Sharn Wordley Blazes the Trail in the $100,000 Hampton Green Farms Grand Prix at World Equestrian Center – Ocala
March 17, 2024 - Ocala, FL
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
The $100,000 Hampton Green Farms Grand Prix on March 16, 2024, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) was the highlight during the penultimate Saturday night event of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series. With the class featuring under the lights of the WEC Stadium for the first time, it was Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Valentine Car that shined the brightest, claiming the victory.
Renowned course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR) set the challenging track for the 31 horse-and-rider combinations representing 11 nations. Only five pairs managed to jump fault-free in the first round to return for jump-off. First to contest the short course, Wordley set a blistering pace of 41.168 seconds aboard the 15-year-old Warmblood gelding (Son of a Car x Galiani CH) owned by Fernando Cardenas, leaving the rest of the field chasing his time. In the end, he could not be caught and ran away with the win.
“I knew I had to go as fast as I could on ‘Valentine’ because Tracy [Fenney] and Aaron [Vale] were behind me, and that’s a lethal combination,” laughed Wordley. “I just tried to put a bit of pressure on them.”
After attempts to match Wordley resulted in fallen rails, Filippo Pignatti (ITA) opted for a more measured clean round with Ideaal ES, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ukato x Conway) owned by Take the High Road LLC. Their time of 46.311 seconds gave them a second-place finish. Similarly, Wordley guided the less experienced Brin D’or de Haute Melen Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Bamako de Muze x Baloubet du Rouet) owned by Della Wordley, to a controlled double-clear performance in 48.608 for third place.
Wordley is looking forward to the five-star competition during the Longines League of Nations™ at World Equestrian Center – Ocala on March 19-23, where he will represent his home nation of New Zealand as an individual athlete.
“The riders that are coming here have been everywhere in the world, and I just know they are going to be shocked by just how amazing World Equestrian Center – Ocala is,” he said. “I had a quick peak at the WEC Grand Arena, and what they are building is going to be incredible. I’ve been to the Olympics and World Championships, and they don’t compare to the atmosphere that we are going to have here next week.”
Click to watch Sharn Wordley’s winning jump-off in the $100,000 Hampton Green Farms Grand Prix
$100,000 Hampton Green Farms Grand Prix Results:
1 Valentine Car, Sharn Wordley (NZL), Fernando Cardenas: 0 | 0 | 41.168
2 Ideaal ES, Filippo Pignatti (ITA), Take The High Road, LLC: 0 | 0 | 46.311
3 Brin D’or de Haute Melen Z, Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 0 | 0 | 48.608
4 MTM Apple, Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0 | 4 | 41.157
5 Cristo Beech, Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse & Alise Carrico: 0 | RT
6 MTM Pablo, Dorothy Douglas (USA), Davenport Farms: 4 | 71.517
7 Downtown’s Main Event, Shannon Sullivan (USA), Shannon Sullivan: 4 | 71.969
8 James Bond HX, Samantha Schaefer (USA), Bonne Chance LLC: 4 | 73.908
9 Any, Kady Abrahamson (USA), Abrahamson Equestrian LLC: 4 | 75.344
10 K-One Pgo, Jelmer Hoekstra (NED), Hoekstra Stables: 4 | 75.718
About World Equestrian Center
World Equestrian Center features two premier equestrian and multidisciplinary venues in Ocala, Florida, and Wilmington, Ohio.
These exclusive facilities comprise state-of-the-art arenas, expansive stadiums, versatile outdoor space, sporting fields and well-appointed exposition centers. An abundance of lodging options and luxury accommodations are conveniently located on-site, along with shopping and dining throughout each property.
Dedicated to offering great sport and good fun in a family-friendly environment, World Equestrian Center promises an unparalleled experience for exhibitors, spectators, vendors, sponsors and retailers built on three core values: Quality. Class. Distinction.
Learn more at wec.net.
Media Contact:
Justin Garner
justin.garner@wec.net
