Edited Press Release
Junior riders reigned supreme in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring, securing the top three spots in Saturday evening’s $100,000 WCHR Central Hunter Spectacular. The star-studded class welcomed 31 competitors across professional, junior, and amateur lines, but the win was claimed by 17-year-old Augusta Iwasaki and Attendu De Lannois Z, owned by Ashland Farms.
The young star from the West Coast and her partner two years in the making drew first in the order of go, setting the score to beat at 86.50, which would hold as the second highest score as the first round drew to a close. Returning for her handy trip, Iwasaki knew risks were required to propel her to the top of the leaderboard. Opting for bold inside turns, Iwasaki piloted the 9-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Arko to beautiful jumping efforts and a second-round score of 89 for a two-round total of 175.
“My main thought was to be as tidy as I could,” Iwasaki commented on her handy round strategy. “I galloped to jump one and tried to be as tidy as possible after that. My horse is primarily an equitation horse so I thought showing off his handiness would be the best way to display him. He’s an amazing horse because he’s really flashy. He has such a big presence in the ring. The way he goes is so smooth; it looks really effortless.”
Rising from fifth place in round one, Ariana Marnell and the Marnell Sport Horses entry Babylon rode to a flawless second round, scoring an 88.5 and 173 overall, claiming second.
Setting the high score for round one, Raina Swani and Small Occasion, owned by Shadowfax Equestrian, LLC, confidently commanded the second round track, earning a score of 85.25 to combine with her first-round score of 87.25 for a 172.50 total and third place overall.
Final Results: $100,000 WCHR Central Hunter Spectacular
1. Attendu De Lannois Z / Augusta Iwasaki / Ashland Farms
86.50 + 89.00 = 175.50
2. Babylon / Ariana Marnell / Marnell Sport Horses
84.50 + 88.50 = 173
3. Small Occasion / Raina Swani / Shadowfax Equestrian, LLC
87.25 + 85.25 = 172.50
4. Get Rowdy / Karli Schroeder / Teton Farms LLC
78.75 + 86.50 = 165.25
5. Chivalry / Geoffrey Hesslink / Little Brook LLC
78.00 + 86.00 = 164.00
6. Unbelievable / Jacob Pope / Forget Me Not Farms LLC
84.50 + 79.50 = 164.00
7. Didgereedoo VDL / Kelsey Epperson / Lashier Properties LLC
81.00 + 81.50 = 162.50
8. Small Love / Augusta Iwasaki / Iwasaki and Reilly
81.00 + 81.00 = 162.00
9. G. Eleven / Jacob Pope / Don Stewart
83.75 + 77.50 = 161.25
10. Sweet Caroline / Sterling Malnik / Sterling Malnik
80.50 + 78.00 = 158.50
11. Aribo / Lauren Little / Little Brook LLC
80.25 + 75.50 = 155.75
12. San Pedro 15 / Jacob Pope / Don Stewart
85.00 + 45.00 = 130.00
