Kent Farrington (USA) and Creedance secured the win in the $35,000 1.50m Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) as part of Equus Events Tryon Fall 3 CSI 3* competition. Farrington flew through the jump-off in tandem with Creedance, a 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Lord Z x Notaris) owned by himself and R.C.G. Farm, and stopped the timers in 35.942 seconds to top the class.
Vanessa Mannix (CAN) rode into second place with her own Catinka 25, a 2009 Oldenburg mare (Catoki x Luxano) and acquired a jump-off time of 37.761 seconds and Spencer Brittan (USA) took third with his own Uncle Blue, a 2008 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Chacco-Blue x Robin Z), stopping the timers in 39.258 seconds.
Among 47 entries and only eight pairs returning to test the short course set by course designer Michel Vaillancourt (CAN), Farrington and Creedance put in an untouchable performance to land at the top of the order.
Kent Farrington and Creedance. Photo by Sportfot
“My horse is naturally very fast, so for us, a good strategy is just kind of keeping his natural speed, and that’s usually good enough to win. He’s a top horse; he’s won big Grand Prixs all over the world.” Concerning the morning’s cooler temperature, Farrington commented, “He [Creedance] likes the cool weather. I think all horses like it. They prefer it a little bit colder; they have more energy and are more excited to jump.”
Farrington suffered a leg injury last winter, but bounced back from the fracture in three months. “I’ve been back for a while. Exactly 12 weeks later, I was already showing 5* Grand Prix’s, so it really didn’t slow me down that much. It gave my horses a little more rest than usual, but since then it’s been business as usual.”
The Olympian recently competed in Europe for a successful summer circuit, but is now stateside to continue touring. “I just got back from Europe myself, so this is a good way to kick off our tour here,” he said of returning to compete at TIEC. Farrington plans to ride another of his well-known mounts, Gazelle, in Saturday night’s $132,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 3*.
Kerins Bests the $5,000 1.40m Power & Speed Stake in Tryon
In Wednesday’s $5,000 1.40m Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*, Ireland’s Darragh Kerins (IRL) took top honors aboard Ringwood Zebo, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Califax x Ringwood Audacity) owned by Samantha Rice. Kerins completed the jump-off in 35.08 seconds. Just moments behind, Shane Sheetnam (IRL) earned a jump-off time of 36.23 seconds riding Stalanda Z, a 2008 Oldenburg mare, (Stakkotol x Colander) owned by Seabrook LLC, and Freddie Vazquez (PUR) with Bull Run’s Testify, a 2004 Selle Francais gelding, owned by Bull Run Jumpers Inc. took third with a time of 38.849 seconds.
Darragh Kerins and Ringwood Zebo. Photo by Sportfot
David O’Brien Claims $5,000 Tryon Resort 1.40m Speed Stake CSI 3* for Ireland
Ireland’s David O’Brien rode KIR Royal SCF to victory in the $5,000 1.40m Tryon Resort Speed Stake CSI 3* in a field of 23 pairs, besting the Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) designed course in 59.46 seconds with the 2010 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Amaretto D’Arco x Nabab De Reve) owned by Spy Coast Farm, LLC. Stephanie Macieira (BRA) and Randon Pleasure, a 2005 Selle Francais mare (For Pleasure x Quidam De Revel) owned by Bonne Chance Farm, claimed second-place honors after their 60.69 second performance, while Rowan Willis (AUS) guided Italian Gold van De Kruishoeve, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Samantha Buirs, to a third-place finish after stopping the timers in 61.01 seconds.
David O’Brien and KIR Royal SCF. Photo by Sportfot