World no. 1 Kent Farrington led off his Major League Show Jumping season in familiar fashion with his fifth CSI5* Grand Prix win of the year in the $340,000 B&D Builders Grand Prix aboard Greya during the launch of season 5 at Traverse City Horse Shows.
“It’s a privilege to have an athlete like this underneath me; no matter what venue, she can always deliver and she did that again today,” said Farrington about the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colestus X Contender) that has carried him to four of those five-star wins. “She's very fast. Almost more like a cat than a horse; quick across the ground and incredibly careful at the jump, so you can take the first line on almost any fence. She’s a different level horse, which is a huge advantage in a jump-off like today’s.”
Fifteen pairs advanced to Marina Azevedo’s (BRA) tie-breaking jump-off course, but none proved a match for Greya. All-business over the short course, she carried Farrington across the timers in 38.31 seconds.
Julien Anquetin (FRA), a new face to MLSJ and team rider for the DIHP Roadrunners, piloted Blood Diamond du Pont (Diamant De Semilly x Arpege Pierreville), owned by S.C Naquin & E.A.R.L. Ecurie Franck Anquetin H.T.O., to second in 39.05 seconds. Trelawny Trailblazers stalwart Lillie Keenan (USA)—currently ranked within the top 30 in the world—took third aboard longtime partner Fasther (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Farmer) in 39.62 seconds for owner Chansonette Farm.
Farrington, who owns Team KPF and has been a steadfast supporter of the MLSJ tour in recent seasons, spoke to the benefits of the nine additional weeks of five-star sport in North America as a result, saying: “What I'm most impressed with every single year is higher-level riders coming over from Europe, which elevates the level of sport that we have here. That in turn raises everybody's level and allows young riders to see it, and I think that's what we need here in America,” he continued. “There was a time when we didn't have any high-level competitions outside of Florida and now we're starting to have a bunch—great for the future of our sport and great for American show jumping.”
The Roadrunners now lead the MLSJ season standings by a tight margin with 35 points and received a $50,000 bonus for earning the most team points in the qualifier, team competition and Grand Prix throughout the week. Helios—Leg 1 gold medalists from Friday evening—are currently second on 34 points and the Trailblazers in third on 33. Farrington’s own Team KPF sits a narrow fourth on 30 points.
