Jessica Phoenix and Aeronautics. Photo by Xpress Foto.
Saturday was a beautiful breezy and sunny Ocala day at Florida Horse Park for the cross country phase of the FEI divisions at Ocala International. Jay Hambly’s courses left plenty for riders to do and caused a few shake-ups to the overnight leaderboards.
The CCI4*-S completed both dressage and show jumping on Friday, wrapping up their division Saturday with cross country, where Jessica Phoenix made the biggest climbs up the rankings aboard her two Thoroughbred geldings.
The 12-year-old Aeronautics (Two Step Salsa xx x Satin and Silver xx, by Silver Ghost xx) rose from fourth place overnight to take the win, adding 11.8 time penalties to finish on a score of 52.3. Her veteran CCI5* campaigner and crowd favorite, 15-year-old Wabbit (Line of Departure xx x No Kissing xx, by Great Gladiator xx), also rose from fifth place to finish third, adding 11.2 time penalties to complete on a 53.6.
Hambly said that his courses were “tightly wheeled” and making time would be difficult without efficient turns, bold lines, and speed in between the fences. This proved to be true, with no horses finishing double clear over today’s course.
Overnight leader Sharon White, who was undecided yesterday as to whether she would try to make the time, added 18 time penalties to the score of CCI4* debutante Jaguars Duende (Jaguar Mail x Latina, by Lancaster) to finish second on 52.6, just 0.3 penalties behind Phoenix and Aeronautics.
Always a speedy rider, Phoenix was particularly happy to be aboard her particular horses for today’s challenge. “I was incredibly proud of Aeronautics and Wabbit today. It is such a joy to gallop full Thoroughbreds cross country. They were both so quick to pick up the combinations and processed each question really well! I really thought Jay designed this course well. It’s always difficult to create all of the necessary questions with a flat property but the horses really felt like they enjoyed it and learned a lot from start to finish. I also felt they did a phenomenal job with preparing the footing!”
This was the sixth CCI4* start for Aeronautics and his first FEI win. “Aeronautics is owned by Sara Irving and Bob Holman of Grandview Farms in Ontario Canada. They have both ridden to the highest levels of this sport and it’s so fun to ride this special boy for them.”
Phoenix will also add more points to her pile in the second spot on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard from this weekend’s Qualifier efforts, adding 70 points to her existing total. Her net of 145 total leaderboards sits just behind Phillip Dutton’s 175. Riders can use their six best Qualifer results toward leaderboard points; this weekend is Jessie’s fifth Qualifier.
Rebecca Brown and Fernhill Quite Frankly. Photo by Xpress Foto.
The remainder of the FEI divisions completed cross country Saturday and will move to the show jumping phase on Sunday. The CCI3*-L leaderboard saw a notable shake-up when overnight dressage leaders Caroline Pamucku and HSH Talbot’s Hill (Coolkeeran x Sisceal xx, by Dalakhani xx) picked up 20 penalties at 17C, an open corner out of the crater. This left the door wide open for Rebecca Brown and Fernhill Quite Frankly (OBOS Quality 004 x Rusheen Lux, by Lux Z), who logged a double clear round to secure their position as the division’s new leader heading into the final phase.
“The cross country rode fantastic today but it helps to be sat on a true cross country horse like Frank; he lives for it!” said Brown, “I thought they increased the difficulty from previous years and, despite the lack of rain, they worked so hard on the footing and the riders are grateful for it!”
This is the first CCI3*-L competition for this horse, having completed two CCI3*-S: one at last year’s The Event at Rebecca Farm and one last month at The Event at TerraNova. Brown has been producing the 10-year-old Irish Sporthorse gelding up the levels over the last four years. “I got Frank as a 6yo off a video. When he arrived, he could only be described as feral and between his feral tendencies and the fact that I tore my ACL within a few months of his arrival, it was slow going for the first two years. Nonetheless, I saw the promise in Frank, poured my heart and soul into him, and he’s returned the favor. He has turned into the horse I thought he could be- he LOVES eventing! A true Irish horse.”
Although show jumping has historically been the toughest phase for the pair, Brown is hopeful for a good result Sunday. “Show jumping would historically be our weakest phase as a pair but Frank wants to jump clear and we’ve been working hard at it. I absolutely love showjumping for the win so I’m cautiously optimistic! No matter how tomorrow goes, I will be incredibly proud of Frank; he tries his hardest and if tomorrow isn’t his day, his day will come!”
Brown will remain on her dressage score of 29.3 heading into the final phase, with Jessica Phoenix and Cosmo GS (Humble GS x Carmen GS by Contendro) sitting in second position on a 31.7, and Leslie Law and Must Be Cooley (Livello x Kilmarnock, by Ramiro B) in third on a 34.0.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Afterglow. Photo by Xpress Foto.
In contrast, the CCI2*-L leaderboard saw no change after cross country through the first five positions on the leaderboard. Caroline Pamucku will maintain her lead aboard HSH Afterglow (Hype x Ringwood Venus, by Osilvis) on a 25.6, with Jack Curtis holding on to second place with Cooley Topgun (Conthargos x Erlinde, by Berlin) on a 26.5, and Alexandra Knowles on MBF Starburst (Sligo Candy Boy x Monalease, by Terimon) in third on a 26.9. With no rails in hand among the first eight placings, Sunday’s show jumping promises to be a nailbiter.
Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Olive. Photo by Xpress Foto.
The CCI1*-L divisions also saw no shake-ups to the top three positions, with double clear rounds and no penalties added to the leader’s scores. Caroline Pamucku holds first and second place in the CCI1*-L-A with HSH Olive (Dallas VDL x Ficalien DN, by Baltic VDL) on a score of 27.0 and After Hours (Tolan R x Mystic Touch, Touchdown) on 27.5. Robin Walker maintains third place heading into show jumping aboard Rock Island (Island Commander xx x Coolcorron Gypsey, by Coolcorran Cool Diamond) with a score of 29.5.
Ava Staton added nothing to her dressage score in the CC1*-L-B division to maintain the lead on her own Lamondale Graciana (Grafenstolz x Sovereign Flag xx) on a score of 30.8. Staying in second position is Juliana Cassar on Farwest de Barbereau
(Folamour du Bois x Scala de la Triballe, by Marco du Fot) on a 31.3, and Willow Schwartz holds onto third with RH Finnegan (WakeUp x Daquan) on a 31.7.
Sunday’s show jumping could prove to be incredibly influential as we wrap up the FEI divisions here at the 2025 Ocala International! The final jogs will take place at 8:00am before riders take to the ring to jump in reverse order of placing. The CCI1*L horses will lead the way at 10:00am, followed by the CCI3*-L at 11:30, and the CCI2*-L at 1:20.
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