National Sunshine Series II Round-Up

$50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Saturday’s course, designed by Rian Beals of Saugerties, New York, was bright, beautiful and nothing short of supreme-caliber competition standard. The riders were also thrilled to show beneath the lights of the newly updated Grand Prix Ring.

“I really enjoy building the courses for the hunter derbies,” said Beals. “We can get creative with the natural elements used in the fences to create a very interesting challenge for the horses and riders.”

A crowd gathered at an exhibitor party during the derby to watch riders and horses go head-to-head for the prestigious title. John French would be the rider to take home the victory in Saturday’s Hunter Derby with Center Court, owned by Hiller Farms, LLC.

“It was nice showing in the Grand Prix ring, and all of the horses all seemed to jump well,” said French. “The course was nice and allowed for some areas with tighter turns that you could try—that’s good when there is a variation of what you can and can’t do in the course; the jumps were very nice as well.”

French and Center Court took the blue with an overall total score of 374, nearly twenty points above the competition.

“My plan was to play it a little safe— I wanted to be handy but also prudent,” said French. “[Center Court] was super smooth, and although we didn’t take all of the height options, it worked out well getting a high score from the judges. It’s also really nice to have this kind of prize money for the hunters on the west coast.”

Second place went to Hope Glynn riding Lake of Stars, owned by Sabrina Hellman. Third place was Sami Milo and Lulavani, owned by Cavallo Stables, LLC.
 

$34,600 HITS Welcome Stake FEI CSI-4*
Rich Fellers dominated the Welcome Stake to kick of the FEI-4* Week last week piloting the infamous Flexible, owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman.

“I showed Flexible in the Grand Prix Ring on the brand new footing installed here in Thermal prior to this show,” Fellers said after the win on the freshened up footing. “He is 22 years old and he had the longest stride of his illustrious career. Congratulations on the new ground.”

In a ten-horse jump-off, they clocked in with the final clear round of the field in 39.51 for the blue ribbon. Second in the ribbons was Samuel Parot riding Atlantis, and third was Andrew Ramsay riding Stranger 30, owned by The Stranger Group.
 

 $52,500 Coachella Valley Classic FEI CSI-4*
As the buzz of FEI week came to a median, Friday’s FEI class was underway to generate a weekend full of excitement.

Guido Klatte Jr. took home the win at National Sunshine Series aboard Qinghai, owned by Guido Klatte Sr. They garnered the quickest trip out of only two clear rounds in the eight-horse jump-off. They clocked in at 39.75 for the lead.

Nayel Nassar and Lordan followed just fractions of a second behind in 39.91 for second place. Third place honors went to Kevin Babington riding Double O Seven 7.

Nassar and Babington battled it out all week. Nassar took home a ribbon in the top three of two FEI classes and Babington garnered a win or place in the top three in a plethora of classes over the two-week series.

$5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome
Wednesday’s Welcome kicked off an exciting week at HITS Desert Horse Park. Joie Gatlin took home the top honors with Rammstein, owned by Jasmine Weber Tally.

Second place belonged to Sarah Cillie riding Amiracle, owned by DP Racing, and rounding out the top three was Laura Hite aboard Solos Consept.

For full results, please click here.