The show jumping is always very influential here at Red Hills with grassy terrain, trees, and a big crowd to distract the horses . The overnight leaders in the CIC3*, advanced, CIC2*, and CIC1* all had clutch rides to hold on and win their divisions and wrap up a wonderful weekend at Red Hills.
–Allison and Arthur entered the arena with no room for error after Boyd Martin and Neville jumped clear to apply the pressure. Allison and Arthur capped off a great weekend with a clutch performance and Allison takes home the CIC3* win, the first leg of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup, and a one year lease on a Mercedes. Allison was very excited after the win and she even took the Mercedes for a victory gallop. This performance at a very tough cross-country course sets Arthur up really well for Kentucky.
Red Hills CIC3* Results:
1. Allison Springer and Arthur +0 53.3
2. Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos +0 54.6
3. Michael Pollard and Icarus +0 66.1
4. Selena O’Hanlon and Colombo +0 66.2
5. Leslie Law and Rehy Lux +0 69.6
6. Doug Payne and Running Order +4 71.1
7. Karen O’Connor and Mandiba +4 75.7
8. Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition +4 77.8
–There were only 6 clean rounds out of 18 show jumpers in the CIC3*. Phillip Dutton had the first of such rides with a beautiful round on Isabella. The aforementioned crowd and trees kept the horses from knowing exactly where they were going until 5 or 6 strides before several fences and that definitely played a factor in some of the rides.
–Both of Michael Pollard’s horses were excellent and I look forward to seeing them at The Fork and Kentucky. Running Order and Daily Edition stood out as horses who haven’t gotten a ton of attention but they are definitely worth watching this spring.
–Allison also had a great ride on her other CIC3* horse, Destination Known, and she was the only rider to jump clear with both of her horses. Karen O’Connor and Micahel Pollard each finished two horses in the top 10.
The victory drive
–To compensate for the terrain, the rails were heavy and the cups were deep. Many horses, including Arthur had big rubs that left the rails echoing in the cups.
–Hannah Burnett and St. Barths had a tough round, missing the third show jump, but they will be back in action at The Fork and I’m picking them as an early dark horse favorite in Kentucky.
—John Kyle needs to announce more here in the US. He has a great personality for commentating, he does extensive research, and he knows how to get the crowd involved–enough said.
Meanwhile, in the advanced….
Jessica and Exploring
–Following the CIC3* awards ceremony and a quick course change to make the jumps smaller, the advanced division got underway. Jessica Phoenix and Exploring had an energetic but clean ride to take home the victory. Jessie has a great personality, work ethic, and tenacity that makes her really easy to root for.
Red Hills Advanced Results:
1. Jessica Phoenix and Exploring +0 49.9
2. Will Coleman and Twizzel +0 54.2
3. Lisa Barry and Kenzo de la Roque +0 54.6
4. Mara DePuy and Fun Maker +0 60.8
5. Lucia Strini and Oudo +0 63.0
–Canada finished with a 4th place in the CIC3* and a win in the advanced–not a bad weekend for our friends to the north, which I am sure they will be excited to hear about as soon as they awaken from the winter hibernation.
–The great weekend continued today for riders such as Lisa Barry, Lucia Strini, and Julie Wolfert, who are just getting through their first few advanced competition. All three of thier horses really impressed me, and I think Oudo in particular is an absolutely fabulous horse.
–Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice won the CIC2*, to cap a streak of overnight leaders winning all of the CIC divisions here at Red Hills. Jessica Phoenix ended a great weekend with a second on Pavarotti, and Hannah Burnett continued Harbour Pilot’s successful rise through the ranks with a third place finish.
That’s all for now from Red Hills. Thanks to the organizers, volunteers, and fans for a great weekend and thank you for reading. I’m off to drive back to the frigid north tonight, and it will seem especially cold after the weekend in Tallahassee. Go eventing.
