It came down to a minute to win it in the $37,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m Classic CSIO4* to highlight daytime competition in the International Arena on Friday. Well on his way to making his in-ring debut on the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team this weekend, Brian Moggre, 18, was the only rider to break the one-minute mark over the speed track.
Moggre, hailing from Flower Mound, TX, bested a field of 47 riders to win aboard new mount Nikita Jolie, the horse he owns together with Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farms. Their time of 58.61 seconds bumped Canada’s Sam Walker to second place in 60.37 seconds aboard Coralissa for owner Marbill Hill Farm.
Nikita Jolie, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare (Numero Uno x Ladalco) came to be with Moggre after a catch ride gone right during week six.
“I borrowed her for the ranking class that week, and quickly decided to purchase her together with Major Wager LLC and Ashland Farms,” said Moggre of how the mare came to join his string. “She went in there today really game, and it’s promising to have a new horse go in and be so successful from the start.”
Moggre put Nikita Jolie’s ground-covering stride to the test and came out on top, saying, “I thought we would give it a go and see what we had. She rose to the occasion, and we seem to know each other well without much time. I’m excited to see what she can do”
Looking forward to his Nations Cup debut on Saturday evening, Moggre said, “This red coat is something I’ve always wanted. Putting it on for the first time was an amazing feeling, and now I never want to take it off.”
Brianne Goutal-Marteau (USA) took third place riding Tanael des Bonnes for owner Gerald Ford in a time 61.41 seconds, while Bliss Heers (USA) finished in fourth in the irons of Antidote de Mars, owned by Bridgeside Farms LLC, with a time of 63. 48 seconds. Erynn Ballard (CAN) capped the top five riding Canora Z in 63.60 seconds for owner Emma Waldfogel.