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Mary Tyng
and Southshore are Only Clear In Jump Off for $25,000 Ariat Grand
Prix |
Mary Tyng and Southshore
were the only pair able to log a clear round among the eight horse and
rider pairs jumping off for the top prize in today's $25,000 Ariat Grand
Prix at the HITS Indio Desert Circuit. Show jumping action continued after
a week break, and Tyng came into the second half of the Circuit ready
for top competition. "I am not trying to qualify for the World Cup
this year, so I planned a heavier season in the last half of this Circuit,"
said an ebullient Tyng after her victory.
Although Southshore
is used to leading the victory gallop at the HITS Indio Desert Circuit,
the brown half-Thoroughbred gelding is a new ride for Tyng. Southshore
was one of the mounts contributing to Richard Spooner's 2001 HITS Indio
Desert Circuit 2001 Leading Grand Prix Rider title. "We bought Southshore
because he was a successful and seasoned grand prix horse," explained
Tyng. "We are going through an adjustment period as we get to know
one another, but he is so careful.? Tyng is quick to point out that Southshore
is a California-bred horse by Joan Irvine Smith's famous South Pacific.
"With so many horses being imported from Europe, we really need to
promote our American-bred horses," emphasized Tyng.
Tyng was fourth to
go in the jump off and posted the only clear round in a conservative time
of 53.776. Two horses after her, Will Simpson had the time, 46.071, aboard
El Campeon?s Ado Annie, but a rail at the Ariat vertical and then the
final oxer dropped the pair to fourth. However, Simpson holds a commanding
lead in the West Coast League World Cup standings. Ray Texel and his new
grand prix mount, Lexicon, finished second with a time of 50.296 and four
faults, accrued at the final element of the 5b-5c combination.
With half the circuit
completed, the HITS Indio Desert Circuit Leading Grand Prix Rider standings
are wide open, as no single rider has dominated the grand prix classes.
In fact, no rider has posted double wins during the Circuit, speaking
to the high level of competition present.
This fourth week of
the Indio Desert Circuit also marks the first of seven Zone 10 North American
Young Rider Selection Trials. The Indio Desert Circuit is hosting two
of the seven trials, with the next one held during the final week of competition.
For Agate Records:
Place Horse/ Rider/
Owner/ Round 1/Jump-off Faults/Jump-off Time
1st Southshore/ Mary
Tyng/ China Blue Farm/ 0/0/53.776
2nd Lexicon/ Ray Texel/ Beverly Hills Equestrian Park/ 0/4/50.296
3rd Kilkenny Jasco/ Gail Greenough/ Kilkenny Crest/ 0/4/52.791
4th El Campeon's Ado Annie/ Will Simpson/ El Campeon Farms/ 0/8/46.071
5th Harry Potter/ John Pearce/ Jane F. Clark/ 0/8/48.411
6th Pasadena/ Misti Cassar/ Chris Albrecht/ 0/8/55.167
7th Liberty II/ Joie Gatlin/ Freedom Farms LLC/ 0/12 49.619
8th Rigoletto B/ Michelle Parker/ Cross Creek Farms/ 0/VW
March 10 2PM $150,000 Ford Grand Prix of the Desert
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