Edited Press Release
October 4, 2024 – Wilmington, Ohio – Havens Schatt returned to Fall Classic II at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington to claim her second consecutive win in the $15,000 Shires Equestrian USHJA National Hunter Derby, this time aboard Caroline Moran’s Cruise (Levisto x Baronja).
Bobby Murphy designed the tracks for a field of 20, where Schatt felt, “you had to be very aware of your track. There was an ‘S’ turn around the ring and then we had to ask them to go in a straight line and forward to the option. I just tried to make sure I gave them the most direct line that I could.”
Schatt and Cruise are no strangers to the winner’s circle at WEC – Wilmington, having won the $20,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at Summer III in August.
“He is like my steady eddy,” Schatt noted about her stunning young hunter. “He is only seven, but we bought him as a four-year-old out of an auction so I know him very well! He came over and did some stuff as a five-year-old and showed lightly last year. But, I always know what to expect and he knows what to expect from me. He is just easy for me. It is always nice to have one that you know what is going to happen when you go in.”
The seven-year-old Holsteiner gelding was the only horse to post two scores in the 90’s. Two near perfect tracks earned the duo a 91 and a 90.5 for a winning two-round total of 181.5.
Alisa Berry returned with her winningest mount, On Point (Cola Zero x Lolita), to claim second place. The 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding jumped to scores of 87.5 and 92.
Last week’s winner, the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding, Bond (Carlimo), rounded out the top three with scores of 86.5 and 91 with Elizabeth Rinehart in the irons.
Click here to see full competition results.
