First Week, First Win for Audrey Schulze and Darquito in $30,000 National Grand Prix

Audrey Schulze and Darquito. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

Edited Press Release

Audrey Schulze did not need long to adjust to her new partner, Darquito. The young rider piloted the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, owned by Riverbrook Sport Horses LLC, to the win in Saturday morning’s $30,000 National Grand Prix at the great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), beating out top professionals and claiming top honors.

“I just got this horse last week from Andrew Bourns,” Schulze, of Saddle River, NJ, said. “This is my first show with him. I’m really excited for the future; he’s a super horse. I’m jumping the two-star on him next week so I’m really excited [about this win].”

Marina Azevedo (BRA) set the track for 42 combinations to test in the first round of competition. As the final pair on course in the jump-off of 10, Schulze used her new mount’s large stride and careful edge to sneak past the current leader, Kent Farrington with Greya, owned by Kent Farrington LLC. Schulze’s time of 40.820 seconds topped Farrington by nearly one second, securing the win and putting Farrington into second with a jump-off time of 41.760 seconds. Third-place honors went to Mark Kinsella and Quality H in a jump-off time of 41.910 seconds.

“We’re just a really good match,” Schulze continued about Darquito. “I get along with him well. As soon as we got to the ring I felt like I knew how to ride him and what he would like. His stride is really big and he’s got a lot of scope and quality. I’d like to jump him in some bigger classes, some three-and four-stars.”

Audrey Schulze and Darquito. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

Final Results: $30,000 National Grand Prix

1. Darquito / Audrey Schulze / Riverbrook Sport Horses LLC / 0/0/40.820
2. Greya / Kent Farrington / Kent Farrington LLC / 0/0/41.760
3. Quality H / Mark Kinsella / Mark Kinsella / 0/0/41.910
4. Manhattan / Georgina Bloomberg / Gotham Enterprizes LLC / 0/0/43.109
5. High Nitro / Cathleen Driscoll / Margaret Frank / 0/4/40.422
6. Jiselle / McKayla Langmeier / Linda Langmeier / 0/4/40.769
7. Nanini Van D’Abelendreef / Sydney Shulman Desiderio / Esperanza Imports LLC / 0/4/41.389
8. Lord Up / Audrey Schulze / Riverbrook Sport Horses LLC / 0/4/42.164
9. Cassio Melloni / Kaitlyn Williams / Kaitlyn Williams / 0/4/42.347
10. W. Tonix Hero / John Angus / Stephanie E. Angus / 0/4/43.152
11. Costa Quick PS / Alejandro Leonardo Winkler / Alejandro Leonardo Winkler / 1/80.225
12. Darknight De Maluga / McKayla Langmeier / Bridget Ennevor / 2/81.161

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