try their hand at the jump-off course. Although the pair finished in a clean and clear fashion, their 39.084 second time could not reach Kenny’s and ultimately landed them in the second place position.
Third place was captured by Kenny and Sweet Tricia, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood. The pair, who newly joined forces during the 2019 winter season in Wellington, Florida, stopped the clock at 40.099 seconds, nearly four seconds behind his own winning time.