Kent Farrington Continues Winning Form in the $62,500 Florida Coast Equipment Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* Aboard Orafina
Ocala FL – The first of 10 weeks of international competition is well underway during the 2026 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). The $62,500 Florida Coast Equipment Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* kicked things off in the WEC Grand Arena early Thursday morning, and it was World No. 1 Kent Farrington (USA) who proved unbeatable, piloting Orafina (For Fashion x Canturo) to the top of the leaderboard.
FEI Level III course designer Ben Townley of Great Britain set a winding track that saw horses jumping in top form. Out of the field, 15 horse-and-rider combinations advanced to the jump-off, but only five managed to deliver double-clear efforts.
Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) and Brooke Kemper (USA) were the first to tackle the short course, but both would see a rail fall.
Farrington was next to go, coming off a fresh win last Saturday aboard his new partner Descartes. This time, he entered the ring with his seasoned and speedy partner Orafina. “I always have a plan with her, and she just goes. She has a very big stride, so I can drop one easily. In the last line, she was easily able to do one less, and without even looking like she’s leaving out a stride.”
Farrington and the 14-year-old KWPN mare flew over the final fence, stopping the clock in an uncatchable 34.47 seconds.
“I’ve had Orafina for five or six seasons now. She’s been a winner since day one. She’s very fast and careful. She has a lot of personality and has been a great horse for my team.” Farrington currently has an impressive string, with several speedy mares among them. “They are great sport horses. They have a lot of personality. They’re real fighters in the ring. They’re careful and fast, and those are my favorite type.”
World No. 11 Daniel Coyle (IRL) returned to the WEC Grand Arena in podium fashion. Riding Ariel Grange’s coming 16-year-old KWPN gelding Farrel (Cardento 933 x Stakkato), the pair raced around the short course to finish just behind the winning time in 35.66 seconds, earning second place.
U25 rider Carlee McCutcheon (USA) rounded out the top three with Road To The Top’s Aralyn Blue (Chacco-Blue x Ludwigs As). The 21-year-old athlete guided the 15-year-old Oldenburg mare to a quick and efficient round, stopping the clock in 36.05 seconds for third.
International competition continues Friday, January 9, with the $32,000 1.45m Winning Round CSI3* at 8am in the WEC Grand Arena. The highlight event of the week, the $120,000 Florida Coast Equipment Grand Prix CSI3*, will take place Saturday, January 10, at 7pm. Times subject to change.
$62,500 Florida Coast Equipment Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* Results
1 ORAFINA: 2012 Dutch Warmblood mare by For Fashion x Canturo
Kent Farrington (USA), Kent Farrington LLC: 0/0/34.47
2 FARREL: 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cardento 933 x Stakkato
Daniel Coyle (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0/0/35.66
3 ARALYN BLUE: 2011 Oldenberg mare by Chacco-blue x Ludwigs As
Carlee McCutcheon (USA), Road to the Top: 0/0/36.05
4 FLEXI K: 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Flex A Bill x Luidam
Francis Derwin (IRL), Kerry Anne LLC: 0/0/36.26
5 COQUELICOT VH HEUVELLAND Z: 2012 Zangersheide stallion by Catoki x Cassini III
Kady Abrahamson (USA), Foxridge Farms Stables: 0/0/39.28
6 BRIN D’OR DE HAUTE MELEN Z: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Bamako De Muze x Baloubet du Rouet
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 0/4/36.59
7 CALL ME: 2017 Holsteiner stallion by Comme II Faut 5 x Cartani 4
Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP), Sergio Alvarez Moya: 0/4/36.76
8 KATNISS DU VAL GEER: 2016 Belgian Sport Horse Mare
Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables LLC: 0/4/38.17
9 VENEZIA D’AUSTRAL Z: 2016 Zangersheide mare by Verdi Tn x Dandy Du Plape
Ryan Michael Genn (USA), Bridlebourne Stables LLC: 0/4/38.62
10 CHUTTER DU ROUET PS: 2016 Oldenburg gelding by Chacoon Blue x Sir Shutterfly
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0/4/39.00
Press release WEC Ocala
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.
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