Kent Farrington wins $400,000 CN Reliablity Grand Prix for second year in a row

The biggest prize money purse on offer at the 'National' Tournament was in today's $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix, CSI5* W, and it was Kent Farrington (USA) who took home the winner's share for the second year in a row with Uceko. Reed Kessler (USA) Cylana finished second, while Charlie Jacobs (USA) and Flaming Star were third.

There were 36 entries in the Grand Prix, but only four were able to clear the first round course set by Werner Deeg of Germany. Fifth place went to Kirsten Coe (USA) and Baronez, who had two time faults.

Entering the ring for the jump-off as reigning champions of the competition, Farrington and Uceko, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Celano x Koriander owned by RCG Farm, picked up a quick pace going to the first jump and never looked back. They had to stretch over a wide oxer halfway through the course, and then went flat out across the ring in the long run to the last two fences. Their speed paid off as they stopped the clock in 48.73 seconds for victory.

Farrington said that Uceko is at his best when he's fresh and has a lot of energy. Although he stands under 16 hands, Farrington said he rides like a “very large horse.” He described, “He actually goes best in big venues like here. He has a massive stride and he's probably the smallest horse in the class, but he has the biggest stride. He's pretty unique like that. He has exceptionally long legs for his body. I think that's why his gallop is so big.”

Farrington was very happy with his win on Uceko, a reliable, successful partner of his for years. “Right now in his career, he's basically learned everything there is to learn. Now it's my job as a rider and a horseman to manage his career, to pick the right venues and the right classes to aim him towards so I can make his career last as long as possible. With as much money as there is now in the sport, it's a matter of managing horses so that they can be at their best when it counts,” he said.

Final Results: $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix CSI-W 5*

1. UCEKO: 2001 KWPN gelding by Celano x Koriander
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), RCG Farm: 0/0/48.73

2. CYLANA: 2002 Belgian Warmblood mare by Skippy II x Darco
REED KESSLER (USA), Reed Kessler: 0/0/50.06

3. FLAMING STAR: 1999 AES gelding by Fairman x Unknown
CHARLIE JACOBS (USA), CMJ Sporthorse LLC: 0/0/53.62

4. QUANTO FINO 2: 2003 Oldenburg gelding by Quick Star x Stutbuch 1
ERIC NAVET (FRA), Signe Ostby: 0/4/54.99

5. BARONEZ: 2001 Warmblood mare by Heartbreaker x Unknown
KIRSTEN COE (USA), Ilan Ferder & Kirsten Coe: 2/102.41

6. NOUGAT DU VALLET: 2001 Selle Francais gelding by Scherif D'elle
KATHERINE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners: 4/93.12

7. WISTFUL: 2003 Dutch Warmblood mare by Grand Star x Polydor
ASHLEE BOND (USA), Little Valley Farm: 4/93.20

8. POLINSKA DES ISLES: 2003 Selle Francais mare by Diamant de Semilly x Valespoir Malabry
FRANCOIS MATHY (BEL), Team Harmony & Francois Mathy: 4/94.37

9. V: 2002 KWPN gelding by Landstreicher x Lennard
KATIE PRUDENT (USA), Michael Smith: 4/94.47

10. ROMANTOVICH TAKE ONE:  2000 KWPN gelding by Numero Uno x Karandasj
CHRISTINE MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 4/94.83

Source: Spruce Meadows