Course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) made the most of the space in the large arena and set a track that challenged riders to come home clear in less than 83 seconds. As a one-round speed course, the class saw the lead change hands several times before settling on its final victor. Israel’s Ashlee Bond produced the tightest time early in the class with Contefina LVF, and it appeared that the pair would be the class victors but with eight left to contest, de Luca shaved off precious time to shake up the order aboard Dirka de Blondel.
“I was planning to do one stride less in the end, but I didn’t see it,” explained De Luca. “Even so, she is very fast, and she has been winning a lot of her classes since we started this winter. I just started bringing her out for some international classes, and it has been going well so I am glad I can count on her.”
The nine-year-old Selle Francais mare (Very Berlin De Castel x Lauterbach) is one of several that de Luca now pilots for Poden Farms, and he said the level of quality horses he has this winter has made it the best season yet.
“This has been my best year here so far, without a doubt,” said de Luca. “I have a very good group of horses, and it is motivating to have a rider like Emily Moffitt who wants to step up and has good horses as well. I am busy all day, but I love what I do, and I could not ask for a better group of horses.”
Bond’s time of 64.26 seconds with Ashlee Bond Show Jumping’s 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Contefino 2 x South Pacific) held strong for the second-place position out of the 61 entries. Carlos Hank Guerriero (MEX) and H5 Sport Horses LLC’s 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding H5 Chacco-San (Chacco-Blue x Sandro Boy) slipped into third place by clocking in a clean round in 65.73 seconds.
source: Press Release - Ph. Sportfot.
