Jennie Brannigan and Catalina. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jennie Brannigan and Catalina made the last CIC3* test before the lunch break one to remember at Red Hills International Horse Trials, scoring 44.4 to cruise into first place on a leaderboard currently dominated by the ladies. Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence sit in second place on 46.3, with Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo in third on 46.3.
The stellar test came at the end of what’s been an up and down week in Florida for Jennie. She also jumped Catalina, a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Candace Kircher and Tim and Nina Gardner, in the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational on Tuesday and had an uncharacteristic refusal.
“It’s hard when I mess up, but I tried to keep the perspective that I’ve successfully run this horse at some of the toughest events even though she doesn’t have that much experience at the level. After Tuesday I went and jumped with Scotty (Keach), so I hadn’t really run through my test,” Jennie said.
“I’m really happy to feel like we are starting to get into the realm of what the mare can do. Candace and I were saying that we really have a green 13-year-old, so it’s pretty special to have her do a test like that, especially with their whole family here to watch. Candace believes in me no matter what happens.”
After successfully moving up to the Advanced level at Plantation Field last fall, Jennie and Catalina gained their four-star qualifier at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3* and are now aiming to take a crack at the mare’s first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event next month.
Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence also jumped in the Eventing Prix Invitational in Ocala on Tuesday in preparation for Red Hills, and “Ricky Bobby,” an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Sally Crane, really turned up the heat in the sand box to sit in second place currently. This pair is gearing up to have another go at completing their first four-star at Rolex next month.
Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo round out the top three at the lunch break on a 46.3, their personal best score at this level to date. “Patrick,” an 11-year-old Irish/Thoroughbred gelding owned and bred by Jacqueline Mars, has flown under the radar a bit in comparison to Veronica and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, but he’s definitely a horse to keep an eye on in this Olympic year.
Clayton Fredericks has taken command of the CIC2* leaderboard, holding both the first and second spots with FE Bowman and FE Money Made, respectively, on scores of 41.4 and 44.4. FE Bowman, an 8-year-old Wurttemberger gelding, won the CCI2* at Richland last year, while FE Money Made, a 7-year-old Westphalian gelding, is making his two-star debut this weekend; Clayton owns both horses with Amanda Bernhard and Diana Crawford.
Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Caroline Martin and Effervescent, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Sherrie Martin, round out the top three in the CIC2* on 46.3. Marcelo Tosi, who has represented Brazil at multiple Olympics and World Equestrian Games, is sitting in fourth place with Briefing DB Z, and his fellow Brazilian team riders Marcio Calvalho Jorge and Henrique Pinheiro are also competing at Red Hills this weekend. Stay tuned for an exclusive interview!
Boyd Martin and Santos were one of the first pairs to go in the CIC* division yesterday afternoon, and they’re still hanging on to the lead on 41.6. The 7-year-old off-track Thoroughbred gelding owned by Gloria Callen and Ron and Densey Juvoven made an appearance at last week’s Aiken Masterclass in support of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team and is making his CIC* debut this weekend.
Boyd Martin and Santos. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Alonzo III, an 11-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Mary Ann Ghadban, are sitting in second place on 41.9, with Claire Gordon and Ole Boy, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding previously campaigned by Will Coleman, in third place on 43.9.
You’ll notice many of the riders wearing orange ribbons on their jackets this weekend in memory of Jay Gurmankin, Natalie Neneman’s father, who lost his battle with Multiple Sclerosis last week. Natalia is competing Weisser Riese and Rocky Car in the CIC2* at Red Hills this weekend, and our thoughts are with her as she rides in memory of her dad.
Riding for dad today! ❤️❤️
Posted by Natalia Neneman on Thursday, March 10, 2016
Stay tuned for the conclusion of dressage later this afternoon, and the Advanced division will also be going late in the day. Buck Davidson and Carlevo LLC’s Carlevo are leading the Intermediate division at the conclusion of the first phase on a score of 23.7. Click here to check out the full live scores.
We have much more to bring you from #RHHT, including Samantha Clark’s interviews with Brazilian team riders Marcio Calvalho Jorge, Marcelo Tosi and Henrique Pinheiro, as well as the cross country course preview and an interview with new CIC3* course designer Mike Etherington-Smith. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to see what Chinch is up to and to see all the behind-the-scenes photos from here in Tallahassee.
Go Eventing.
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