Emanuel Andrade captured his second High Junior Jumper Championship title with his newest mount, ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z. Mancini Photos.
Wellington, Florida – Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela dominated the junior jumper divisions during week 11 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. The 16-year-old phenom captured Championship titles in the Low, Medium and High Junior Jumper divisions.
With the impressive triple win, Andrade brought the total number of championship titles he’s won since the start of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival to an even dozen. He has also earned eight Reserve Championship titles so far at what is widely considered to be the most competitive show jumping circuit in the world.
Only one month into their partnership, Andrade and his newest mount, ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z, took home their second High Junior Jumper Championship title after placing second in the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic on March 23 and the $1,500 High Junior Jumper class on March 21. Andrade also finished fourth and 10th in the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic with Walter 61 and Crossfire 10, respectively.
The next day, Sunday, March 24, Andrade claimed the Medium Junior Jumper Championship aboard Costa, having won the $10,000 Medium Junior Jumper Classic. In addition to his win with the 14-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Hollow Creek Farm, Andrade also finished seventh with La Fe Forli, an 11-year-old Silla Argentina gelding, in the $10,000 Medium Junior Jumper Classic.
Making it three for three in the Junior divisions, Andrade earned the Low Junior Jumper Championship title riding Casanova Junior, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Hollow Creek Farm. The pair won the $1,500 Low Junior Jumper class on Friday, March 22, and placed sixth in the $10,000 Low Junior Jumper Classic on Sunday, March 24. The pair currently leads the 2013 Low Junior Jumper Circuit Standings at the Winter Equestrian Festival with just one week of competition left to go.
“It was a great weekend; Emanuel is getting a lot of mileage and his riding is getting more mature,” noted his coach, Angel Karolyi, of Venezuela. “Little by little, as he matures, he’s starting to make the right decisions in the ring rather than the wrong ones. Before, he used to get too excited in the jump-off and now, with experience, he’s learning to control his mind in the right direction.
“It’s harder for us Latins to control our emotions!” laughed Karolyi.
The successful new partnership between Andrade and ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z is particularly rewarding for his coach. The 12-year-old bay Zangersheide gelding was formerly ridden by both Kevin Staut and Michel Robert of France before going to Marc Bettinger of Germany. In January, Bettinger and ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z enjoyed a top 10 finish in the €75,000 CSI4* Grand Prix of Amsterdam before being purchased for Andrade by Hollow Creek Farm.
“ZZ Top is a new ride for Emanuel,” explained Karolyi. “He was beautifully ridden in the past and has competed at the top level of the sport. Emanuel has figured out how to get along with him and learned how to ride him fairly quickly, and he has already achieved success in the short month that he’s had him.”
On March 2, Andrade and ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z were members of the team that placed third in the $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series team competition. A student in his hometown of Caracas, Andrade divides his time between competing in the United States and in his home country. While in Venezuela, Andrade competes as time permits, and enjoyed a grand prix victory on March 17.
While Andrade was winning the High Junior Jumper Championship in Wellington, his coach earned a top 10 finish in the $50,000 CSI2* Live Oak International Grand Prix in Ocala, FL, on March 23. Having jumped clear over the track set by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios, Karolyi had an early rail down in the jump-off to place seventh in the final standings.
“I had an early rail in the jump-off so just decided to take it easy and go slow,” said Karolyi who was riding Indiana 127, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Hollow Creek Farm. “I was really happy. My horse performed well and jumped beautifully, and you can’t be upset with that.
“The horse has changed a lot since I got him,” continued Karolyi, who won the $30,000 Raleigh Grand Prix in North Carolina last November when he first took over the ride. “There were little things that I had to figure out along the way, but I have learned a lot about him over the Wellington circuit. I’m happy that I’m really getting to know him, and I’m looking forward to jumping some bigger classes with him this year.”
In addition to placing seventh in the $50,000 CSI2* Live Oak International Grand Prix, Karolyi also enjoyed a top 10 finish in the $5,000 Waldron Wealth Management 1.30m Power & Speed riding Amigo. Hollow Creek Farm was a sponsor of the new show jumping tournament, now in its second year, presenting the $33,000 CSI2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round on Sunday, March 24.
“It was a lovely show, Chester Weber and the Live Oak team did a great job,” said Karolyi, who operates Hollow Creek Farm in Aiken, SC, with business partner Andrea King. “The ring was in top condition, and I think it will continue to improve every year. Hopefully they will hold a World Cup qualifying grand prix next year.”
Andrade, Karolyi and the Hollow Creek team will continue to compete in Wellington, FL, before returning to their home base in South Carolina.
For more information on Hollow Creek Farm, a large training business focusing on both horses and riders, please visit www.hollowcreekfarms.com.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
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