Jeff Hughes Leads Tdkids Chantilly Lace to Win at First APHA World Show in AM. Weanling Fillies

By: Brittany Bevis

In the first class of the morning at the 2013 APHA World Show, amateur exhibitor Jeff Hughes led Tdkids Chantilly Lace to a win in Amateur Weanling Fillies. This is Hughes’ first trip to the APHA World Show, and it’s been a very successful experience so far.

“I love it,” he says. “It’s been an amazing experience. Usually, we do Quarter Horses. This is the first World Champion I’ve ever shown in either breed.”

For his introduction into the Paint Horse ranks, Hughes selected trainer Olin Parker to fit the home-raised filly he calls “Natalie.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever had Olin train one,” he says. “We took her there the first part of June, and we showed her at the big Breeders’ Halter Futurity in Des Moines. She was 7th out of 49 there. We made the decision to leave her there and try the World Show.”

“We purchased the mare from Olin, and we raised the filly. The mare laid down and had this baby. She is a daughter of TD Kid and out of a Tease Legacy mare [Obvious Qualitees QH]. She just grew so even and stayed so sound. I guess you’d call her a freak. She’s just got that show ring look.”

Hughes and his filly were recognized as the World Champions in a very tough class of 20 entries. Looking on proudly in the stands was his wife, Sheila, and son Kyle, who has taken to wearing his father’s World Champion ribbon around his own neck.

Considering that the class took nearly an hour and a half to judge, we wondered if Hughes was nervous about holding the attention of such a young horse for such a long time. As it turns out, he was more worried about his own stamina.

“It does [worry me], because I have a bad hip and a bad back!” he says. “I’ve been up since 3:30 this morning pacing the motel saying, ‘If I don’t get her shown, Olin is going to beat me!’ “

It appears that Hughes will be safe for today, given his outstanding finish. Later on in the show, it will be Parker’s turn to lead the mare in Open Weanling Fillies.

Amateur Weanling Fillies–

1-Tdkids Chantilly Lace/Jeff Hughes

2-RJN Missheartbreaker/Jerrid Nightingale

3-Farabella

4-Xcellent/Katie Mitchell

5-Obviously Extreme/Kerri Richards

6-Brooks Classy Lady/Michael Kalkomey

7-Retributions Playgirl/Maureen Cook

8-Jra Ima Good Girl/Jeffery Wesley

9-Th Hertouch Is Ntense

10-Secret Tease