Aldergrove鈥檚 Kassidy Keith doesn鈥檛 always win in the Grand Prix ring at Thunderbird Show Park, but when she does, it鈥檚 often with Havana.
The veteran pair started their 2024 season at tbird鈥檚 April Season Opener the same way they ended it the year prior鈥攚ith a victory. In September 2023, Keith and her speedy bay capped their U25 career with a pair of wins at tbird鈥檚 Harvest Celebration. This week, they were back at tbird and back atop the podium as winners of the week鈥檚 feature event, the $10,000 Maui Jim 1.40m Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, April 21.
from on .
鈥淗avana and I normally take a break [over the winter],鈥� said Keith, who runs Keepsake Farm with her mother Cheryl Keith. 鈥淚 went to California at the start of February and ended up doing the four star the last week. I haven鈥檛 really jumped [Havana] since we got home.鈥�
As it turned out, one 1.35m warm-up class on Friday was all they needed. Six pairs found a clear path around Chris Jones鈥� first round Grand Prix track to advance to the jump off鈥攁mong them, Australian Olympian and known speed threat Katie Laurie on all three of her mounts.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Another win for Aldergrove rider Kassidy Keith at Thunderbird Show Park
Second to return for the short course, Keith and Havana set a speedy standard, using the mare鈥檚 well-honed turning ability and their well-established partnership to their advantage.
鈥淸My strategy] was just to be smooth, but I had to take the risks that needed to be done because [Katie] rides really fast,鈥� said Keith, noting that she has complete trust in Havana. 鈥淚 turned super sharp [to the double], and I just pulled on the left rein and she was right there with me.鈥�
Victoria鈥檚 Georgia Knight , who swept the U25 division this week, slotted into second on new mount Ero Del Pierire in 47.21 seconds as the only other double clear on the day. Australia鈥檚 Katie Laurie took third on Tuluar Zirensky with four faults in a time of 48.73.
Havana has been under Keith鈥檚 saddle since age four. Developed by the 26-year-old rider up to the 4* level, the 12-year-old mare is something of a 1.40m specialist. In 29 international starts at the height, the pair boasts a 59 per cent clear round average and average just 1.5 faults, according to Jumpr App.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Aldergrove鈥檚 Kassidy Keith makes a victorious return to Thunderbird Show Park
This year, Keith has her sights set on top sport with the mare.
鈥淢y goals for 2024 with Havana are to jump a five star Grand Prix, whether that鈥檚 at the start of the year or the end of the year, and just to be consistent with her. [We plan to] jump the three stars [at tbird], working towards some World Cup qualifiers again in the fall.鈥�
National jumping continues next week at tbird with the Spring Festival, April 24鈥�28.
