Towell-Boyd, Castello finish on top
By BEN BAUGH
Staff writer
Finally Farm's Liza Towell-Boyd continues to build on the momentum she established this winter during the CN Winter Equestrian Festival, where she took top honors in the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation Spectacular of Palm Beach on Feb. 23. The rider teamed with Roger Smith's Castello to win the $25,000 ASG Software/USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Georgia International Horse Park's Olympic Stadium in Conyers, Ga., on June 20.
"It was great, so many people attended the Hunter Derby; it was a lot of fun," said Towell-Boyd.
The class featured 39 entries, and Towell-Boyd won both the Classic Round and the Handy Round, with the same horse she won the $10,000 United States Hunter Jumper Association International Challenge Derby Classic on April 26 at the Aiken Spring Classic Horse Shows at Highfields Event Center. The course in Conyers was designed by Allan Rheinheimer.
"He's (Castello) just a great Derby horse," said Towell-Boyd. "In the Handy Class with the tight turns, he did really well. He's not going to spook. It's a really comfortable feeling, to know he would be able to do his job."
Castello, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, demonstrated he was up to the challenge.
"He's not as young as some of the other horses," said Towell-Boyd. "Whoever had him in Europe exposed him to a lot of things. He had been a jumper previously, and that was very beneficial for this type of class. There were liverpools and water jumps, and he had no problem with them. The traditional hunters see the normal boxes with the flowers. Castello having been a jumper previously gives him extra mileage in these kind of classes."
It was also a proud moment for Towell-Boyd as a mentor and trainer to see one of her students excel at the top level as Sarah Ward placed second on Voltaire in the Hunter Derby.
"I was so excited for her; she had a nice first round," said Towell-Boyd. "In the handy hunter, she was very determined, she made all of the inside turns.
"Bonus points are awarded on a one through 10 basis, and she received a 10-point bonus for the tight turns and being handy.
"It's rewarding to watch a student you've trained be level headed while going against the professionals. She really made me work."
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