January 29, 2023, Myakka City, Florida. The Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) concluded Split Rock Sarasota CSI2* with its inaugural $300,000 Split Rock Championship series in the Grand Prix Arena at TerraNova Equestrian Center. Nearly 140 entries contested the championships, with awards at heights of 1.35m, 1.25m and 1.15m going to Alex Granato, Caelinn Leahy and Aaron Vale, respectively. Canada’s Peter Holmes set the tracks for the $300,000 Split Rock Championship which followed a winning-round format. The top 25% of each section returned for the jump-off round in reverse order.
Alex Granato and King Van Het Keizershof Win the $100,000 1.35m Championship
An exciting afternoon concluded with the $100,000 1.35m Championship with 32 entries, allowing slots for eight combinations to return in the second round. Only four jumped a clear round across the first track and of the three events of the day, it was the only championship to include four-fault finishers in the jump-off round. Martien Van Der Hoeven and Daytona S.E. (Durrant x EnDiva – Torneschwere), owned by Jill Shulman, were the first of the round-one clear pairs to return, jumping around in 44.368 seconds. Haley Hammer followed, crossing the timers with her own Royale du Rouet (Jeff d’Or x Nouveaute du Rouet – Kannanin) 42.466 seconds. Next, Kaitlyn Williams and her own Cassio Melloni (Caretino x Ornelia – Cassini I) edged ahead in 42.041 seconds.
The last to go, Granato and King Van Het Keizershof (Clearway x Werry van het Keizershof – Phin Phin), owned by Kisma Equestrian LLC, blazed across the beam in 38.079 seconds to earn the win by more than four seconds. Williams took second, Hammer in third and Van Der Hoeven placed fourth. “I’ve been lucky enough to see Derek Braun start with his one-day shows at his home farm and seeing what he’s developed just here in the U.S. with a new idea every year, a different leg, and the addition of this series,” Granato said. “It helps the riders with a great payoff.”
It was Granato’s first experience at TerraNova Equestrian Center. “I was really impressed,” he said. “I think the rings, the venue, the barns, the setting are beautiful. It’s really nice to see the amount of space here. It’s close to Ocala. It’s close to Wellington, so it’s not hard to get to. But having all those venues right at our fingertips, it’s a little hard to tear yourself away. But seeing what has been built here, it’ll be something we’ll try to add to our roster a little more.”
Caelinn Leahy and Hennessy Win the $100,000 1.25m Championship
For the $100,000 1.25m Championship, 44 contenders vied for the prize. The format allowed for 11 spots in round two. In the jump-off round, it wasn’t until seventh in the order, Madison Kondracki and her own E Storm Cat (Escudo 1 x Eden GS) went fault-free in 40.649 seconds. With only three left in the order, Caelinn Leahy entered aboard Andrew Bourns’ Hennessy (Eldorado van de Zeshoek TN x Cognac – Verdi TNT), a 2012 KWPN mare, and delivered a clear finish with a new leading time of 39.587 seconds.
Granato followed with Indio (Namelus R x Orriena), owned by Reanna Stahl, DVM, finishing in 38.663 seconds. The pair had a rail and a four-fault score. Last to go, Taylor Flury and Aliboo Farm’s Carrasca Z (Asca Z x CarraLeena x Calato Z) jumped a speedy fault-free round but fell just short with 30.94 seconds. Leahy earned first-place honors and an amateur bonus just ahead of Flury. Kondracki rounded out the top three.
“It is my first time at TerraNova and I’m absolutely loving it,” said Leahy, who rides with Steve Schaeffer and is based out of Maple Park, Illinois. “We’re in the permanent stabling. It’s absolutely beautiful and the rings are riding great. I think a lot of the shows down here can feel a little boxed-in and on top of one another. To have all this open space is awesome. I loved it yesterday. I rode my horses out on the cross-country course and got to take in the views. I think it’s important, especially as horse people, to have a balance, to let your horses be horses and get outside the ring. And then also to allow them to perform at a high-level facility.”
Aaron Vale and Obi Wan Win the $100,000 1.15m Championship
With 62 entries, the $100,000 1.15m Championship format offered 16 spots in the second round. A clear round would not secure a place in round two, so riders needed to be quick to advance. Vale was in tenth with nine riders to follow in the second round. Putting the pressure on, he blazed around the short course with the Thinkslikeahorse and Alison Register-owned Obi Wan (Centadel x Wenezza – Continue), a 2012 bay Warmblood gelding, to give a clear round finish of 43.183 seconds. Amy Foster followed with Juliet Johansson’s T.H. Magic (Akiem x Aguas Dulces Marcella) to finish close behind in 43.205 seconds. Mustafa Shah, aboard his Stakko Couer (Akiem x Aguas Dulces Marcella), crossed the timers in 44.138 seconds.
Shah earned the leading junior/amateur bonus, finishing third overall behind Vale in first and Foster in second. “It’s my first trip here and I’m definitely wowed by it,” Vale said. “The stabling is beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, as well as having the cushy mats inside. You’ve got everything that you could really ask for. You’ve got all these brilliant competition arenas. I think the footing’s quite good. Sometimes the GGT can be a little too firm and I think they’ve got just the right balance here of firm, but it’s got a little give to it as well. So, it’s kind to the horses. And beautiful trails to ride on if you have time. So, it’s just a great facility. We’re lucky to have it here in Florida with the other great facilities in the state.”