Sean Leckie Lands the Win in $10,000 1.35m Welcome Speed
Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) kicked off its second week of Desert Circuit competition Wednesday with the $10,000 Platinum Performance 1.35m Welcome Speed. Colm Quinn’s course presented an interesting line up of challenges, featuring multiple combinations, designed to be attacked through tight turns paired with swift pace.
Sean Leckie and BEC Alter Ego. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Sean Leckie, aboard Sarah Freedman’s BEC Alter Ego, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, made his sole ride a winning one. Shaving off more than five seconds from the previous leading rider, Allison Kroff, Leckie clocked in with a wickedly fast time of 60.902 seconds. Only going eighth in the order, Leckie managed to hold on to his leading position after 29 trips had jumped.
Runner up Savannah Jenkins, aboard Casallantum, opted for a tighter rollback from fences eight to nine, fitting in an even paced eight strides. Leckie managed 10 strides through a wider approach, still maintaining his quick pace and edging his way to the top position. Jenkins finished just barely behind Leckie with a time of 62.231 seconds. Youngster Lauren Kolbe followed closely behind Jenkins, crossing the timers in 62.653 seconds and clutching third aboard Full Tilt Farms’ Dots & Dashes.
BEC Alter Ego proved to be the fastest of the day, with the win going to a petite but quick ginger mare with promising potential. Even when she was first purchased by Freedman, Leckie knew she was one to watch. “Right away when [Sarah Freedman] sat on it, she knew that was the horse for her,” Leckie, of San Juan Capistrano, CA, said of BEC Alter Ego. “She’s probably one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden; she’s smooth, easy, careful, very modern, and in the barn she’s like a dog. She follows you around.”
This win was just the start for BEC Alter Ego’s career. Leckie has great plans for the mare’s future, primarily with her owner in the saddle. “I see her doing the national grand prixs with Sarah,” he continued. “That’s the goal for her. For me, I try to keep her sharp and in the ring as much as possible.” Leckie’s strong riding is a great backbone to continue developing BEC Alter Ego in hopes that the mare and her owner can piggyback off of her success in classes like today’s $10,000 Platinum Performance 1.35m Welcome Speed.
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