Hunter Holloway and VDL Bravo S (c) Flying Horse Photography
In a five-horse jump-off, Holloway and VDL Bravo S jumped the faster of two double clear rounds in 42.97 seconds. Matt Cyphert and his own Lochinvar finished second in 43.42 seconds. Bjorn Ikast completed the fastest four-fault round in 43.28 seconds to place third aboard Bovee Limited Liability Partnership's Colorado.
Seventeen-year-old Holloway, of Topeka, KS, has been making a name for herself in both the hunter and jumper rings. This was only VDL Bravo S's second Grand Prix, and together the team took home the $6,000 first place prize.
"This win means so much to me because [VDL Bravo S] just keeps stepping up to the plate each time. I think it's a very great start to an exciting future with him," said Holloway.
VDL Bravo S is a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding who was discovered by Diane Carney and bought by one of her customers, Virginia Bartholomay. In Ocala, Hays Investment Corporation partnered with Bartholomay on the ownership of VDL Bravo S.
"I started riding him toward the end of Ocala, just in the low juniors and little classes like that. Since then, he has continued to move up through the ranks," said Holloway. "We're going to continue showing at the Grand Prix level and keep letting him get more experience. All of our horses will get a couple of weeks off before we head to Saugerties, NY."
Holloway trains with her mother, Brandie Holloway, and often competes alongside her in the jumper ring, including this week's Grand Prix and Welcome Stake. When asked what it's like competing against her mother and trainer, Holloway replied, "I'd say we're competitive with each other, but also supportive. If someone is going to beat me, I want it to be her, and vice versa. If we're going to lose we would hope it's to each other!"
$60,000 Official Lodging & Restaurant Partners Grand Prix:
1. 1471 - VDL BRAVO S - OWNED BY VIRGINIA T BARTHOLOMAY - HUNTER HOLLOWAY 0/0/42.97
2. 1302 - LOCHINVAR - OWNED BY MATT CYPHERT - MATT CYPHERT 0/0/43.426
3. 115 - COLORADO - OWNED BY BOVEE LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP - BJORN IKAST 0/4/43.288
4. 1175 - ACITA - OWNED BY NAYEL NASSAR - NAYEL NASSAR 0/4/44.34
5. 91 - CWESTORETO - OWNED BY PALMER DIVIDE RANCH - SUSAN GRIFFIS 0/12/49.125
6. 466 - CHIANTO - OWNED BY FOREST VIEW FARM - CHIANTO 4/71.201
7. 889 - SOUTHERN PRIDE - OWNED BY BLAIR CUDMORE - KAREN CUDMORE 4/73.05
8. 1425 - ALREADY - OWNED BY KEW FARMS - JEFFREY FIELDS 4/74.036
9. 1472 - LUCKY STRIKE - OWNED BY HAYS INVESTMENT CORP - BRANDIE HOLLOWAY 4/75.154
10. 600 - CEONTO - OWNED BY BLAIR CUDMORE - KAREN CUDMORE 4/75.201
11. 1426 - CYRUS - OWNED BY BLAKE GARDINER - BLAKE GARDINER 4/75.486
12. 488 - CHANTICO - OWNED BY KAREN BALL - JOHN PEARCE 4/77.405
The $20,000 Serenity Farm Show Stables Open Welcome Stake took place on Thursday, July 16, and saw 22 competitors take on the course. With 12 competitors advancing to the jump-off, it made for an exciting class for riders and spectators alike. Matt Cyphert aboard his own Lochinvar claimed victory with the fastest double clear in a time of 41.82 seconds. In a close second was Brandie Holloway piloting Hays Investment Corporation's Lucky Strike, posting a time of 41.85, and in third was her daughter, Hunter Holloway, aboard Virginia T Bartholomay's VDL Bravo S with a time of 42.10 seconds.
$20,000 Serenity Farm Show Stables Open Welcome Stake Results:
1. 1302 - LOCHINVAR - OWNED BY MATT CYPHERT - MATT CYPHERT 0/0/41.824
2. 1472 - LUCKY STRIKE - OWNED BY HAYS INVESTMENT CORP - BRANDIE HOLLOWAY 0/0/41.855
3. 1471 - VDL BRAVO S - OWNED BY VIRGINIA T BARTHOLOMAY - HUNTER HOLLOWAY 0/0/42.104
4. 1425 - ALREADY - OWNED BY KEW FARMS - JEFFREY FIELDS 0/0/43.119
5. 299 - SUPER BAD - OWNED BY BLAIR CUDMORE - KAREN CUDMORE 0/0/43.819
6. 303 - CANDYMAN - OWNED BY BRENDA BOTTUM - BJORN IKAST 0/0/46.519
7. 488 - CHANTICO - OWNED BY KAREN BALL - JOHN PEARCE 0/0/49.32
8. 1173 - NAKICH DOUBLE DUTCH - OWNED BY MADELEINE LOUISE WILSON - MADELEINE LOUISE WILSON 0/4/44.188
This week's competition also saw the Children's & Adult Jumper Central Region Championships, with both team and individual winners awarded. In the $10,000 Individual Adult Jumper Championship, Kate Jenks and her own Breakfast at Tiffany's took home the tri-color. In the $10,000 Individual Children's Jumper Championship, Isabella Baxter aboard Shannon Hicks' Keystone claimed the championship.
Competition at Colorado Horse Park continues July 31, 2015 in Parker, CO, with Dressage in the Rockies I. For more information and full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com or www.coloradohorsepark.com.