Jacksonville, FL— It took Mel Gibson’s Braveheart nearly three-hours to serve up epic action. But at the $35,000 Jacksonville A-Z Grand Prix presented by Outback Steakhouse, which closed out Week III of competition at the Jacksonville Winter Series. Braveheart, ridden by classic horseman Bjorn Ikast, turned in some epic thrills in under 40 seconds.

Ikast and the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding that he owns and trains, bested eight jump-off contenders with a clear go in the seven-obstacle final round (the course today designed by Allen Rheinheimer) that challenged riders with a hairpin turn or two and a swift pace.

Ikast piloted four rides in the class, held on Super Bowl Sunday in the covered Grand Prix arena of the Clay County Agricultural Center. Of the four, only Braveheart made the jump off. “I actually thought all my horses jumped well,” said Ikast following his victory gallop. “My two horses that had one rail down [Anchorman and Monte Cristo] jumped at least as good as this one,” he added. “But this sport is in the small details, and sometimes you’re just lucky to have a clear round. This is just the nature of show jumping.”

Ikast, who has captured a total of 46 career GPs, attributed his success to Braveheart’s experience in the show ring and his natural speed. To make one particularly tight turn for instance, Ikast noted: “Braveheart saw the fence and he knew he had to turn, and he just immediately followed me around. I think that’s why I won,” he continued. “Also, I left a stride out to the last [fence]. I took a big chance, but I knew Sharn [Wordley] was behind me, and I had to go for it. He’s a very fast and very good rider. Anytime Sharn’s in a jump off,” Ikast laughed, “you don’t like that.”

Wordley and his 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Medrano, owned by Filip Amram, ended up with 4th place in the Grand Prix. But last week the team won the National Hunter Jumper League Open Jumper Classic Welcome Stake, sponsored by Outback. “He’s a really a great horse,” said the New Zealand native of his mount. “He’s either won or placed in almost every Grand Prix I’ve ever taken him too.” Wordley, arguably the hardest working man in show jumping these days, will next be working to prep his horse Rockville for the Olympic trials in Germany this June. “I’m always looking, looking, looking for new horses,” added Wordley, who qualified for the Games in 1996.“I was in Europe nine times last year.”

In the A-Z, 2nd place went to Larry Hollahan aboard Sky King while Lauren Hayes and Sweet Leonie captured 3rd.

The Danish born Ikast will next take his horses to The Gulfport Winter Classics in Mississippi before heading back to his home base of Mexico. (What brought a world-class European-born equestrian there, you ask? “Love,” sighs IKast pointing to his simple gold wedding band. “You can compete with money and everything else, but love you cannot compete with,” he laughs.). Of his big day in Jacksonville Ikast concluded: “I think they made a good course. All the horses jumped well, it was a beautiful afternoon, and when you’re the winner you’re always happy. I’ll be drinking a margarita with the Super Bowl tonight”

The Jacksonville Winter Series continues with more hunter/jumper and Grand Prix action through February 11. Week IV, The Jacksonville Finale, will conclude with the thrilling $25,000 Jacksonville Finale Grand Prix next Sunday and the naming of the $10,000 Oakleaf Plantation High Point Grand Prix Rider, presented to the top rider, calculated by earned points, of the four-week series.

Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY., is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, cindy@flashpointmediaservices.com or Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, robbi@flashpointmediaservices.com.

Photo: Bjorn Ikast and Braveheart ©Flashpoint Photography