Sydney Shulman-Desiderio & Villamoura are Victorious in the $35,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome CSI2*

The Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) returned to the Kentucky Horse Park for two weeks of competition, starting with the Split Rock Hunter Jumper 1, featuring a CSI2* rating. Friday afternoon’s competition was highlighted by the $35,000 C. Jarvis Insurance 1.45m FEI Welcome, where Sydney Shulman-Desiderio (ISR) and her own long-time partner Villamoura (Diamant de Semilly x Cassini I) took the top spot. 

The first round of competition saw 47 athletes representing ten nations tackle the 16-effort track designed by Anderson Lima (BRA). A total of 13 pairs were able to navigate the course fault-free to advance to the second round. 

Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) and Berdien (Bustique x Querlybet Hero), owned by Louisburg Farm, were the second to attempt the shortened course and the first to produce a double-clear effort in 38.91 seconds. Sydney Shulman-Desidero tried her hand next and piloted 15-year-old Villamoura to the new leading time of 36.8 seconds, shaving over two seconds off of Cawley’s time by utilizing the mare’s fast footspeed and leaving out one stride to the final fence. Juan Ortiz (VEN) would enter as eighth to go in the jump-off aboard Catch The Dark Z (Catoki x Chellano), owned by Ortiz and Blue Trim LLC. The pair produced a double-clear round with a steadier time of 43.91 seconds to finish in third place, leaving Cawley in second and Shulman atop the podium. 

“This win is pretty special to me. It is my first FEI win back after having a baby eight months ago, so I stuck to doing national classes with her this winter to gear us both back up after having nine months off. I can’t thank her caretaker, Merri West, enough for keeping her in top shape while I was out.”

“This is our fifth year coming to Split Rock Kentucky. We find it incredibly user-friendly to the exhibitors - the VIP is lovely, the show is run beautifully, the footing is outstanding, the Dalman jumps are beautiful, there are a lot of classes for every level of rider to compete in, and we love bringing our whole Back Country Farm team here.”

Competition will continue through the weekend, where national classes will feature the $20,000 Blue Trim 1.35m National Prix on Saturday and the $20,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. FEI competition will culminate on Sunday, June 9th, with the $100,000 Lugano Diamonds 1.45m Grand Prix CSI2* presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute.