Sharn Wordley and Barnetta competing at the Toronto World Cup Qualifer

Sharn Wordley and Barnetta are back on the podium again, this time in the $150,000 Longines FEI World Cup in Toronto, Canada.

The US-based Kiwi combination were one of just six in the star-stacked 21-strong field to go clear in the opening round over the Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed track.

“We were second to go in the jump-off and I was just going for the careful clear,” says Wordley. “They were really fast combinations and my horse doesn’t like to go too fast. If I keep him in his pace he jumps clear, so that is what I do with him always.”

The plan worked perfectly, with Wordley and Barnetta (owned by the Sky Group) coming home double clear in 43.48 seconds. Winner, and world number one, Kent Farrington (USA) and Voyeur stopped the clock at 74.07, with runner-up Shane Sweetman (IRL) and Main Road clocking in at 73.6.

Behind Wordley were Elizabeth Madden (USA) aboard Breitling LS in fourth place, garnering four faults in the jump-off for fourth, Ian Millar (CAN) and Dixson were also on four in fifth and Conor Swail (IRL) on GK Coco Chanel sixth with 15 faults.

“Tonight was a very smart field,” said Wordley. “The way he (Barnetta) jumped last week, I felt he could easily jump double clear so I was banking on being in the top six. I didn’t think there would be more than six double clear . . . that was just the feeling after last week and the way he did the warm-up class yesterday. He was really good.”

Jorge’s course included four 1.6m in the first round, along with an imposing wall and a wide, airy final Liverpool oxer that proved to be a frequent heartbreaker on course.

Wordley has just one more show left, a 4* in three weeks time in Palm Beach.

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By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison