Press release from Split Rock Jumping Tour

The Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) returned to the Kentucky Horse Park for the second week of its series with an increased CSI3* rating, featuring the $45,500 FEI Welcome on Friday, June 16. It was ultimately Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) and Louisburg Farm’s Berdien (Bustique x Querlybet Hero) who took the stand at the top of the podium after navigating Alan Wade’s (IRL) jump-off track smoothly, picking up their second FEI win of the week. 

The first round of competition saw 55 starters with 12 jumping efforts and a tight time-allowed of 77 seconds. First in the order of go was Ashe Cawley, Thursday's winner of the $38,700 BetHorseSports 1.45m Speed CSI3*. The pair piloted the course easily and produced the first clear round of the day. Throughout the remainder of the class many riders fell victim to the fence three’s water tray oxer, the skinny, and the Split Rock oxer as just four more combinations found their way fault-free and within the time allowed.

Ashe Cawley and Berdien, a 12-year-old mare Ashe Cawley has ridden since her 6-year-old year, set the pace as the first to go in the jump-off. They crossed the timers in 37.15 seconds, shaving off seconds through the course by navigating the turns smoothly and slicing fences when appropriate. The remaining jump-off competitors included Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Irandole Du Flot (Vivaldi Du Seigneur x Ogano Sitte), Kelly Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA) and Gideon (Super Trooper de Ness x Corland), Tomas Yofre (ARG) and Echo VH Grendal Z (Echo van t Speiveld x Jodokus); and Lacey Gilberston (USA) and Damzelle Ste Hermelle (Upercut Kervec x Paladin des IFS). While all gave the course a fair attempt, none could best Ashe Cawley’s leading time while also producing a clear effort. Yofre ended in second place, while Gilberston settled for third.

“We know each other very well. She fights every time for the win and she loves to show. I’ve never had a horse that loves to show as much as she does,” Ashe Cawley commented of her longtime partner, Berdien.

“I love the classes this show offers. The people here [at Split Rock] always try to do a really good job for the owners, the spectators, and the horses. For me, sometimes the horses get lost in the mix and it’s nice that Derek [Braun] goes out of his way to make it a nice and pleasant experience for the horses and all of us,” Ashe Cawley concluded. 

FEI competition will continue through the weekend, culminated by the $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.50m Grand Prix CSI3*, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Center, on Sunday, June 18. National competition will feature the $20,000 C. Jarvis Insurance 1.40m National Prix in the Walnut Arena and hunters will see the return of the $125,000 Hunter Grand Prix, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute taking place on Saturday, June 17 in the Claiborne Arena.