Gray is the new blue at the World Equestrian Center as Taylor Flury made her second trip to the winner’s circle aboard Cosmea Z (Calvados Z x Zianne) after the pair took top honors in the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix. Earlier in the week she rode Calano Z (Calato Z x Calvacolle Z) to victory in the $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m.
This weekend’s course for the $25,000 WEC Grand Prix was designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky, and featured three combinations placed throughout the first round. The first clear round of the Grand Prix was laid down by Taylor Kain aboard The Gelt Group’s Shuttergold (Silvio I x Famose). The pair kept a steady rhythm, jumping a clear round in 76.896 seconds, about three seconds under the time allowed of 80 seconds.
Taylor Flury and Cosmea Z jumped flawlessly through their first round. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.
Next in the ring was Taylor Flury aboard Aliboo Farm, Inc.’s stunning gray mare Cosmea Z. Flury and Cosmea Z showed intense concentration throughout the course, jumping clear in a time of 74.688 seconds. Shortly after Flury and Cosmea Z’s round, Jason Berry entered the ring aboard Lee Cesery’s Quantos (El Darodo). Berry and his scopey mount also jumped a clear first round in a time of 75.129 seconds.
Taylor Flury took to the ring aboard her second mount, Aliboo Farm, Inc.’s Calano Z, with whom she had won the $5,000 Welcome Stake 1.35 m earlier in the week. Though the pair were fast, stopping the clock at 73.402 seconds, they had one unfortunate rail. Finally, Taylor Kain and her own Caphur (Cardento x Phuria) rounded out the clear first-rounders, finishing the course in an impressive 72. 806 seconds, the fastest first round of the class.
Four entries returned for the jump off with Taylor Kain and Shuttergold first to go. The pair stopped the clock at 39.303 seconds, but with one unfortunate rail. Next to go was Taylor Flury aboard Cosmea Z who turned up the heat, with both horse and rider looking determined to win. They went clear and blazed through the timers at 38.271 seconds, challenging the last two entries to beat their round.
Taylor Kain and Caphur clear the World Equestrian Center fence. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.
Jason Berry was next to return aboard Quantos. Quantos matched his scopey first round until the final fence where an unfortunate misstep caused a rail. The pair were still quick, though, stopping the clock at 37.096 seconds. Last to go was Taylor Kain aboard Caphur. The pair seemed to have the win until the final fence where a rub pulled the front rail, costing them four faults. Kain and Caphur were slightly faster than Berry and Quantos at 37.029 seconds, moving them into second place and leaving Taylor Flury and Cosmea Z atop the leader board.
Taylor Flury of Aliboo Farm in Minooka, Illinois stuck around after the class to chat with us for a few minutes. “This mare was my first horse to go and she was really good. She jumped really well and I was really happy with her,” said Flury.
Taylor Flury and Cosmea Z take home the blue in last week’s $25,000 WEC Grand Prix. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.
She went on to explain her strategy for the short round, “My plan in the jump off was just to be smooth and have a nice, easy round. Cosmea Z hasn’t done many big classes, so I thought I stuck to my plan and she jumped well and she felt really good tonight. Cosmea Z’s groom who received the Groom’s Award, Sarah March, is really excited for the win tonight. She has been Cosmea Z’s groom for years, and through all of our ups and downs she always tells me I need to believe in her and that she’s a great mare. So tonight is really great for her too, she really loves the horse.”
She added that she would like to thank fellow professional Sam Pegg for his help this week with Cosmea Z, “I need to make a shout out to Sam Pegg, because last week I struggled with this mare. I called him on Wednesday and he came right up to the ring and helped me. He suggested this new bit and tonight would not have been possible without him. It’s nice to have other professionals that are willing to be helpful as opposed to always being competitive!”
$25,000 WEC Grand Prix Results
- Cosmea Z, Taylor A. Flury – 0 | 0 | 38.271
- Caphur, Taylor Kain – 0 | 4 | 37.029
- Quantos, Jason Berry – 0 | 4 | 37.096
- Shuttergold, Taylor Kain – 0 | 4 | 39.303
- Calano Z, Taylor A. Flury – 4 | 73.402
- Hilma, Sam Pegg – 4 | 73.953
- Elation, Michael A. Grinyer – 4 | 74.510
- Chardonay Haras Des Barrages, Shelly Zimmerli – 8 | 69.475
- United M, Robert Mendoza – 16 | 75.747
- Florian, Robert Mendoza – 24 | 77.689