Ashlee Bond’s super speedy and scopey Semilly F ended a nearly four week long winning streak by Ireland’s Darragh Kenny on Friday at Black Watch Farm. Bond broke Kenny’s 3 consecutive Turf Tour Grand Prix winning streak, while the Irish rider took second and third place in the $15,000 1.40 class. Kenny has also won the past two $5,000 1.30M Rising Star Classics, and Bond is no stranger to victory on the Turf Tour herself, although this was her first win with the CDE (Copyright C x Brisa de Ibio) mare. Turf Tour 7’s competition wrapped up on Friday with nearly 53 entries in the day’s highlight Grand Prix, set on the stunning polo field at Black Watch Farm. Turf Tour 8 continues February 25-27 at gorgeous Polo West, and don’t miss The Ridge’s weekly USEF Equitation Tuesdays events!
Brief showers punctuated brilliant sunshine and 80 degree temperatures during the final day of Turf Tour 7 at Black Watch Farm. The spectacular footing and beautiful bougainvillea blooms were highlights of Black Watch’s spacious polo field, which was divided into two rings for the week’s competition. Bond and Semilly F put in a late in the day ride to overcome Kenny’s two top standings with Cicomein VDL and GK Casper. Semilly F raced around the course designed by Leopoldo Palacios to deliver a 33.008 jump-off time, nearly 2 seconds faster than Kenny’s time set earlier in the day. Kenny first jumped GK Casper (Canto 16 x Uleika) in the rain to a time of 37.034 seconds, only to be quickly overtaken by his Wednesday Rising Star Classic champion, Cicomein VDL (Chacco Blue x Pomein) on 35.226.
“I love how you can go to a show at a different location weekly, and compete in different arenas,” said Bond of her Turf Tour experience. “The beautiful and relaxed environment and multiple venue options is really important and beneficial to both horses and riders. It’s great for the horse’s minds, to ride with less pressure and in various locations. A training environment is not something you see often in a show, like you do in Europe, and its great to have such a series here in Wellington.”
For full schedules and prizelists, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com
To enter online and for full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.
