Lauren Balcomb on Verdini D'houtveld Z Wins Year's Final Ocala Grand Prix
Aussie rider tops 43 starting combinations in $75,000 1.45m class
14 December 2025 at 1:50 pmBy k.braddick
Australia's Lauren Balcomb wrapped up a successful year in Florida winning the $75,000 Grand Prix on her Verdini D'houtveld Z at Ocala's World Equestrian Center.
Lauren on the 14-year-old gelding topped the starting lineup of 43 combinations with a double clear and a jump off time of 37.467 secs.
Lauren and Verdini won three CSIs at Ocala in the past six months before victory in Saturday's 1.45-meter competition that was the year's final Grand Prix at WEC.
Robert Blanchette of Ireland on the 14-year-old mare Chardonnay, in the rider's string of winning mounts, placed second, one of nine double clears, in 37.926 secs.
Tracy Fenney, based in Ocala, rode MTM Apple to third place, clear and a jump off time of 37.931 secs.
Results:
$75,000 Grand Prix 1.45m
Place Horse/Rider Jump Off Faults Time
1 Verdini D'Houtveld Z/Lauren Balcomb AUS 0 37.467
2 Chardonnay/Robert Blanchette IRL 0 37.926
3 Mtm Apple/Tracy Fenney USA 0 37.931
4 Hagelin/Sharn L. Wordley NZL 0 38.225
5 Lordy-P/Seth Vallhonrat USA 0 40.000
6 Escobar WW/Taylor M. Land USA 0 41.169
7 Eddie Blue/Lizzy A. Traband USA 0 41.336
8 Cordani PS/Beat Mandli SUI 0 41.602
9 Venezia D'austral Z/Ryan Michael Genn USA 0 41.751
10 Champion League/Sharn L. Wordley NZL 4 38.535
Photo: Australia's Lauren Balcomb on Verdini D'houtveld Z at Ocala, Florida. Andrew Ryback Photography
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