Press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala, edited by World of Showjumping

The 2026 Summer Series is in full swing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC), with Saturday night Grand Prix events once again serving as the highlight of each week. Spectators and exhibitors gathered to watch a field of 40 horse-and-rider combinations representing 15 nations battle for top honors in the $85,000 4CYTE Grand Prix CSI2*. In the end, it was Tracy Fenney (USA) who once again rose to the occasion aboard Davenport Farms’ MTM Pablo (Perigueux x Contendro I), securing the pair’s second FEI victory of the week in their first international competition together.

The 1.45m track, designed by Andy Christiansen (ECU), featured 16 jumping efforts and proved more challenging than it initially appeared. With rails coming down throughout the course, only eight combinations managed to produce fault-free efforts and advance to the jump-off.

Aaron Vale (USA) was the first to return, piloting Nimbus RFB (Kannan GFE x Arezzo VDL) to a quick time of 41.83 seconds, but two unlucky rails kept them from contention.

Selcuk Koksalan (TUR) then produced the first clear jump-off round aboard his own Cordis Totalis Z (Comilfo Plus Z x T'Is Voltaire D'01), stopping the clock in 46.67 seconds to set the early benchmark.

Vale returned later in the order with Chutter du Rouet PS (Chacoon Blue x Sir Shutterfly). One rail again proved costly, though the pair crossed the timers in a swift 42.19 seconds.

Fenney entered the ring next with MTM Pablo, fresh off a victory in Thursday’s $32,000 4CYTE Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2*. Despite their recent success, Saturday night’s class marked just Fenney’s second Grand Prix with the talented gelding.

Fenney has admired MTM Pablo from the sidelines since he was seven years old, but only recently took over the ride. “I really didn’t start riding him until May,” Fenney shared. “Little by little, I got to know him. We made a plan to maybe market him, but then we just decided I needed to start showing him. I showed him the first time last week during the Opener and did a few speed classes. I did the 1.30m, then the 1.40m, then the night class to get a feel for him under the lights. Now, I am stepping right into FEI, which I am already timid of doing FEI, which everyone knows,” laughed Fenney. “It’s been quite an experience this week, but it’s been a thrill.”

When it came time for the jump-off, Fenney stuck to her usual strategy. “My plan is always to go as fast as I can and try to leave the jumps up.” 

Fenney did exactly that. The 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding flew around the short course, stopping the clock in an unbeatable 40.67 seconds.

Reflecting on the round, Fenney admitted it didn’t start exactly as planned. “I thought the first jump I got too long, I didn’t like it, and I really didn’t like the second jump. Then he kind of kicked into a different gear, and he was phenomenal from then on. I couldn’t have asked him to do anything different after those first two jumps. He was amazing,” she expressed. 

Fenney credits much of the gelding’s success to his attitude and willingness to perform. “I love his energy, and he’s just so beautiful, and he gives it his full effort every single time.” 

New Zealand’s Sharn Wordley (NZL) claimed second place aboard Della Wordley’s 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Hagelin (Stolzenberg x Graf Grannus), delivering a clear jump-off in 42.12 seconds.

Wilton Porter (USA) rounded out the podium with Sleepy P Ranch BV’s 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding Sternmarke 3 (Stakkato x Escudo I), crossing the timers in 43.14 seconds.

Maya Denis (MEX) earned the $5,000 bonus as the highest-placed U25 rider after piloting Charly Brown 353 (Companiero x Caretino) to the fastest four-fault score in the opening round, finishing ninth overall. Juan Pablo Cruz also received a $1,000 bonus as the groom of the winning horse.