Edited press release from Wellington International

The USA’s own Kent Farrington is now two-for-two in five-star action at Wellington International. The world no. 3 rider clinched a second consecutive CSI5* victory in the $500,000 Lugano Grand Prix aboard his 2024 FEI World Cup™ Final partner Greya during the Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) ‘Saturday Night Lights’ on February 22. Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition and four five-stars, WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington, FL.

In front of a sold-out stadium, Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) built a testing track that saw seven pairs advance to a tie-breaking jump-off, led off by another U.S. team rider Lillie Keenan.

Keenan set a steady jump-off standard of 45.47 seconds with her FEI World Championship horse Argan de Beliard (Mylord Carthago x Ahorn). Their lead held until Farrington and Greya—an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Contender)—showcased speed and precision to steal the lead in 40.24 seconds.

“In these bigger arenas, her foot speed is so high across the middle where there's a sprint to the next fence and that's where she makes up a lot of ground, which makes her very hard to catch,” Farrington said after securing the victory. “She's ultra careful so you can run at the jumps at speed and she's an incredible competitor—a great modern show jumper.”

Despite back-to-back wins at the five-star level against Olympic combinations, Farrington maintains that Greya has yet to fully peak. “It’s an exceptional horse, but she's still up and coming, I would say. She's coming of age now where she can really compete and I'm proud of what she's showing she can do. I've always thought a lot of the horse since she was young and I'm happy how she turned out. I'm enjoying the moment."

“She's an alpha horse,” continued Farrington of Greya’s overall character. “She's in charge.  She's very confident in herself and part of making those horses great is allowing them to keep that character and be who they are. That's ultimately what makes them great fighters in the ring.”

Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny put forth a huge effort to catch Farrington in the jump-off but came up short by just under a second in 41.22. “I think even if I did seven less [to the double], I wouldn't have beat Kent,” he admitted after clocking a podium result with Eddy Blue, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Chacco-Blue) owned by Carol A. Sollak. “He's a different type than Kent's horse; he has a massive stride, so for me in a jump-off there needs to be somewhere I can do less strides than Kent, but I was very proud of the horse. He's jumped clear in the last eight or nine five-star grand prix.”

Kenny set the Lugano Grand Prix as a goal this season and while celebrating the top finish recalled the journey with Eddy Blue – one that interestingly also took place alongside Greya. “Kent and I were both jumping 1.30m at Spruce Meadows with Eddy Blue and Greya, struggling a lot and we built from there. It's quite nice to see them finish first and second in a grand prix like this after that start.”

Keenan held on for third with her 15-year-old Selle Français gelding owned by Chansonette Farm. “He's my reliable partner,” she said of Argan de Beliard. “I've jumped a lot of Nations Cups for Team USA with him, and typically I go first for the team, so we're used to going early. He's the kind of horse that you can walk your plan, and he sticks to it; he's incredibly traditional. He gave me everything once again tonight.”

Keenan has grown up riding at Wellington International after first competing on ponies. “Wellington has become my home,” she said. “Whenever you get to ride in front of a big crowd like this, it makes it that much more fun and meaningful for all of us. It makes the horses and the riders better.”

To conclude the night, Denise Moriarty was awarded the Double H Farm Grooms Award and $500 prize for her care of Greya. Alessandra Volpi (USA) was also presented with the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award in recognition of her consistent performances throughout the week.