Farrington’s World Number one dominance on display in Longines victory at Toronto

By Catie Staszak

At a milestone 95^th edition of the prestigious Royal Winter Agricultural Fair, Kent Farrington (USA) proved why he is the world’s top-ranked rider on the Longines Rankings. He and his 2016 Olympic Games partner Voyeur topped the $150,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Toronto in front of a packed, enthusiastic crowd at the only indoor competition in Canada.

Farrington and his 15-year-old mount laid down a flawless jump-off round, winning with a final time of 35.51 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Main Road made a gallant run at the winner, and it came down to the final fence, but the duo crossed the timers just off the pace in 36.84 seconds to finish second. Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Barnetta were the only other double-clear performers to finish third; their time was 43.48 seconds.

“Voyeur’s really been a career horse for me,” Farrington said. “[Owners] the Nusz family have been long-term supporters of my career and bought Voyeur for me with the hope that he’d be a Champion horse for me. He has been—every bit of it and more. Tonight he really showed why he’s special.”

“Voyeur’s really been a career horse for me!” - Kent Farrington (USA)

Six competitors produced clear rounds over the Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed track in the first round, which included four 1.60m verticals, an imposing wall, and a wide, airy final liverpool oxer that proved to be a frequent heartbreaker on course, ending early the night of four-time defending champion McLain Ward (USA), among others. The number of clears was halved in the jump-off, and none made their work look quite as smooth as Farrington and his veteran partner.

“I think what you’re seeing is a horse that I know really well,” Farrington said. “I know his weak points, and I know his strengths. I’m very confident in him to do what he can do. My strategy was to put pressure on the last two so that they were really going to have to try. It’s a great partnership, and I hope he still has some more wins down the road also.”

The victory is Farrington’s first this season on the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League. The League resumes on the west coast in Las Vegas (USA) on Saturday, 18 November 2017. The next east coast event is in Palm Beach (USA) on Sunday, 4 February 2017.

Results

1. Voyeur, Kent Farrington (USA) 0/0 35.51

2. Shane Sweetnam, Main Road (IRL) 0/0 36.84

3. Barnetta, Sharn Wordley (NZL) 0/0 43.48

4. Breitling LS, Beezie Madden (USA) 0/4 35.78

5. Dixson, Ian Millar (CAN) 0/4 40.53

6. GK Coco Chanel, Conor Swail (IRL) 0/15 51.39

Full results can be viewed here

Kent Farrington (USA) – 1^st

“Voyeur is really a bull. He’s great. He’s always had a ton of energy and been a handful, and he’s been like that from Day One. He’ll be turning 16, and obviously he still has a lot left in him, so I’m excited for the future, too.”

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) — 2^nd

“Obviously, Kent’s horse is a very experienced horse, and I knew he was very quick. My guy’s only nine and just did his first indoor grand prix two weeks ago in Washington. I think, in a year’s time, can I catch Kent? Yes. I can catch him, but I have to be realistic with a nine year old, and to come that close, I’m very happy with him.”

Sharn Wordley (NZL) — 3^rd

“My horse has a pace that he likes. In that pace, he’s very capable jumping nearly any grand prix clear. If you get him one notch out of that pace, he doesn’t take to that particularly well. My strategy generally is to just try and go double clear and get the best piece of the prize we can. That theory has proven good for the horse. He jumped great tonight.”

Standings

Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League — East Coast

1. McLain Ward (USA) 45

2. Alison Robitaille (USA) 42

3. Isabelle Lapierre (CAN) 40

4. Conor Swail (IRL) 40

5. Jack Towell (USA) 38

6. Devin Ryan (USA) 37

7. Beat Mändli (SUI) 35

8. Andy Kocher (USA) 32

9. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) 29

10. Beezie Madden (USA) 28

Full standings can be viewed here

Standings

Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League — West Coast

1. Richard Spooner (USA) 38

2. Jamie Barge (USA) 35

3. Sayre Happy (USA) 34

4. Jenni McAllister (USA) 32

5. Laura Jane Tidball (CAN) 32

6. Mandy Porter (USA) 29

7. Jenn Serek (CAN) 29

8. Ali Ramsay (CAN) 27

9. Jennifer Gates (USA) 24

10. Eric Navet (FRA) 20

Full standings can be viewed here