Kent Farrington and Greya’s second five-star win has a backstory
Kent Farrington claimed his second five-star win at the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF] with Greya in the CSI5* $500,000 Grand Prix at the sold out ‘Saturday Night Lights’ event. Ireland’s Darragh Kenny was right behind the USA’s world number three showjumper, aboard Eddy Blue and he brought his take on the victory to the post-show analysis.
“Myself and Ken were both jumping 1m 30s at Spruce with Greya and Eddie Blue – struggling a lot,” Darragh recalled. “And then both horses grew at the same time, actually. And it’s quite interesting to see that they finished first and second in a Grand Prix like this, having a bit of a struggling start.” Asked what the struggle for them had been in those days he quipped: “Trying to go over the jumps – we were struggling with that for quite a while.”
Seven entries made it to the jump-off after USA’s Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) set a challenging track. Wellington-based US rider Lillie Keenan set the bar early in the jump-off with Argan de Beliard in a time of 45.47, which secured her a place in the final three. Kent and Greya slashed the time to take the lead in 40.24 seconds.
“She’s ultra careful so you can run at the jumps at speed and she’s an incredible competitor—a great modern show jumper,” Kent said of the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare.
Darragh gave it his best shot aboard the 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding Eddy Blue, stopping the clock on 41.22 seconds and admitting that – on this particular night – it was an uphill battle trying to go faster than Kent.
“I think even if I did seven less [to the double], I wouldn’t have beat Kent,” he said. “He’s a different type than Kent’s horse; he has a massive stride, so for me in a jump-off there needs to be somewhere I can do less strides than Kent, but I was very proud of the horse. He’s jumped clear in the last eight or nine five-star grands prix.”
Greya’s success according to Kent “has been a long time in the making” and he feels the best is yet to come for the grey mare that he has had since she was six. “It’s an exceptional horse, but she’s still up and coming,” said Kent. “She’s coming of age now where she can really compete and I’m proud of what she’s showing she can do. I’ve always thought a lot of the horse since she was young and I’m happy how she turned out. I’m enjoying the moment.”
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