The penultimate week of the 2026 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit featured some of the best in the sport. Boasting another coveted World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) designation, the venue at HITS Post Time Farm once again played host to elite hunter riders and mounts highlighted by prestigious classes such as the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Great American Insurance Group, and a qualifying opportunity for the ClipMyHorse.TV Hunter Classic. Top talent in the jumper ring had their opportunity to shine as well, with action culminating on Saturday, March 14, in the $60,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix. In an impressive feat for a relatively new partnership, David Cameron (AUS) and Chriszi edged out the competition in a blazing-fast jump-off time of 43.889 seconds.
Catsy Cruz (MEX) returned to craft a thoughtfully designed track and challenge the 24 horse-and-rider combinations in the starting field. With a variety of bending lines, related distances, and technical fences, the track narrowed down the list of jump-off qualifiers to only seven. Hayley Waters Wear (USA) was the first to clock in an early fault-free effort, but Dominique Damico (USA) added her name to the list only moments later to secure a jump-off. With the exception of Cameron and the USA’s Will Coleman, the jump-off was a battle of girl power, with Tracy Fenney (USA) and Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) both adding their names to the list.
Across the short track, Damico was the first to find the way to a double-clear performance, but Cameron’s best efforts proved to be good enough, edging Damico out by almost two seconds to set the new standard. Damico would ultimately finish in fourth as the steadiest of the double-clear rides, while Cameron’s time could not be caught, making him the decided victor. Fenney’s round with MTM Can Talk To Me, the MTM Farm’s 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Catoki x Acorado), was one of their best, stopping the clock in 44.576 seconds. That result would ultimately see Fenney settle for third, as Goldman-Smolen piloted her longterm partner Romeo B, Barbara Disko’s nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion (Heartbreaker x Branco), to a fast finish in 43.924 seconds to split the difference and take the runner-up position.
“We’ve only had him six months now,” said Cameron of the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Christian 25 x Bockmann’s Lord Pezi) he co-owns with Molly Adams. “We bought him on a little bit of a punt. We knew the horse had plenty of ability and we were hoping he would reach his potential, and it seems like he is.
“He’s already jumped a lot of clear rounds this winter including in two other HITS grand prix classes,” he continued, “but this is definitely his biggest win. I think he is a little bit like a Thoroughbred where he’s got a flat canter, but his flat canter is fast. He is really starting to feel like he knows how to fight at the right moments, which is a great thing to feel your horses do.”
Cameron is no stranger to the HITS Post Time Farm facility as an Ocala winter resident.
“I use this facility to produce all of our horses,” he stated. “I think it’s a fantastic place to compete and train, and Chriszi has jumped clear quite a bit here, so clearly he likes it too.”
The Ocala Winter Celebration will conclude on Sunday, March 15, as junior and amateur competitors vie for winning titles in a variety of classic competition. The grand finale of the 2026 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit then gets underway on Wednesday, March 18, to cap off a tremendous 10 weeks in style. For full results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
