Ocala, Florida, USA – January 18, 2025 – A star-studded lineup of world-class riders had spectators packing the stands for the $200,000 UF Health Grand Prix CSI 4* during Week III of the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series. The air was electric with anticipation as some of the sport’s fastest athletes and most decorated Olympians prepared to compete. In a heart-stopping three-horse jump-off, Kent Farrington (USA) capped off an incredible week of victories, securing the win aboard the exceptional Toulayna (Toulon x Parco), owned by Rabbit Root Stables, LLC.
FEI Level IV course designer Anderson Lima (BRA) delivered a challenging track that kept riders and spectators alike on their toes. Rails fell at nearly every turn, but three skilled combinations found the path to a clear round, setting the stage for an epic showdown among Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Kraut (USA), World No. 4 Kent Farrington (USA), and top Irish talent Jonathan Corrigan (IRL).
Reflecting on the first-round course, Jonathan Corrigan (IRL), who piloted Darius De Kerglenn (Mylord Carthago Hn x Diamant De Semilly) to a clear round, shared, “When I walked it, I thought it was less challenging than it turned out to be. I think it was a bit more careful than it was big. The course designer did a great job, and it caught a lot of people in a lot of different places. Everything just turned up nice for me.”
The jump-off had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Laura Kraut (USA) was the first to return with her longtime partner, Bisquetta (Bisquet Balou C x Takashi Van Berkenbroek), and had a straightforward strategy. “When you have these two behind you, I knew I had to go. There were only three clear, so you just give it your all,” she explained. Kraut and the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare flew through the course, stopping the clock in an impressive 39.01 seconds to set the tone.
Kent Farrington (USA), fresh off a victory in Geneva, Switzerland with Toulayna, entered the ring with a clear goal. “My plan was to beat Laura,” he laughed. “Laura’s horse is very fast, and Laura’s very fast, so I never underestimate their speed. We talked a bit about our strategy for the jump-off. She was going to do eight strides to the liverpool fence, which I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a big-strided horse.’ Then I saw her do it easily, and I was like, okay, that was a fast round. I knew I had to make it up. I couldn’t do eight strides there because my horse has a shorter step, and I didn’t want her to get flat. So, I did the outside line, but at a high rate of speed. That made me shorter to the next fence, and I was able to keep the same speed and catch her by fractions.”
Farrington and Toulayna clinched the win with a time of 38.62 seconds, edging out Kraut for the top spot. Speaking about his exceptional 11-year-old Zangersheide mare, Farrington noted, “I’ve had Toulayna since she was seven with Rabbit Root Stables in California. They bought her in total trust with me, having never seen the horse, and they’ve been an incredible partner. We’ve had a lot of success, and she’s been a fantastic winner, basically from the start. She’s stepped up to the biggest levels and performed well. This is her first show back since Geneva, where she was great, and she obviously was in fantastic form tonight.”
Corrigan and Darius de Kerglenn, a 12-year-old Selle Français gelding owned by Twin Oaks Ventures, gave their all in the jump-off, finishing just six-tenths of a second behind Kraut with a time of 39.68 seconds to round out the podium.
Farrington celebrated a dominant two weeks at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, earning three international victories. “This place is incredible. The Roberts Family has done something unbelievable; this is one of the best venues in the world,” he said. Laura Kraut, visiting WEC for the second time, echoed his sentiment. “I really enjoyed it. After [Longines League of Nations™], I made a pact with myself that I would come back for more shows. Tonight was a great event, and we want to keep it a secret,” she laughed. Farrington remarked, ‘I don’t think it’s going to be much of a secret for long.’”
Final Results – $200,000 UF Health Grand Prix CSI 4*
1) Kent Farrington (USA) & Toulayna – 0 / 0 – 38.62
2) Laura Kraut (USA) & Bisquetta – 0 / 0 – 39.01
3) Jonathan Corrigan (IRL) & Darius de Kerglenn – 0 / 0 – 39.68
Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center
Photos: © WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography
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Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News USA
