Ocala, Florida, USA – August 10, 2024 – The 2024 Summer Series culminated in an electrifying showdown as 32 elite horse-and-rider combinations from nine nations competed for the final feature class win of the season in the $75,000 UF Health Grand Prix. The competition reached its pinnacle with a thrilling 12-horse jump-off, where the podium mirrored last week’s results, but this time, Sharn Wordley (NZL) of New Zealand emerged victorious aboard Fernando Cardenas’ Valentine Car (Son Of Juan Car x Sofia Car).
FEI Level II course designer Eric Hasbrouck crafted the challenging tracks for Saturday night’s event. Of the 12 pairs in the jump-off, only six managed to achieve a double clear effort.
The jump-off was a nail-biter from the start, with each rider setting faster times than the last. However, when Sharn Wordley (NZL) entered the ring on his famously quick 15-year-old American Warmblood gelding Valentine Car, the atmosphere was electric.
“When you have Tracy [Fenney] at the end of a jump-off, you just have to go flat out if you want to try to win it,” Wordley shared. “One to two I wanted to be as fast as I could and it was blind around that corner, but the six worked out nicely for us. Then a long gallop over to the oxer. Then it was seven, slowing down for the double, and nine strides over to the corner and a steady six going home for most. Tracy I knew was going to do the eight to the five, but I couldn’t do the eight to the five on ‘Val,’ so I tried to go fast everywhere else.”
An unbeatable time of 33.265 seconds had Wordley galloping away with the lion’s share of the prize money once again.
“All of the horses have been fantastic. Valentine Car has jumped clear in nearly every grand prix this season, except one where he had the fastest-four. It’s been a great circuit,” Wordley added. “Now, the horses will get a well-deserved break before gearing up for the fall shows and the winter circuit here.”
Tracy Fenney (USA) was hot on Wordley’s heels once again aboard the 13-year-old Danish Warmblood mare MTM Apple (Favorit Ask x Kong’s Whopsie), stopping the clock less than a tenth of a second short in 33.320 seconds for second place.
Dorothy Douglas (USA) secured another podium finish aboard Davenport Farms’ 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding MTM Pablo (Perigueux x Celina) with a quick and clear time of 34.032 seconds.
Sharn Wordley (NZL) also took home the fastest four-faulter award aboard Champion League with a quick first round time of 78.350 seconds with one rail down.
Alexandra Green Kerby received the ‘Luck of the Draw’ award.
Final Results – $75,000 UF Health Grand Prix
1) Sharn Wordley (NZL) & Valentine Car – 0 / 0 – 33.265
2) Tracy Fenney (USA) & MTM Apple – 0 / 0 – 33.320
3) Dorothy Douglas (USA) & MTM Pablo – 0 / 0 – 34.032
Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center
Photos: © WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography
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