PRESS RELEASE
May 13, 2017 – Del Mar, CA – Allison Kroff and eight-year-old Quintus led the victory gallop after an exhilarating jump-off of twelve young horses in the $7,500 Interactive Mortgage Horses 10 & Under Futurity qualifier, held just before the grand prix. Kroff blazed around the shortened course with her big-strided mount, making the winning decision to leave out a stride in the last line.
“I know that my horse has a really big step and sometimes that’s to my disadvantage but in jump-offs it’s always to my advantage. I can leave steps out where sometimes other horses can’t,” Kroff explained. “In the last line I wanted to do the six, even though a lot of people were thinking it wasn’t really there.”
The challenging yet fair track made for riveting competition. “Guilherme builds such great courses. They have great flow, they have technical parts, but they’re never trappy, and I appreciate that for young horses,” Kroff described.
Partnered with Quintus for a year now, Kroff imported the horse from Germany and brought him along in the seven-year-old classes. The pair competed in their first 1.40m grand prix together Thursday here at the Showpark Ranch & Coast Classic.
Quintus and Kroff were the third pair to finish double-clear, edging out Aurora’s Diamond and Nicole Haunert aboard Costena La Silla. Three more horses emerged fault-free after Quintus, one of which was also piloted by Kroff and finished fourth, but none were able to beat the remarkable time of 34.91 seconds.
Nayel Nassar with Dee Jee and Jamie Sailor with Flashdance raced through the timers in under 33 seconds, however both incurred heartbreaking four faults at the penultimate fence.
The action at Showpark Ranch & Coast Classic wraps up tomorrow, presenting the final awards of an action-packed week. From ponies to prix, an equitation challenge to a hunter spectacular, and much more, the four-week Blenheim June Series at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano will kick-off summer.
RESULTS
$7,500 Interactive Mortgage Horses 10 & Under Series Qualifier
Place – Entry Number – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1. 462 – Quintus – Allison Kroff – Beth Buchanan – 34.912/0
2. 260 – Elrito – Jason Mcardle – Fairbanks Valley Farm, LLC – 35.004/0
3. 303 – Aurora’s Diamond – Rich Fellers – Alder Lane Farm, LLC – 35.143/0
4. 461 – Charming’s Spezial – Allison Kroff – Beth Buchanan – 36.998/0
5. 631 – Cala d’Or – Morgan Dickerson – Morgan Dickerson – 37.986/0
6. 757 – Costena La Silla – Nicole Haunert – Lynne Bollinger – 39.014/0
7. 401 – Flashdance – Jamie Sailor – Felyn Farms – 32.842/4
8. 525 – Dee Jee – Nayel Nassar – Nayel Nassar – San Marcos 32.997/4
