Source:  HITS News Release

 

Nick Haness and Cruise Control the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Thermal

Nick Haness and Cruise sailed their way to victory in Friday's $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at Desert Circuit III, in Thermal, California. 

© Flying Horse Photography.
Nick Haness and Cruise in Friday's $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Thermal.

Haness (Coto de Caza, California) piloted Jessica Singer's Cruise past the 34 horse-and-rider combinations that showed over course designer John Manning's (Shelburne, Massachusetts) first-round track and the top 15 pairs that returned for the second round. 

Haness had the ride for Singer who is away at Skidmore College, in Saratoga, New York. When at home, Singer shows under the watchful eye of trainer Archie Cox at Brookway Stables. Last year, Singer bought Cruise from Tracy Sulley at HITS Thermal and they showed in the Children's Hunter Division. When Singer returns home this summer, she plans to show him in the 3'3" Amateur-Owner Hunter Division.

"Cruise has been a winner from coast to coast," said Cox. "He is one of the most consistent performers in my barn. His best attribute is that he is willing to do whatever is asked of him." 

Manning's first-round track featured options with inside and outside turns, a split rail, hay bales and a black natural fence that would replicate the hunt field. At the end of the first round, it was Haness and Cruise who wowed judges Keith Hastings and Pat Dodson when they scored a 92. In Haness' rear-view mirror was the dynamic duo from Sonoma Valley Stables Hope Glynn and Avery Hellman. 

Glynn (Petaluma, California) and Swingtime, owned by Hellman, were in second place after they scored an 87 and Hellman (Kentfield, California), who trains under the tutelage of Glynn, was sitting third aboard her own Rococco after receiving an opening round score of 86. Glynn and Helen McEvoy's Chance of Flurries and Jamie Taylor aboard Marion Lowry's Dolce rounded out the fourth and fifth placings after the first round.

In the second round, it was Glynn and Chance of Flurries who put the pressure on, scoring an 83 which gave them a total score of 168 to take the lead at that point. Haness and Cruise, however, were too far ahead of the class. Their score of 87 in the second round brought their tally to 179 as they rolled to the decisive win, with Glynn and Chance of Flurries landing in second place. 

Haness finished with five horses in the ribbons: he was third riding Kawabata-Porto's Du Calme. "He is an awesome medal horse," said Kawabata-Porto. "He is a past, present and future champion!" Haness and Carolyn Mittler's Havanna were fifth, he was eighth aboard Ashley Codillos' Dinner for Two and took 12th place aboard Lauren Wasserman's Back in the Game. 

Fourth-place honors went to Jamie Taylor (Calabasas, California) aboard Marion Lowry's Dolce to round out the top five as an enthusiastic crowd watched the class from The White & Company Private Client Group Hospitality Tent on the berm that overlooks Hunter 1. 

With the victory, and three of the five classes needed to become eligible, Haness seems to be on the right track to qualify for the all-new Diamond Mills $500,000 3'3" Hunter Prix Final which takes place the same weekend as the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York.

 

In order to become eligible for the Diamond Mills $500,000 3'3" Hunter Prix Final a rider on any horse/horses will need to compete in five or more Devoucoux Hunter Prix at any combination of HITS Shows during the qualifying period. Once a rider has competed in five Devoucoux Prix, they will become eligible and their points on their leading horse will place them in HITS Hunter Prix Final Rider Rankings. For more information on the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, including complete qualifying specifications, please click here. 

Devoucoux, makers of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to this year's phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 3'3" Hunter Prix Final. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix will be a featured event at all HITS horse shows this season as riders from around the country set out to qualify for the historic Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, which will take place September 10-11 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.