Zume Gallaher (USA) piloted her brand-new partner, Crescendo VHL to the only double-clear effort. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala, edited by World of Showjumping
The CSI2* $65,000 Dover Saddlery Grand Prix kicked off Sunday’s feature competition with 31 top horse-and-rider combinations vying for the win. After an exciting five-horse jump-off, it was Zume Gallaher (USA) who piloted her brand-new partner, Crescendo VHL (Connor 48 x Clarimo), owned by Blue Gate Stables, LLC, to the only double-clear effort, making their first international Grand Prix together a winning one.
Another technical track designed by Colm Quinn (IRL) tested the field, and in the end, just five combinations managed to stay under the time allowed and keep all the rails in place to advance to the jump-off.
Zume Gallaher and Crescendo VHL accept their first-place awards, presented by Jim Wolf of World Equestrian Center and Tracy Burke representing Dover Saddlery. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Brian Moggre (USA), coming off a fresh third-place finish in Saturday night’s CSI4* $200,000 LeMieux Grand Prix, returned with Johann FS Z (John Doe x unknown). The pair laid down a quick round in 42.80 seconds, but an unfortunate rail kept them from the top spot.
Gallaher was next to return and kept her plan simple aboard the 11-year-old AES gelding. “I really just wanted to have a nice, efficient, but clear round. Not crazy fast. I knew there were a lot of really fast people behind me, but the goal was a nice round. I haven’t done a Grand Prix with him yet, so I really just wanted to have a good experience.”
At the sound of the tone, the pair were off. “To fence one, I wanted to angle a little and then have a tight, efficient turn to the vertical. I probably should have walked that line, but I didn’t, so I rode it off my eye to the third vertical. Then another efficient turn to the oxer in the center. I planned eight strides to the double, then another tight rollback to the liverpool oxer, and eight to the last.”
Jessica Springsteen found the fastest time aboard Gmail, but a rail at the combination placed them second. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Gallaher and Crescendo VHL crossed the timers in an unbeatable 36.36 seconds with all rails still in their cups.
Crescendo VHL has already proven to be a strong partner for Gallaher. “I got him in the fall last year. He’s fairly new to me. He’s done a bunch of 1.40m and 1.45m classes in Europe. He’s just a blast to ride. He’s been an absolute pleasure to get to know, and he’s so competitive. It’s just so fun having a horse that is ready to go out there and win."
Jessica Springsteen (USA) found the fastest time of the two-star jump-off in 35.45 seconds aboard Stone Hill Farm’s 10-year-old Selle Français gelding Gmail (Cornet Obolensky x Diamant de Semilly), but a rail at the combination placed them second.
World no. 9 Daniel Coyle (IRL) rounded out the podium riding Ariel Grange’s 13-year-old Zangersheide mare Urville Z (Ukato x Crown Z). The pair stopped the clock in 36.41 seconds but had a heartbreaking rail at the second-to-last fence to land them in third place.
Then