Elisa Broz and Tinkerbell Top $10,000 1.40m Speed Classic, Sponsored by CWD, During Temecula Valley National Premier I

Temecula, Calif. – Apr. 21, 2022 – Show jumping action continued Thursday at the Temecula Valley National Premier I in the Grand Prix Arena as eyes fell on the speed demons taking on the $10,000 1.40m Speed Classic, sponsored by CWD. The feature class welcomed 48 competitors, taking to the course one by one to claim the fastest clear round over the course and trying to etch their names onto the qualifying list for the 1.40m division of the upcoming National Equestrian Tournament, taking place during Temecula Valley National III. At the close of competition, it was 17-year-old Elisa Broz and Tinkerbell in the winner’s circle.

Elisa Broz and Tinkerbell

Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) set the 12-obstacle track for the class, which began with a winding “S”-shaped line across the entire arena to a difficult vertical-oxer double combination. The rest of the course presented several opportunities for inside turns, plus an oxer-vertical double combination and a variety of straight and bending lines with options to subtract strides to increase speed.

The challenges set by Petersen, Jr. were effective as only eight of the starting 48 competitors jumped clear. Horses and riders struggled mostly with the first combination, the skinny vertical at fence three, and the final outside line with two large oxers. The first to navigate the track clear was Karrie Rufer aboard her first of two rides, Morning Star Sporthorses LLC’s Stern Dei Folletti, and they did so in a time of 64.07 seconds, efficiently rounding the turns but not taking every risk possible on the course. With Rufer and the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding as the sole clear well into the class, riders opted for more conservative paths around the tricky course in an effort to keep rails up, which didn’t prove effective until Saree Gordon Solanki came into the ring aboard Azuro 108 and added a second clear round to the scoreboard in a time of 67.912 seconds.

Karrie Rufer and Stern Dei Folletti

Broz and her own Tinkerbell, a 12-year-old Warmblood mare, set a new time to beat by blazing around the course in a time of 64.069 seconds, narrowly edging Rufer out of the lead. Rufer would return on her veteran mount Mr. Europe to try to retake her lead but sacrificed a rail down on course. Broz had a chance to unseat herself with her second mount, Volstrups Cody, and put in a solid clear to finish seventh. The only pair to come close to Broz’s time was Keri Potter on her third and final mount, Quitana 11, as last to go. The fast and careful 16-year-old Holsteiner mare, owned by Tres Palomas, jumped to a time of 64.834 seconds, just missing the win, and placing her in third with Rufer finishing second with her first mount.

Elisa Broz, with Volstrups Cody, accepting awards for Tinkerbell

Native to California, Broz is a top young rider who is quickly racking up results in the jumper ring. Recently she placed second in the $25,000 Grand Prix during Desert Circuit and she plans to compete in the NAYC Young Rider Trials during Temecula Valley Premier II for the second consecutive year. With several impressive horses in her string capable of top results in the best of company, she’s becoming one to beat at the top levels.

Temecula Valley National Premier I continues on Friday with the $10,000 NEEd For Speed Qualifier, which also serves as a qualifying event for the National Equestrian Tournament.

FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Elisa Broz – $10,000 1.40m Speed Classic, sponsored by CWD, Winner

On Tinkerbell:

“I got her last summer. She’s amazing. She’s a total speed demon. She’s got a lot of character in the ring; she’s got a lot of fight. She’s super careful and super fast. She’s honestly an amazing horse. She’s so sweet on the ground – the biggest lovebug. It’s a kind of new partnership and she’s just been trying her heart out for me.”

Elisa Broz

On today’s course:

“I knew it was going to be challenging; there are some amazing riders here. The course was awesome. I thought it asked some good questions with bending lines and good inside turns, which is always fun. I really enjoyed it.”

On Nilforushan Equisport Events:

“I really like it here. They’ve made awesome improvements. I think Ali and the entire team have done a really good job. I’m excited to see how it continues to grow.”