Joie Gatlin Gets the Win in $50,000 Blenheim International Jumping Festival Grand Prix
Joie Gatlin rode Uccello de Will to victory in the $50,000 Blenheim International Jumping Festival 1.50m Grand Prix on Saturday, September 24, marking an exciting finale to 2022 grand prix competition at The Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
Renowned course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio set a challenging track in the Oaks International Grand Prix Field for the featured class, and ultimately, only three entries from the 13-horse starting field successfully navigated it without fault. The tough questions then continued in the jump-off.
Ireland’s Mark Kinsella was the first to return aboard Quality H, but a runout at the final fence would leave him with four jumping and four time faults for the eventual third place finish on eight faults in a time of 55.296 seconds. Tina Yates and Ivaludine S were the next to return, and as two rails fell for a final score of eight faults in 39.885 seconds, they left the door open for Gatlin.
With a refusal early on in the short course, the crowd at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park was on the edge of their seat to see if Gatlin would still be able to get the win. As she and Uccello de Will crossed the final sunflower oxer without further fault, she successfully secured the victory with four faults in a time of 47.962 seconds.
“It’s always nice to jump Anthony’s courses,” said Gatlin. “He makes you ride better. He makes you think. He makes the horses have to be rideable, and he makes you have to step up.”
Gatlin has been partnered with her winning mount, Uccello de Will, since January when she acquired the ride on the 14-year-old gelding for owner Darragh Kenny of Oakland Ventures LLC.
“Uccello has probably been around the world more than I have,” said Gatlin. “He jumped in Europe. He’s jumped at the biggest horse shows, the biggest five stars. I was fortunate enough to get the ride from Darragh Kenny, and he and I have been really hitting it off this year since the summer. He’s a big scopey horse, and he’s got a lot of character which he showed me today. He tries really hard for me. I really love him.”
Read more:
Blenheim EquiSports (theplacetojump.com)
