It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon as competitors took to the Grand Prix Ring for the third grand prix of the 2024 HITS Vermont Summer Festival. The $30,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix was the exclamation mark on a thrilling week of competition, and ultimately, it was Michael Kocher (USA) and Dexterity Z that took home the top prize.
The track, set forth by Mark McGowan of Stewarton, Scotland, proved to be a challenging one as rails fell and time faults were accumulated. Kocher and his Dexterity Z sealed their victory as the only pair to jump double-clear. At only seven years old, the win comes as Dexterity Z’s second grand prix victory.
“Dexterity Z has a really big gallop, which helped us make up some time in between fences and stay within the time allowed,” said Kocher. “There were a couple of option lines where I could use his canter to take a stride out, or put a bend in to create more space.”
Kocher bought the impressive United States-bred Warmblood gelding (Dominator 2000 Z x Canezaro) as a six-year-old last year. They competed in their first grand prix together in February 2024, and then won their first grand prix later that month.
“He’s very talented and scopey,” shared Kocher. “He’s careful; he doesn’t want to hit the jumps. He just has that competitive drive to win, and he tries so hard.”
It was also a good day at the office for David Tromp Show Stables as their horses and riders claimed the second- and third-place ribbons. David Tromp (USA) rode the eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding Dubai Z by Dakar VDL to the runner-up position. Close behind, Alysson Siopes (USA) rode Eldo van de Helle, the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Eldorado van de Zeshoek TN x Arpeggio) to third place honors.
The Manchester Classic was packed with elite jumper competition. Earlier in the week, Morgan Ward and Fenn, Tyson Ziebarth’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Landwind II B), took the win for the third consecutive week in the $7,500 STX Open Speed Class.
In the $5,000 Horseflight Jumper Classic, Jennifer Wright and Halvu, Wright Start Outsourcing LLC’s 12-year-old KWPN gelding (Phin Phin x Lavaletto), took home top honors.
Competition resumes Tuesday, July 23, with Equitation Tuesday and the Valley Classic at HITS Vermont. For a full list of results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
