Mandy Porter and WT Ca Pow! Race to $30,000 Voltaire Speed Classic Victory at Temecula Valley Nation
Temecula, Calif. – May 24, 2018 – On Day Two of Nilforushan Equisport Events‘ Temecula Valley National Horse Show II at Galway Downs, Mandy Porter and WT Ca-Pow! emerged victorious in the $30,000 Voltaire 1.40 – 1.45m Speed Classic. A herd of competitors took to the Audi Grand Prix Arena for a shot at the lion’s share of the pot, but it was Porter and Wild Turkey Farm’s homebred, 9-year-old gelding (Chesapeake x Calato) that ultimately raced to the fastest, clean trip of the class.
“This horse is actually really special to me and all of us at our barn,” said Porter, of her mount. “He’s a 9-year-old. He had last year off because of an injury, so he’s just coming back and really coming back strong. I think the reason that he’s so special is that I rode his father and mother also, so the fact that Wild Turkey Farm bred him and he’s come to where he is, it’s really special and makes it that much more fun.
“I think this horse is continuing to grow. Every time he goes in the ring, he blossoms and tries to find the answers to the questions that he’s being asked. The first week of this show [in April] was the first grand prix that he had ever done, so he was really good. Every time he goes, he tries to improve and figure out what it is that he’s supposed to do.”
Over the entirety of the class, course designer Frédéric Cottier’s (FRA) track, full of sweeping turns, proved aptly challenging for the field of athletes, with 7 total pairs turning in fault-free rounds. Fence six, the liverpool oxer, manifested as the bogey fence of the afternoon, with its top rail falling numerous times midway through the course. Porter and WT Ca Pow! were ultimately awarded the top spot as the big winners of the afternoon.
“I really liked it the course,” said Porter. “There were a couple options in there that I thought were slight risks but not crazy, and it was a good chance for a horse like this to try it out and not do anything that would be scary or jeopardizing to him. It’s furthering his education.”
“It’s so impressive what they’ve done,” Porter added, about the new show series. “It’s out of this world. It has a European flair and that’s really nice. It’s been really nice for our horses, our owners, and our riders, and everyone has been really happy here. It’s top footing, the courses have been great, and the people are unbelievably friendly. You feel very welcomed. It’s been a breath of fresh air.”
$30,000 Voltaire 1.40 – 1.45m Speed Classic
Place / Rider / Horse / Owner / Faults / Time 1. Mandy Porter / WT Ca Pow! / Wild Turkey Farm, LLC / 0 / 65.234 2. Michelle Parker / Cupilor / Cross Creek Farm, Inc. / 0 / 65.728 3. Kenneth Vinther / Colicchio / Kenneth Vinther / 0 / 66.427 4. Shawn Casady / Cicomein / HKC Collection, LLC / 0 / 67.094 5. Russell Morgan / Jeronimo Bisschop / Russell Morgan / 0 / 67.539 6. Lane Clarke / McLord’s T.K.O. / Mickey Hayden / 0 / 68.349 7. Shawn Casady / Campitello 5 / High Point Farm, LLC / 0 / 72.923 8. John Pearce / Firestone S / Nicole Teague / 4 / 68.007
