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Darius De W dominates 1.45m Open Jumpers with Andy Kocher at Kentucky Spring Classic

Saturday, 18 May 2019
CSI3* Kentucky Spring Classic 2019

Photo © Callie Clement/Phelps Media Group. Andy Kocher and Darius De W. Photo © Callie Clement/Phelps Media Group.

 

Press release from Phelps Media Group

 


 

Friday morning at the Kentucky Spring Classic opened with the $5,000 1.45m Open Jumpers to kick off jumper competition in the Rolex Stadium, which saw 32 horse-and-rider combinations test over Kelvin Bywater’s (GBR) 13-effort track. Seven pairs produced clear rounds to ride to an immediate 6-obstacle jump-off where Andy Kocher and Eye Candy Jumpers’ Darius De W captured the fastest time of 31.915 seconds to earn the first win of the morning. Following in second was Ryan Genn, with Hardin Towell finishing in third.

Genn set the early pace with the first double-clear finish in a quick time of 32.139 seconds aboard Taylor Reid’s Dieta. The time set forth by Genn and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare would remain unbeatable through a large duration of the class as athletes chased the pair’s double-clear effort.

Towell and his Oakmont Stables LLC entry, Joli Jumper, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, challenged Genn 12 rounds later with the next fault-free jump-off round in 34.737 seconds, but fell short of the leading time.

Kocher and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding followed after three combinations to produce the next double-clear round, flying to the fastest time of 31.915 seconds to best Genn and Towell’s top two times.

All three leading riders topped the class aboard new mounts for the 2019 show year. In his early partnership with Kocher, Darius De W marked his first big victory Friday morning at the Kentucky Spring Classic.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Andy Kocher – $5,000 1.45m Open Jumpers winner

On Darius:
“He’s just stepping up to this level. One of my owners, Eye Candy Jumpers, bought him last year in England and we’ve slowly been bringing him along through WEF and now here to Kentucky. I’m hoping he’s going to be a nice 1.50m horse or more. We’re just getting going and I would say this is his first big win. He has won some 1.40m classes, but this is his first 1.45m win so we’re excited about him.”

On the course:
“Jacqueline [Steffens] who works for me was first to go in the class and I was tied up so I wasn’t able to walk the course, but I came and watch her go. I didn’t really know the course or the strides, so I had Jackie explain and set jumps. She wanted to tell me the jump-off and I thought ‘oh, she can tell me later.’ I went clear so I ran over to the in-gate and she told me the jump-off then. He jumped really well and I got lucky and we won a class.”

On Kentucky Horse Shows:
“Previously I went to Old Salem, but I really prefer this facility. It rains hard each year, but it’s built for it – the rings drain and the footing is good. Last year I had a horse named Kahlua here who is probably my horse with the best results to date. She came here and she won two ranking classes, so I had great success with her and I think that;s why I like coming here. I also like coming here because we brought around 18 horses and there’s classes for everyone – we can jump from the 1.0m up to the grand prix, but the main thing I think is the facility.”

$5,000 1.45m Open Jumper

1. Darius De W / Andrew Kocher / 0 | 66.281 / 0 | 31.915
2. Dieta / Ryan Genn / 0 | 59.961 / 0 | 32.139
3. Joli Jumper / Hardin Towell / 0 | 65.845 / 0 | 34.737
4. Chaccomo 11 / Theo Genn / 0 | 66.286 / 0 | 41.874
5. Freaky Liefhebber / Jacqueline Steffens / 0 | 63.668 / 4 | 33.166
6. Chippendale’s Boy DZ / Sloane Coles / 0 | 65.586 / 4 | 34.398
7. Vragance Manciaise / Teddy Vlock / 0 | 62.202 / 4 | 36.004
8. Randon Pleasure / Fabio Costa / 4 | 60.038
9. E’special P.S. / Karl Cook / 4 | 61.831
10. Bull Run’s Prince Of Peace / Kristen Vanderveen / 4 | 62.281
11. Firewall / Theo Genn / 4 | 63.412
12. Imogen De Regor / Callan Solem / 4 | 63.553



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