Watching Mark Kinsella and Doraindo blaze to victory in Thursday’s $25,000 FarmVet Grand Prix at the Desert International Horse Park, you’d never guess that it was the pair’s first jump-off—or that they have been partnered for only three weeks.
But three weeks was all that it took for the Irish rider to hit it off with the 14-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood, owned by SWS Training & Sales.
“Today was the first day I ever rode a jump-off with him and the first time that I ever tested anything with him,” said Kinsella. “So honestly, I couldn’t be more happy with the horse, and I appreciate the people letting me ride it.”
From a large field of 45 entries, Kinsella and Doraindo were one of eight pairs to advance without fault over the Olaf Peterson Jr.-designed track. When Kinsella entered the ring as the last rider to return for the jump-off, only Karrie Rufer and Stern dei Folletti had jumped the short course without fault, stopping the clock in 43.174 seconds.
While Rufer’s time was quick, it left the door open for Kinsella, who raced across the finish in 41.352 seconds. With Kinsella taking the win and Rufer finishing in second, third place went to Kyle King and Coffee To Go with a time of 41.666 seconds.
