Amazing Amanda Gomez Thrives in the Andalusia Country Club Welcome at Desert International Horse Park

By Jumper News USA on November 13, 2024

Thermal, California, USA – November 06, 2024 – Amanda Gomez (USA) has consistently proven that she and Charly-Ann are ones to watch in speed classes at the Desert International Horse Park, and the duo demonstrated that again on Wednesday evening, November 6 during National Sunshine Series 2. From a field of 65 entries, Gomez and Charly-Ann topped the $10,000 Andalusia Country Club 1.35m Welcome Speed by a margin of more than a second.

From the first vertical to the last, Gomez used Charly-Ann’s natural foot speed to take the victory in a time of 57.611 seconds.

Second place went to Mark Kinsella (IRL) on Cameron Z, who cleared the course in a time of 58.701 seconds. Finishing in a very close third place was Michelle Bion (USA), who rode Madges Lane Gem to a time of 58.703 seconds.

“[Charly-Ann] just came out with a good attitude today and wanted to win, so it made my job very easy!” said Gomez of the 13-year-old Holsteiner mare, owned by Rising Star Equestrian. “She’s definitely naturally fast, and she’s naturally careful, so those are two very good qualities to have in a speed class like this. Typically, the more I let her gallop, the more careful she gets, which is again another really great advantage to have in a class like this.”

On her way to the win, Gomez coupled the mare’s carefulness and naturally fast pace with strategic leaveouts that left her well ahead of the large field.

“Walking [the course], I thought maybe seven [strides] up the first line; after talking about it, I just realized that if I wanted to win, I had to do six and then kind of just keep flowing through the rest of the course,” continued Gomez. “I met the six beautifully up the first line. All the numbers ended up being right on step with what I walked and the rhythm that I ended up starting out with, so everything just kind of went in my favor today, which is great!”