Ocala, Florida, USA – December 13, 2023 – The second week of international show jumping competition during the 2023 December Show Series opened with the $40,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3* at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Thirty-two of the world’s best athletes representing ten different nations competed over an intricate track built by FEI Level III course designer Catsy Cruz (MEX). Rowan Willis (AUS) of Australia piloted his longtime partner Wellington Grey Goose to a blistering fast track early in the order to ultimately take home the lion’s share of the prize money. 

Willis had a simple goal, “I really wanted to win today,” he laughed. “’Goose’ has been such a great horse to me. When she’s having a good day, she’s a very fast horse, and it happened to be her day.” 

Willis used the 12-year-old Anglo-European Sport Horse mare’s quick step to his advantage to fly through the timers in an uncatchable 56.42 seconds. 

“It’s a great facility to compete at. It’s especially nice jumping here on Saturday nights, and this month is even more spectacular with all the holiday lights. We always see a great crowd and every day here feels like a special occasion. It’s a very special show,” commented Willis about World Equestrian Center – Ocala. 

Sixteenth in the world, Daniel Bluman (ISR) made his first appearance at World Equestrian Center – Ocala a successful one. With a time of 56.82 seconds, Bluman slid into second place just four tenths of a second behind Willis, aboard Over The Top Stables LLC’s 11-year-old Selle Français gelding Cachemire De Braize (Nissan Quality Touch Z x Jaguar Mail). 

Third place honors were found by Todd Minikus (USA) and Spirit Group’s eight-year-old KWPN – Royal Dutch Sport Horse Dutch Warmblood gelding Kiekeboe Spirit (Darius x Game Boy) in 56.85 seconds, just three hundredths of a second off Bluman and Cachemire de Braize’s pace. 

Final Results – $40,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3*

1) Rowan Willis (AUS) & Wellington Grey Goose: 2011 Warmblood mare by Corlensky G, Rowan Willis: 0 / 56.42 

2) Daniel Bluman (ISR) & Cachemire de Braize: 2012 Selle Français gelding by Nissan Quality Touch Z x Jaguar Mail, Over The Top Stables LLC: 0 / 56.82 

3) Todd Minikus (USA) & Kiekeboe Spirit: 2015 KWPN gelding by Darius x Game Boy, Spirit Group: 0 / 56.85 

4) Grace Debney (GBR) & Zarina de Vidau: 2011 Spanish Sport Horse mare by Diamant De Semilly x Coeur De Nuit, Temple Equestrian LLC: 0 / 57.22 

5) Gonzalo Busca (ESP) & Chrisitano Obolensky: 2015 Hanoverian gelding by Cornet Obolensky x Stakkato, Gonzalo Busca: 0 / 57.79 

6) Daniel Bluman (ISR) & Gemma W: 2011 KWPN mare by Luidam x Unaniem, Over The Top Stables LLC: 0 / 58.06 

7) Beat Mändli (SUI) & I. Umonia R 60: 2013 KWPN gelding by Den Ham Blue R x Chellano, Grant Road Partners LLC: 0 / 58.22 

8) Rowan Willis (AUS) &  Blue Movie: 2006 Anglo European mare by Chacco-blue x Pilot, Rowan Willis: 0 / 58.61 

9)  McKayla Langmeier (USA) & Carlita: 2011 Baltic Hanoverian mare by Carleone, Rafferty Farm LLC: 0 / 58.95 

10) Ilan Bluman (COL) & Acajou: 2015 German Sport Horse mare by Casallco x Chico’s Boy, Ilan Bluman: 0 / 59.02 

11) Chloe Reid (USA) & Crossover 4: 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Cascadello x Chacco-Blue, Team Reid LLC: 0 / 59.23 

12) Hunter Holloway (USA) & Dana de Kerglenn: 2013 Selle Français mare by Mylord Carthago*hn x Diamant De Semilly, Hays Investment Corp.: 0 / 59.39 

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center

Photos: © WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography

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