USA's Christian Simonson on Indian Rock Wins Ocala World Cup Grand Prix

Christian Simonson on Indian Rock wins World Cup Grand Prix at Ocala's World Equestrian Center to maintain an unbroken string of five international victories as partnership nears its first anniversary.

Christian, based in Wellington, and the 12-year-old stallion were awarded 73.369% in the second qualifier for the rider who is seeking to take Indian Rock to the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas next April. If successful, it would be the first Big Tour championship for the rider aged 23.

Canada's Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on the 11-year-old gelding Jaccardo was runner-up on 71.304%. The duo also have a qualifying win, at Toronto a month ago that opens up the possibility of earning one of three spots assigned to North American. That would make her the first rider from her nation in the annual championship since 2013. Brittany was on All In on Canada's team at the Tokyo Olympics, the World Equestrian Games in 2018 and the silver medal squad at the 2015 Pan American Games.

She competed Jaccardo, owned by Jill Irving, at Small Tour beginning in 2023 and moved up to CDI Grand Prix in August this year.

The Freestyle to determine points is scheduled for Friday night.

Christian, who has been coached by three-time U.S. Olympian Adrienne Lyle for the past eight years, took over the ride on Indian Rock in January when the horse was bought by Zen Elite Equestrian Center of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Rocky, as the horse is nicknamed, was competed by Emmelie Scholtens on the Dutch team at the 2024 Olympics in Paris last year.

After the successful first World Cup qualifier in TerraNova in Florida two months ago, Christian described coming into this show as "just having a lot of fun, I must say, I'm just genuinely having a great time. I think each show we're always working on small little tweaks here and there and I'm like learning so much show after show of not only how to ride at the Grand Prix, but all the prep in between. So I'm really happy with the outcome today."

The test was clean throughout with three of the five judges awarding scores above 74%.

Meagan Davis rode Toronto Lightfoot, a 12-year-old Totilas gelding, to a personal best score of 70.239% to post her first Big Tour victory, the CDI3* Grand Prix for the Special.

Meagan based in Loxahatchee, neighboring Wellington, said after the ride: "We've really been working hard to get the nose and the neck a little bit longer in the frame but maintaining the power from behind and I think today was the first day we really achieved that in the ring and it was really exciting."

She was coached at this show by her father, Bill, but normally trains with U.S. Olympic team medalist Allison Brock.

Anna Marek of nearby Dunnellen on Fayvel, her 2024 World Cup Final mount now 15 years old, was runner-up on 68.435%

Results:

World Cup CDI-W Grand Prix

Place Competitor Score

1 Christian Simonson (USA) Indian Rock 73.369%

2 Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (CAN) Jaccardo 71.304%

3 Ellesse Gundersen (USA) Quintessential 4 68.000%

4 Erin Nichols (USA) Elian Royale 67.239%

5 Jodie Kelly-Baxley (USA) Grayton Beach 67.174%

6 Michael Klimke (GER) Harmony's Dante's Peak 67.152%

7 Benjamin Ebeling (USA) Bellena 66.674%

8 Jennifer Williams (USA) Babylon Berlin 65.500%

9 Eline Eckroth (USA) Daphne 55.109%

Photo: Christian Simonson on Indian Rock at Ocala World Cup Grand Prix. © Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com