Aldergrove香蕉视频直播檚 Kassidy Keith doesn香蕉视频直播檛 always win in the Grand Prix ring at Thunderbird Show Park, but when she does, it香蕉视频直播檚 often with Havana.
The veteran pair started their 2024 season at tbird香蕉视频直播檚 April Season Opener the same way they ended it the year prior香蕉视频直播攚ith a victory. In September 2023, Keith and her speedy bay capped their U25 career with a pair of wins at tbird香蕉视频直播檚 Harvest Celebration. This week, they were back at tbird and back atop the podium as winners of the week香蕉视频直播檚 feature event, the $10,000 Maui Jim 1.40m Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, April 21.
from on .
香蕉视频直播淗avana and I normally take a break [over the winter],香蕉视频直播� said Keith, who runs Keepsake Farm with her mother Cheryl Keith. 香蕉视频直播淚 went to California at the start of February and ended up doing the four star the last week. I haven香蕉视频直播檛 really jumped [Havana] since we got home.香蕉视频直播�
As it turned out, one 1.35m warm-up class on Friday was all they needed. Six pairs found a clear path around Chris Jones香蕉视频直播� first round Grand Prix track to advance to the jump off香蕉视频直播攁mong them, Australian Olympian and known speed threat Katie Laurie on all three of her mounts.
READ ALSO:
Second to return for the short course, Keith and Havana set a speedy standard, using the mare香蕉视频直播檚 well-honed turning ability and their well-established partnership to their advantage.
香蕉视频直播淸My strategy] was just to be smooth, but I had to take the risks that needed to be done because [Katie] rides really fast,香蕉视频直播� said Keith, noting that she has complete trust in Havana. 香蕉视频直播淚 turned super sharp [to the double], and I just pulled on the left rein and she was right there with me.香蕉视频直播�
Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 Georgia Knight , who swept the U25 division this week, slotted into second on new mount Ero Del Pierire in 47.21 seconds as the only other double clear on the day. Australia香蕉视频直播檚 Katie Laurie took third on Tuluar Zirensky with four faults in a time of 48.73.
Havana has been under Keith香蕉视频直播檚 saddle since age four. Developed by the 26-year-old rider up to the 4* level, the 12-year-old mare is something of a 1.40m specialist. In 29 international starts at the height, the pair boasts a 59 per cent clear round average and average just 1.5 faults, according to Jumpr App.
READ ALSO:
This year, Keith has her sights set on top sport with the mare.
香蕉视频直播淢y goals for 2024 with Havana are to jump a five star Grand Prix, whether that香蕉视频直播檚 at the start of the year or the end of the year, and just to be consistent with her. [We plan to] jump the three stars [at tbird], working towards some World Cup qualifiers again in the fall.香蕉视频直播�
National jumping continues next week at tbird with the Spring Festival, April 24香蕉视频直播�28.
