The Ocala Premiere, the third week of the 2025 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit at the newly renovated HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, continued to deliver world-class show jumping action. Riders from around the globe returned to this premier venue, which has become a seasonal hub for top equestrians. The highlight of the week was the $80,000 Voltaire Grand Prix on Saturday, February 1, drawing an elite field of competitors and keeping spectators on the edge of their seats. In the end, it was New Zealand Olympian Sharn Wordley who claimed the top prize for the second week in a row, this time aboard his partner Hagelin.
Twenty-four horse-and-rider combinations took on the challenging track designed by Martin Otto (GER), with eight jumping clear to move on to the shortened course for a thrilling jump-off. Among them, Sharn Wordley had three entries in the class and successfully advanced two to the final round. His second jump-off contender, Della Wordley’s Hagelin, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Stolzenberg x Graf Grannus), delivered an impressive fault-free effort in 43.679 seconds — an unbeatable time that secured the victory.
“It was a very fast and long, galloping jump-off, but there were also some very tight rollbacks,” explained Wordley. “It suited Hagelin very well. He’s the type of horse that makes you feel like you can ride. He’s really fast, really careful, and really consistent.”
Hagelin was originally brought up through the amateur ranks by local veterinarian and amateur rider Erin Haas before Wordley took over the ride just over a year ago. Now looking ahead, Wordley plans to continue campaigning Hagelin throughout the HITS Ocala circuit, aiming for more top finishes.
“He really loves this ring, the prize money is great, and the footing is fantastic,” enthused Wordley, whose company Wordley Martin spearheaded the arena reconstructions at the property.“He’s a very sensitive horse, so these daytime classes suit him better than jumping at night.”
Amateur rider Hayley Waters Wear (USA) and Chuck Waters’s Over Lux, a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Lux Z x Cruising), secured second place with a time of 45.017 seconds. Close behind, Tracy Fenney (USA) and her superstar partner MTM Apple, MTM Farm’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Favorit Ask x Willemoes), rounded out the podium in 45.154 seconds.
The week’s competition began with the $2,500 Adequan Open Welcome, on Wednesday, January 29, setting the stage for an exciting lineup of events. Mexican rider Maya Denis and Postin LS La Silla, her own 10-year-old Warmblood gelding (Prestigio LS La Silla x Presley Boy), delivered a commanding double-clear performance to secure the win in 37.056 seconds. Hot on her heels, Linda Radigan (USA) guided her seasoned 17-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Balougran Z x Voltigeur du Bois), Balveneur Z, to a strong second-place finish in 38.225 seconds. Charles Casey (USA) and Helda d’Elle, an eight-year-old Selle Français mare (Balko d’Elle x Cabri d’Elle) owned by Caroline Williams, put in a solid effort to claim third with a time of 39.691 seconds.
Thursday’s highlight event, the $25,000 Alliant Private Client Cup, saw an impressive display of skill and precision. Kirk Webby (NZL) claimed victory with the only double-clear round of the competition aboard Cameron 38, a 10-year-old Mecklenburg gelding (Cellestial x Lord Kemm) owned by Andrea Clark. David Jennings (USA) guided Quinto, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Vision Van’t Hazelarenhoekje x Libero H) owned by Kyle Perkovich, to the fastest four-fault effort in the jump-off for a second-place finish. Rounding out the podium, Dominique Damico (USA) and Cava, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Cadensky x Farmer) owned by Amberfax Farm Inc., secured third place.
Friday’s competition featured the thrilling $15,000 STX Open Speed Class, where Madison Kondracki and her nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Escudo I, E Storm Cat, blazed through the course to claim victory.
The week’s competition concluded on Sunday with the $24,500 HorseFlight Jumper Classic, where top riders battled it out for the win. Maya Denis (MEX) and her talented nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Callypso De La Hamente Z (Chellsini Z x Kashmir Van Schuttershof), delivered a blazing round in 36.737 seconds to secure the victory.
Tracy Fenney (USA) guided New England Equestrian LLC’s eight-year-old KWPN mare, My Life Be Like (VDL Zirocco Blue N.O.P. x Cartano), to a close second-place finish in 37.046 seconds. Rounding out the podium, Robert Blanchette (IRL) and his own 18-year-old gelding, Coupis (Coupe de Coeur 2 x Canabis), stopped the clock at 37.714 seconds, just fractions behind the leaders.
The action during the Ocala Premiere has concluded, but the excitement resumes on Wednesday, February 5, with the start of the Ocala Winter Classic.
