Wilmington, Ohio – October 14, 2023 – The first $75,000 Grand Prix of the 2023 Fall Classic Series commenced at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington with an internationally acclaimed group of horses and athletes. Twenty-six combinations made their way over FEI Level IV course designer Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) first round track with 14 answering the technical questions to move onto the short course.

Rowan Willis (AUS) ultimately dominated the podium with his dynamic mare duo, taking the blue with Blue Movie (Chacco-Blue x Showtime) and third place with Wellington Grey Goose (Corlensky x Grandira).

The professional rider based in Ocala, Florida, piloted three mounts to the jump-off, and knew his tried-and-true mares would get the job done amongst the competitive and fast field.

“It is a really nice set of jumps here; it encourages these horses to jump well. It was good to go in the ring with Billy Guilder first. He is a big jumping horse but maybe not the fastest. I think he set a good pace for the others to chase. I wasn’t surprised that a few were quicker than him. But it was good to have two of my fast horses go later. Goose was very good, unfortunately I added in two places which probably cost me, but she jumped really well. Having Carrots [Blue Movie] last to go, as long as all of the jumps stay up, she is normally the fastest. She has a really big step, and I am always just trying to contain it. She did the six to the five quite easy.”

Going in the middle of the pack with his own homebred 12-year-old Warmblood mare, Wellington Grey Goose, he moved into a temporary lead in 37.434 seconds.

Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) was quick to challenge Willis’s time with Barbara Disko’s 17-year-old Selle Francais stallion, Sovereign (Frontal x Galledent). The historically quick athlete galloped around the track in 37.115 seconds, ultimately good enough for second and pushing Willis into third.

Goldman-Smolen’s leading time didn’t hold for long, as Willis and his 17-year-old AES mare “Carrots,” to no surprise, jumped a clear and unbeatable time of 36.898 seconds.

Willis and his famous mares were celebrated by a young fan club as they exited the Standlee Sanctuary.

Final Results – $75,000 Grand Prix

1) Rowan Willis (AUS) & Blue Movie, Rowan Willis – 0 | 0 – 36.898

2) Lisa Goldman-Smolen (CAN) & Sovereign, Barabara Disko – 0 | 0 – 37.115

3) Rowan Willis (AUS) & Wellington Grey Goose, Rowan Willis – 0 | 0 – 37.434

4) Vicente Guillen (VEN) & Rustica LS La Silla, Tranquility Farm – 0 | 0 – 37.754

5) Johan Kachelhoffer (RSA) & Cooper B, Johan Kachelhoffer – 0 | 0 – 38.124

6) Rowan Willis (AUS) & Billy Guilder, Rowan Willis – 0 | 0 – 38.152

7) Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) & Ivaro N, Barbara Disko – 0 | 4 – 36.85

8) Sam Pegg (CAN) & Formidable Diamant, Phyllis Harlow – 0 | 4 – 37.627

9) Sarah Meier (USA) & Nightshade SCF, Sarah Meier – 0 | 4 – 38.781

10) Paul Halpern (CAN) & Esra, Vanessa Lee – 0 | 4 – 38.946

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center

Photos: © Winslow Photography

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