Tom Foley and Felex top the $7,500 Futures Prix 1.40m

Tom Foley and Felex. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

The course for the $7,500 Futures Prix 1.40m featured multiple combinations and a liverpool. Twenty-eight entries contested the course with seven entries managing double clear rounds, although none could catch Tom Foley and The Helios Group’s Felex (Ustinov x Milexa), who blazed through the jump off.

A quick pace was set early on in the class by Kirk Webby aboard Tolleshunt Investment Group’s Brando Du Rouet (Baloubet Du Rouet x Carieny Z). The pair have taken top placings in several prix throughout 2020 and they were on form for this afternoon’s class. Webby and the 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding were the first to jump a clear first round, leaving all rails up in 74.708 seconds, well within the time allowed of 79 seconds. The duo continued straight to the jump-off, delivering a second clear round in 38.843 seconds, setting a tough time to beat.

Kirk Webby and Brando du Rouet

The only entry able to catch Webby and Brando Du Rouet’s time was Tom Foley and The Helios Group’s Felex (Ustinov x Milexa). The 10-year-old Warmblood gelding is a new mount for Foley, but has experience in the 1.40m jumpers. This afternoon, Foley and the fiery black gelding jumped a fast, clear first round in a time of 75.347 seconds before advancing to the jump-off. Knowing the time they had to beat, the pair picked up pace on the short course. They stopped the clock with a clear round at 38.132 seconds, ultimately taking the win.

Marcus Gruenthal and P.S. I Love You

Not far behind Foley’s and Webby’s quick jump-off times was Marcus Gruenthal aboard Linda Bammann’s P.S. I Love You (Perigueux x Hauptstutbuch Antoinette). The duo earned 3rd place in last week’s $7,500 Futures Prix 1.40m and returned to the WEC Grand Arena this afternoon for another shot at the win. Gruenthal and the 8-year-old Oldenburg mare found a clear first round in 75.689 seconds, then continued to the jump-off. The pair jumped a second clear round in 39.455 seconds, sliding into 3rd place for the second week in a row.

Foley of Tom Foley Show Jumpers took a moment to chat with us ringside about his win aboard Felex, “Felex is a new horse for us, we only got him about 10 days ago. We just got to World Equestrian Center — Ocala on Tuesday and he won the 1.20m on Thursday. He stepped up and won again today, which was great. I would like to thank The Helios Group for the ride.”

Foley also added, “Hannah Murrin and I run our business out of Silver Creek, Georgia. It’s mostly sales along with some customers. It’s been great! We’re really happy to be showing at World Equestrian Center — Ocala. The footing is great here, the rings and courses have been excellent. The staff are very welcoming and helpful too. I have been to a lot of show grounds all over the world and I have never seen a place as amazing as this!”

$7,500 Futures Prix 1.40m Results

  1. Felex, Tom Foley – 0 | 0 | 38.132
  2. Brando Du Rouet, Kirk Webby – 0 | 0 | 38.843
  3. P.S. I Love You, Marcus Gruenthal – 0 | 0 | 39.455
  4. Canaan, Jenna Friedman – 0 | 0 | 40.810
  5. Diamond, Christoph Schroeder – 0 | 0 | 41.413
  6. Fancy Roos VDL, Ashley Fleischhacker – 0 | 0 | 42.372
  7. VDL Edgar Dapp Des Foret, Wim Janssen – 0 | 0 | 43.902
  8. Florino, Hugh Graham – 0 | 4 | 43.911
  9. Fundament E, Savannah Unger – 0 | 8 | 40.131
  10. Bob, Katharina Gebauer – 1 | 79.268

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.