Ocala, Florida, USA – July 06, 2024 –  National competition is in full swing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala with five more weeks remaining in the 2024 Summer Series. The highlight of the week was the $75,000 Hampton Green Farms Grand Prix, where 20 horse-and-rider combinations competed over a challenging course designed by FEI Level III course designer Peter Grant (CAN). At the end of the night, Olympic Gold Medalist Will Simpson (USA) rode his up-and-coming mount, Keminko N (Grand Slam VDL x Deminka N), to victory.

Eight horse-and-rider pairs from the United States, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil advanced to a clear first round, but only two managed a double clear effort. 

David Cameron (AUS) was the second rider in the jump-off and the first to deliver a clear round. Riding Beijing LS La Silla (Quintero x Carrera La Silla), a 16-year-old La Silla stallion, Cameron set the time to beat at 41.850 seconds.

Will Simpson (USA) then matched Cameron’s clear round aboard Keminko N, owned by Will Simpson Stables Inc. “I knew I could do eight down the first line. I was able to do a pretty quick rollback, and the next was a long gallop across the ring. I missed the leave out, I thought I saw it, but I didn’t want to open him up too much, so I had to throttle down at the last minute. He did the turn back to the green oxer really well, and that’s hard to do for a green horse. Then I made a hairpin turn back to the last combination, and he hung in there perfectly. Then it was a flat-out gallop to the last, and he really fought to keep the rail up,” Simpson said.

The pair flew through the finish, stopping the clock at 40.357 seconds to ultimately lead the victory gallop.

Simpson expressed his excitement about the talented nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) gelding, “He’s a real fighter. I think he knows the sport already and knows how to jump clear. We haven’t quite figured out the bit yet, but he has a lot of promise. I’ve been bringing him up for over a year now, and he’s got a pretty good track record of clear rounds.”

Simpson also competed in the jump-off with a new partner, Imar (Carrera Vdl x Indoctro), owned by Elizabeth Phillips, but had two unlucky rails. Nonetheless, Simpson is thrilled about having two potential superstars in his string. “I feel really fortunate to have a couple of really good horses right now. I love the sport now as much as I did when I first started, and both horses are looking to have a really great future ahead of them.”

Tracy Fenney (USA) had the fastest time in the jump-off, clocking in at 38.519 seconds aboard MTM Farm’s 13-year-old Danish Warmblood mare MTM Apple (Favorit Ask x Willemoes), but a heartbreaking rail at the last fence placed her in third.

Hayley Waters Wear (USA) and Over Lux received the fastest four-faulter award with a quick first-round time of 75.189 seconds with one rail down.

Marcus Gruenthal (GER) received the ‘Luck Of the Draw’ award. 

Final Results – $75,000 Hampton Green Farms Grand Prix

1) Will Simpson (USA) & Keminko N – 0 / 0 – 40.357

2) David Cameron (AUS) & Riding Beijing Ls La Silla – 0 / 0 – 41.850

3) Tracy Fenney (USA) & MTM Apple – 0 / 4 –38.519

4) Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) & Vasco 109 – 0 / 4– 40.570

5) Rodrigo Lambre (BRA) &  J’adore Van Het Klinkhof – 0 / 4 – 41.504

6) Dominique Damico (USA) & Cava – 0 / 4 – 43.400

7)Dorothy Doulgas (USA) & MTM Pablo – 0 / 4 – 44.028

8) Will Simpson (USA) & Imar – 0 / 8 – 46.009

9) Hayley Waters Wear (USA) & Over Lux – 0 / 4 – 75.189

10) Tom Foley (IRL) & Carlos Jd Z – 0 / 4 – 80.401

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center

Photos: ©   WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography

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