Wellington, Florida, USA – January 15, 2019 – Charlie Jayne (USA) opened the first week of international competition at the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) with a win, riding Tou La Moon in the $6,000 Bainbridge 1.40m CSI 2* at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center 9PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, on Wednesday, January 15.

WEF continues through March 29, 2020 with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The second week of competition at WEF is sponsored by NetJets and recognized as a CSI 2* by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The week’s featured event is the $73,000 NetJets Grand Prix CSI 2* during “Saturday Night Lights” on January 18, at 7 p.m. in the International Arena.

Jayne appeared in the middle of a 97-horse field over a two-phase course set by course designer Oscar Soberon (MEX). Tou La Moon, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Toulon x Skippy II) owned by Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher, carried Jayne clear over the first phase and stopped the clock with more than a second to spare in 27.80 seconds over runner-up Stella Manship (USA) riding Dundalk (Ard Vdl Douglas x Horace), owned by Elan Farm.

“I am going on my fifth year with this horse, and she is really starting to peak at the higher level,” said Jayne, who found Tou La Moon as a five-year-old from her breeder Wilfred Cerpentier in Belgium. “Last year, she jumped probably 10 national grand prix and FEI ranking classes, and won four, so she’s really on a heater.”

Jayne’s goal is to ride Wednesday’s momentum through the week and compete Tou La Moon in the $73,000 NetJets Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday.

Charlie Jayne (USA)and Tou La Moon in their winning presentation with Richard Schechter, Chairmand and CEO of Bainbridge Companies, and ringmaster Steve Rector.

“I thought this would be a nice class for her because she likes the open pace,” said Jayne. “I feel like the less I do the better she is. She’s very good at turning inside. She isn’t the biggest horse, but she has a huge stride. Today was all about doing one less in the lines, and she does it quite easy.”

With his two most seasoned horses jumping well, Jayne is optimistic that his season will continue to be marked with success. “It feels good to start the week off with a win. There were a lot of entries, and it was a very competitive field. We will build on that from here!”

Behind Manship’s time of 29.22 seconds, the USA’s Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) took third aboard Van de Emma (Van de Vivaldi x Almiro Z) in 29.49 seconds for owner Oakridge Farm. Ireland’s Capt. Brian Cournane (IRL) was fourth riding Colourful Lady (Casall x Acord II), owned by Glenbeigh Farm LLC, in 29.83 seconds, while Rebecca Conway (USA) capped the top five in 30.34 seconds on Con Coleur for owner Blue Hill Farm, LLC.

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release by Lindsay Brock / Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. for ESP – Equestrian Sports Productions / PBIEC – Palm Beach International Equestrian Center

Photos: © Sportfot