Nick Skelton and Heracross Triumph in $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers

Class winner, Heracross, is a thirteen-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ramiro B x Clover Hill. Heracross was previously ridden by Irish show jumper Francis Connors as well as Swedish rider Stephanie Finetto. Skelton purchased the gelding at the end of the year, just before Christmas, and showed him at the London International Horse Show at Olympia in December before traveling to Wellington.

Skelton dominated last year’s FTI WEF circuit with his many top horses, but has had a lower profile so far this winter. His Olympic mount, Big Star, will come out for the bigger classes towards the end of the circuit. For these first few weeks, Skelton has been showing several new and younger horses. He was pleased to get a nice win on Heracross in Wednesday’s class and looks forward to moving him up throughout the circuit.

“He is really a nice, easy horse,” Skelton stated after the class. “He turns really well. There were a lot of turns in that course, so I didn’t have to gallop too fast because he is such a quick turner. It was a nice class; it is good to win.”

Skelton spoke about Heracross and his traits, noting, “He is an Irish horse and one thing with the Irish horses is that they go on for a long time. He is quite a cobby horse, but he is very agile. He has a lot of blood, really, for a big horse and he is easy to ride, so I really like him.”

Heracross will now have a short break while Skelton goes home to England for a few days. He will then come back to show during week five and start jumping in some of the grand prix classes. Big Star is currently in quarantine after arriving in the U.S. and will share the grand prix duties with Heracross as he gets into the rotation.

Week four of the FTI WEF will continue on Thursday with the $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4 in the International Arena at 1 p.m. The hunters will also be featured with the presentation of championship honors in The Sanctuary Regular Conformation Hunter division in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

 

 

Final Results: $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Speed

1. HERACROSS         NICK SKELTON         NICK SKELTON: 0/58.655

2. TWISTER    DARRAGH KENNY      CAVALLO FARMS: 0/59.219

3. HH PALOUCHIN     RODRIGO PESSOA     DOUBLE H FARM: 0/59.528

4. SOLERINA  SHANE SWEETNAM    SWEET OAK FARM: 0/60.049

5. AVENIR      CHRISTINE MCCREA  CANDY TRIBBLE: 0/60.307

6. AMADORA  BEEZIE MADDEN       ABIGAIL WEXNER: 0/60.928

7. UNEX BILLY ON SHOW     TIM GREDLEYUNEX COMPETITION YARD: 0/62.457

8. UNICO       MARIO GAMBOA       STRANSKY’S MISSION FARMS: 0/66.699

9. MARANON LS       LAURA KRAUT          EQUINVEST: 0/66.966

10. CHANTILLY         SLOANE COLES         SLOANE COLES: 0/67.431

11. ZABEL D   LAUREN HOUGH        BELLE GREY FARM: 0/68.002

12. AK’S CLOWNEY   PETER WYLDE          SOCIETE CIVILE DE L’ECURIE MEUTRY: 0/68.662

 

 

Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, An Official Photographer of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, us.sportfot.com. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.

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