Clarke Tops Field at Del Mar

By Staff Report October 28, 2012

The zombie flash mob couldn’t stop Lane Clarke and Casseur de Prix from winning the Villas at Rancho Valencia $55,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar CSI-W 1.60m class in two spectacular clean rounds on Oct. 27 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The pair was one of only four horse and rider combinations in 20 to make it to the jump-off in course designer Olaf Peterson’s big, technical course.

Clarke, who rides for Australia, had a very zippy time of 47.51 seconds in the jump off. Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and Imothep were also clear and at 53.38 seconds well within the 59-second time allowed, earning her second.

The other round two contenders ― Karl Cook and Jonkheer Z and Vinton Karrasch and Coral Reef Baloufino ― each had two rails, earning third and fourth, respectively.

Helen McNaught, whose Outwoods Farm is based in Northern California but rides for Great Britain, said she was very pleased with the performance of her two entries. “Larry [Larricello] was amazing ― not even a rub! ― just one time fault.”

That earned the duo sixth, right after Shelley Fellers and Revenge, who also had one time fault, but clocked in at 71.82 to McNaught’s 72.89.

McNaught also managed eleventh on Caballo, who had only one rail ― the back of the triple bar. Known for her good sportsmanship, she chirped, “I’m delighted for Lane Clarke for winning. I sold him his first grand prix horse, Moonlight. I love the lad!”

Twenty-one year old Nayel Nasser, who attends Stanford in Palo Alto and rides for Egypt, had a very good night, notching seventh on Loran and ninth on Raging Bull Vangelis S, with one rail each.

Overall, the night was very profitable for the top 12, with a handsome $55,000 purse, thanks in large part to presenting sponsors the Villas at Rancho Valencia and the California Horsetrader magazine.

“I’d like to extend special thanks to Doug and Annie Carlson and Catryn Fowler for representing the Villas, and also to Warren and Lori Wilson who were here from the Horsetrader,” show producer Dale Harvey of West Palms said following the event. “We were also grateful for the participation of the Edicott family in the awards ceremony.”

Earlier in the day, Jennifer Elliott and Vancouver won the PCHA/Equine Insurance Children’s/Adult Jumper Championship, earning the blue ribbon after 37 very competitive rounds.

(Winners, go list and course chart below)

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