Kent Farrington & Orafina at their Finest to Win the $139,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*

By Jumper News on 2022-10-23

Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA – October 22, 2022 – Kent Farrington (USA) and Orafina were victorious in the $139,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* last Saturday during the fifth week of the Tryon Fall Series at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) .

Thirty-three entries contested Michel Vaillancourt’s (CAN) course, with seven pairs advancing to the short course. Farrington and the 2012 Dutch Warmblood / Royal Dutch Sport Horse (KWPN) mare (For Fashion x Canturo) were able to produce a round that couldn’t be bested, despite some communication issues in the first round, he recapped, registering no penalties and jump-off time of 39.06 seconds.

**Luiz Francisco de Azevedo** (BRA) & **Nashville**

Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) and Eurohorse BVBA’s Nashville (Diamant De Semilly x Darco), the 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding, took the second place position with a time of 39.39 seconds.

**Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso** (DOM) & **J’Adore Flamenco**

Rounding out the podium was Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso (DOM) and BG Stables LLC’s J’Adore Flamenco, the 2012 Anglo-Arab gelding (Je T’aime Flamenco x Corofino 2), with a time of 41.69 seconds.

“She’s an incredible horse,” Farrington described. “She’s lightning fast and she’s unbelievably careful. The hardest part is just the control, so that’s my limitation right now. If I can get the control, I think she will be a top horse in the world. Right now I’m still managing the controls, so I have been moving up and down in my classes. We’ll see how far I get, but on days when she’s good, it feels great.”

**Denise Moriarty** was presented the Groom’s Award presented by Clement Farm & Barn alongside Michael and Amy Cece and team, for her care and dedication to Orafina.

Orafina and Farrington have been quite a winning combination, currently ranking 6th in the FEI World Rankings as a pair: “I got her from Leon Thijssen. I’ve done business with him for over 20 years. He said, ‘I think this horse could be great, but she is very difficult, and she needs a particular ride and will be hard to train. But if you can make her go well, I think she can be exceptional.”

Farrington has competed at TIEC consistently for the past few years saying, “The facility here is great, especially with the upgraded footing a couple years ago. In terms of a showjumping venue, I think it’s great.”

*Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso was gifted the Leading Lady Award presented by Marthaler Jewelers, alongside Matthew Marthaler, Joe Cottrell and team.*

Leading Lady Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso (DOM) was given the Leading Lady Award presented by Marthaler Jewelers, as the highest-placing female rider in the Grand Prix. With a young – and somewhat nervous – horse beneath her, Brugal Gasso was thrilled to reach the podium and even more overwhelmed at the gift she received from the presenting sponsors, she shared.