Braden James and Hermes des Carmilles Claim Victory in $24,999 Marshall+Sterling 1.40m Open Classic
Braden James thinks the future looks quite bright for 9-year-old Hermes des Carmilles, and the gelding’s performance in the $24,999 Marshall+Sterling 1.40m Open Classic held on February 20 certainly indicated the same. James and Hermes des Carmilles topped a 53-horse field to take home the win in the class, held as part of Desert Circuit 7 at Desert International Horse Park.
James was the 35th rider to jump the course designed by Marina Azevedo, and he used the class’s immediate-jump-off format to his advantage.
“I thought it was a great course,” said James. “For some reason for me, in the first round, everything kind of got stuffed in my face a little bit. With [Hermes des Carmilles] especially, he’s always backing off the fences, and now he’s starting to take me up to them. So, I felt like I was waiting everywhere.”
James continued, “Then, with the jump-off, I was able to just flow. He really showed his talent in the jump-off. It was perfect that it was immediate so that we could redo a few things!”
With their further improved performance in the jump-off, James and Hermes des Carmilles set the time to beat at 40.926 seconds. Coming the closest to catching the Canadian rider was Allison Kroff. She rode T-Quick Hurricane Z, owned by TC Sport Horses LLC, to second place with a time of 41.169 seconds. Third place on 42.545 seconds went to Mariano Maggi and his own Quantico 23.
“He’s a special horse,” said James of Hermes des Carmilles, owned by Stump Lake Ranch & Cattle Limited. “I’m just really lucky to have him, and I have awesome owners.”
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