Scott and CoCo after their win in 2013 Photo: ESI Photography/HITS
Two years ago Australian eventer turned show jumper, Scott Keach, won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS Ocala in Florida riding his young horse, CoCo. Last night Scott and the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood bested a field of 50 to win $100,000 in the City of Ocala Grand Prix.
Originally from South Australia, Scott represented Australia in eventing in 1988 when he finished 23rd individually and part of the fifth place Australian team on Trade Commissioner at the Seoul Olympics. Now based in Florida, having changed disciplines from eventing to show jumping four years ago, Scott is hitting top form at a perfect time in the lead up to Rio, having also jumped a clear first round for Australia in Friday’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup.
After jumping clear in the opening round of the City of Ocala Grand Prix, Scott was one of nine riders from a field of 50 to progress to the deciding jump-off.
Scott and CoCo once again jumped a clear round with the fastest time 43.71 seconds, ahead of Mexico’s Federico Fernandez riding Guru (43.95sec) and American Marilyn Little on Corona 93 (44.87sec). Marilyn is another eventing rider who also competes in show jumping; last year she won team and individual gold at the Pan American Games in eventing last summer and is hoping for a berth on the USA team at this year’s Rio Olympics
Marilyn Little (USA) and RF Scandalous winning gold in Toronto Photo: StockImageservices
