Ocala, Florida, USA – January 25, 2025 – The Ocala January Festival, the second week of the 2025 Hits Ocala Winter Circuit at the newly renovated Hits Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, delivered another unforgettable round of top-tier show jumping competition. Riders from across the globe continued to showcase their talent at the renowned venue, which has become a seasonal home for many in the equestrian community. The week’s excitement reached its peak during the $80,000 FarmVet Grand Prix, on Saturday, January 25. The premier event drew elite riders and mesmerized spectators with a thrilling conclusion, but ultimately, it was New Zealand Olympian Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Mick Jagger that claimed the victory with a standout performance.
Twenty competitive horse-and-rider pairs navigated the demanding first-round course crafted by Kerry Kocher of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. Among them, Wordley entered the field with three mounts, but it was his seasoned partner Mick Jagger that gave him the satisfaction of a win. The duo proved untouchable, becoming the only combination to deliver a double-clear performance in the nine-horse jump-off in a time of 37.783 seconds.
“The jump-off track was quite technical, and everyone was really fast, but I just went medium fast,” explained Wordley of his tour around the short course. “I thought I’d end up fifth or sixth, but luckily for me, they all had a rail down.”
Mick Jagger has accrued an impressive track record at HITS Ocala. Now with yet another accolade to his list, the 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Chacco Blue x Dobel’s Cento) owned by Della Wordley once again demonstrated his affinity for the venue.
With a blazing fast time of 33.511 seconds but a four-fault score, January Classic’s Grand Prix winner Jordan Coyle (IRL) and Keep Me With You N.C., Falkirk Farm’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) mare (Le Tot de Semilly x Indoctro), finished in second place.
Crowd favorite Tracy Fenney (USA) and MTM Apple, MTM Farm’s 14-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Favorit Ask x Willemoes), rounded out the podium with four faults in a time of 34.397 seconds.
“He loves it here—he wins grand prix classes at this venue all the time,” shared Wordley. “He’s such a sweet and consistent horse. Our first six months together were really tough, and I almost gave up on him, but once we clicked, everything fell into place, and it has been amazing ever since.”
Based in Ocala, Florida, Wordley is one of the two masterminds behind Wordley Martin, a company he co-founded with Craig Martin that specializes in premium riding surfaces. Notably, it was the expertise of the Wordley Martin team that was relied upon for the recent major arena reconstructions at both the HITS Ocala and HITS Hudson Valley facilities. At the conclusion of the class, Wordley expressed his appreciation for the overall transformation of the venue.
“The footing here is just excellent, I have to say,” he laughed. “The HITS management has done an outstanding job revitalizing the horse show. Their focus on making people feel welcome and ensuring they enjoy the experience is the most important part. All of the upgrades we’ve done perfectly align with the new HITS mantra.”
Final Results – $80,000 FarmVet Grand Prix
1) Sharn Wordley (NZL) & Mick Jagger – 0 / 0 – 37.783
2) Jordan Coyle (IRL) & Keep Me With You N.C. – 0 / 4 – 33.511
3) Tracy Fenney (USA) & MTM Apple – 0 / 4 – 34.397
Source: Press Release from Hits Horse Shows
Photos: © Hits Horse Shows / ESI Photography
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Categories: CSN, English, Jumper News Oceania
