Darragh Kenny (IRL) has wasted no time getting to know Chaccossini. The pair scored their second FEI victory Sunday in just their third show together, topping the $32,000 Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic to close week one of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington, FL.
Kenny pilots the 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Chacco-Blue x Cassini II) for owner Andrzej Oplatek, and the Irish Olympian knew the horse was something special right out of the gate.
“Straight away we clicked,” he said about their partnership, having taken over the ride from Martin Fuchs (SUI). “Our first show we won a ranking show already, second show I took him to London – he was clear in a 1.55m and won a big 1.50m class – and this is my third show with him. He’s a cool horse. He’s unbelievably fun and competitive. He also has this huge stride which makes him fast against the clock.”
Nick Granat’s (USA) jump-off course on Sunday almost seemed like it was designed specifically for Chaccossini. He and Kenny were one of 10 to jump clear, but Kenny knew the odds were in his favor with the short course.
“I knew the jump-off class was going to suit him because I could do two things that nobody else could do: [from fences] one to two we were all going to do the same number, but I could do five in that next line which nobody else could do,” Kenny explained of his strategy to rise to the top. “I think one other person maybe did six to the last, so that's where his stride is just so fast.”
The duo’s final time of 32.16 seconds was enough to put them atop the leaderboard and keep them there. Lillie Keenan (USA) was just behind for second place with Opium JW van de Moerhoeve TN, owned by Chansonette Farm, and Charlotte Jacobs (USA) rounded out third place with Thomascourt Ballypatrick, owned by North Star.
Kenny brought a smaller string of horses to Wellington International for the 2025 season, but exceptional quality in the group has him setting big goals. His sights are set on the CSI5* weeks and gaining the qualifying points he needs for the 2025 FEI World Cup™ Final in Basel, Switzerland, before hopefully bringing one of his top horses, Eddy Blue, to the European Championships in the summer.
With a few extra moments in his schedule this winter, Kenny plans to devote his time to his roster of clients, among them young superstars Mimi Gochman and Elena Haas.
“My clients want to build up and get more experience at the higher level which I think they’ll be able to do this winter,” he shared. “It’s a good winter for us because I’m not as busy so I get to spend more time with them. We have a great team of staff and trainers and I think it should be a good winter for us.”
Kenny is pleased to be back in Wellington and stay put for a longer period, but he also knows the level of competition will only rise from an already competitive week one.
“It’s always very, very competitive,” he said of the caliber of competition at WEF. “Everybody gets a little more motivated every year. I think they all come out week one really motivated. All these 1.50m classes are extremely competitive with a lot of good riders and a lot of good horses. That’s the way it’s going to be every week. Everybody was trying [today] and I was just happy it was a good day for me.”
International competition resumes at Wellington International during WEF 2, presented by WeatherTech®, featuring more CSI3* action on the grass derby field.
Michael Baum and Sincerely Take Championship Honors in Ringside Health Adult Amateur Hunters
New partnerships were the theme of Sunday during week one at Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), with debut victories extending to the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. Michael Baum of New York, NY, took championship honors aboard Sincerely in the Ringside Health Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 division. Despite their obvious chemistry, the partnership was quite fresh.
“It started two days ago,” Baum joked about his relationship with Sincerely. “I met her on Friday. I rode her around 3pm and then showed her Saturday. She knows her job, and I’m a little rusty so I wanted to get in the ring on a horse that knew its job better than most.
“She jumps really high,” he shared about the 11-year-old Warmblood mare, owned by Presley Wade. “I don’t think she touched one jump. She’s a great mover, she has an easy lead change, and she’s pretty much perfect. Once you pick up the canter, you’re done. Presley told me she has done the 3’6” so I didn't feel nervous to do the 3’ since it was easy for her.”
Baum was able to get some extra time in the ring aboard Sincerely, or “Jazzie”, thanks to a friendship between his trainer Jennifer Hannon and Jazzie’s trainer Halie Robinson.
“I’ve ridden with [Jenny] for about a year and a half, but I rode with her as a junior as well,” he elaborated on his long-term relationship and friendship with his trainer. “I have a baby horse with her named Full Circle because of that. I’m just starting to ride him, and I’ve jumped him once.”
Baum also has another 3’ hunter who took the week off, but with Baum living in New York City, working and earning his master’s degree at New York School of Interior Design, he doesn’t spend much time in the saddle, so he’s taking every opportunity he can get in Wellington.
“I love it here and I also love that the horses don’t have to get in a truck every week,” he said about WEF. “They can just walk over to the ring, which is nice. My family has a place here, so I feel like it’s my second home – maybe even my first home.”
Highlighting junior action on the final day of WEF 1, championship honors in the Weatherly Stroh Studio 3’3” Junior Hunter 15 & Under division went to Sundown, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright, with Kenzie Smith aboard. The pair also won the Weatherly Stroh Studio 3’3” Junior Hunter 15 & Under Stake.
