Ocala, Florida, USA – December 08, 2023 – International competition resumed on Friday afternoon in the WEC Grand Arena with the $40,000 Two-Phase Special CSI 3*. A slew of top-notch horse-and-rider combinations put forth their best efforts over a two-phase track built by FEI Level IV course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA). Samantha Schaefer (SUI) saved the best for last, and stole the win aboard Bonne Vie’s Frasier (Carambole x Padinus) to gallop away with her second victory of the day. 

Right before the start of the FEI CSI3* class, Schaefer had scored the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby victory. She quickly traded her shadbelly and threw on a jumper coat and headed straight to the arena. 

Schaefer knew that the track suited her 13-year-old KWPN – Royal Dutch Sport Horse / Dutch Warmblood gelding, “The two-phase format is something Frasier is quite good at. I can keep him in a little box for the first phase, then just use his stride and let him loose in the speed portion.” 

“I am not the best at counting strides. McLain Ward (USA) and Andre Dignelli used to get on me about it all of the time, but I like riding off my eye. Frasier has such a big step, jumps just come up so well. I walked a normal 10 to the last jump, and my barn told me I did eight, but it felt easy. Today, he was just in his element.”

With a time of 32.79 seconds in the speed portion, Samantha Schaefer (SUI) and Frasier snagged the victory by just tenths of a second. 

“Frasier was fantastic today. He felt great, relaxed and in his element,” Schaefer added about the stylish gelding. 

Sharn Wordley (NZL) earned his third podium finish of the week this time aboard Mick Jagger, a 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion by Chacco-blue x Dobel’s Cento with a swift time of 33.31 seconds, just shy of first place. 

Third place went to Jenny Rankin (IRL) and Blackwood Group’s Ibiza (Inshallah De Muze x Indoctro) with a time of 34.31 seconds in the second phase. 

Final Results – $40,000 Two Phase Special CSI 3* – 1.45m

1) Samantha Schaefer (USA) & Frasier: 2010 KWPN gelding by Carambole x Padinus, Bonne Vie LLC: 0 / 0 / 32.79

2) Sharn Wordley (NZL) & Mick Jagger: 2008 Hanoverian stallion by Chacco-blue x Dobel’s Cento, Della Wordley: 0 / 0 / 33.31

3) Jenny Rankin (IRL) & Ibiza: 2013 KWPN gelding by Inshallah De Muze x Indoctro, Blackwood Group: 0 / 0 / 34.31

4) Alise Oken (USA) & Oraline van Prinseveld: 2014 Belgian Warmblood mare by Thunder Vd Zuuthoeve x Convento Van De Helle, Hi Hopes Farm, LLC: 0 / 0 / 34.93

5) Chloe Reid (USA) & Chelsea 179: 2015 Oldenburg mare by Cador 5 x Laudabilis , Live Oak Plantation: 0 / 0 / 35.23 

6) Beat Mandli (SUI)& I. Umonia R 60: 2013 KWPN gelding by Den Ham Blue R x Chellano , Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/0/35.57

7) Fernanda Gabriel (BRA) & Ventisette: 2012 Estonian Sporthorse by Carols x Brillance, Fernanda Gabriel: 0 / 0 / 36.72

8) Kerry McCahill (USA) & Vladimir OLD: 2013 Oldenburg gelding by Van Gogh x San Patrignano Corrado, Kerry Anne LLC: 0 / 0 / 36.87

9) Victoria Ketchum (USA) & Extasy: 2012 Holsteiner mare by Quadros x Clearway, Copperline Farm LLC: 0 / 0 / 37.82

10) Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Jireh: 2014 Holsteiner gelding by Uriko x Colman, Bull Run Jumpers: 0 / 0 / 43.16

11) Jad Dana (LBN) & Fleur-de-Lis’ Cherie: 2012 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Lancer II, The Cherie Group: 0 / 4 / 33.98

12)  Rowan Willis (AUS) & Wellington Grey Goose: 2011 Warmblood mare by Corlensky G x Grandire, Rowan Willis: 4 / 0 / 34.73

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center

Photo: © WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography

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