With the only clean round in the jump-off, Molly Talla won the $50,000 World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Antares Saddlery, on Camaron Hills Shanroe, owned by Camaron Hills Farm of Temecula, CA, at the Second Annual Palms Classic Horse Show CSI-W to Benefit Casa de Amparo.

Course designer Guillherme Jorge of Brazil created a variety of challenges for the five-day show held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, but his CSI-W course proved a challenge indeed to 25 horses in the grand prix. With 13 fences and a time allowed of 89 seconds, Mark Watring on Sapphire put in the first clear round going second on course. Fifteen horses later, clear rounds came from Harley Brown on Blue Diamond, Helen McNaught on Moonlight, and then Talla on Camaron Hills Shanroe rode just under the time allowed to a clock of 88.79.

Looking to go clean right up to the very last fence when rails dropped in disappointment were Richard Spooner on Quirino 3, Guy Thomas on Oberon 48 and defending champion Mandy Porter on Summer, owned by Wild Turkey Farms.

Going last in the jump-off, Talla was able to take her time to go clean to win. The jump-off was led by Watring, Brown and Helen McNaught, all with jumping faults. Cameron Hills Shanroe is an 11-year-old Irish sport horse gelding. Talla imported him as a five-year-old. She trains with Ginnie Bryant in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

The number of entries doubled, and twice as many horses and riders competed at the Second Annual Palms Classic Horse Show, which offered more prize money than ever, with added pony, hunter and medal classes, a select Equisales International Sport Horse Auction and the $1,000 Dog Agility Speed Challenge presented by Mary’s Tack & Feed.

A full house with standing room only packed the Equisales International Sport Horse Auction. The sale offered horses at various levels, with 31 consigned, and the highest seller going for $78,000. Equisales International Sport Horse Auction partner Heather Fogarty commented, “Both American and European consignors are very excited about this sale and are planning now to incorporate dressage horses too for the event this fall.” The fall sale is hosted at the Del Mar International Horse Show, also a World Cup Qualifier event to be held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Thirteen teams competed in the $5,000 WCAR Prix de Nations in Friday night’s competition. First place went to Team Fairbanks Femme Fatales with Pam Buie on Donigal riding 1.10 meters, Aurora Griffin on Savvy at 1.20 m, Erica Buie on Friponnier II CH at 1.30 m and Cathleen Calvert on Major Bubbles at 1.40 m. The second place team included Kelly Connor, Lauren Walther, Elizabeth Easton and Stephanie Burris. Following in third place were Paige Dotson, Sophie Benjamin, Nick Wright and Francie Steinwedell-Carvin.

The Palms Classic Horse Show is produced by West Palms Communications, which hosts a second show in its series, the Del Mar International Horse Show, September 28–October 1, 2006. The Del Mar International hosts the $50,000 World Cup Grand Prix presented by Mary’s Tack & Feed, $25,000 Del Mar Dressage Invitational, $10,000 WCAR Prix de Nations, an Equisales International Sport Horse Sale and a $1,000 Dog High Jump Competition. For more information, visit www.jumpdelmar.com


~~~