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