Mill Spring, NC – July 24, 2016 Angel Karolyi (VEN) and Indiana 127 made the most out of the last day of competition at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), dominating the $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Classic CSI 4* in the George H. Morris Arena to close out the fourth and final week of the Tryon Summer Series. Karolyi and Indiana 127 took center stage as the last pair in the jump-off, securing a faultless round and a winning time of 36.805 seconds. Earning second place was Margie Engle (USA) and her ride Abunola, who crossed the timers in 37.129 seconds, while third place honors were awarded to David Blake (IRL) and Binkie who clinched their third place finish with a time of 40.662 seconds.
The pair was one of four combinations to advance to the jump-off round and the duo was faced with three fast competitors in Engle, Blake, and Parot. Karolyi and Indiana 127, a 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Indoctro x Voltaire) owned by Hollow Creek Farm, have been teamed together for four years and have earned multiple wins since the beginning of their partnership.
“We won the first major class I competed in with Indiana 127. We then went on to have a very successful 2014 season together, which included wins at Spruce Meadows, as well as a campaign in Europe,” he explained. “I felt that after all of the continued success he had earned himself a well-deserved break.”
Karolyi continued to narrate the story of Indiana 127, adding, “I kept him in a program during this past WEF to stay fit and then he proved to me he was ready to move up to the international level and contest FEI classes. I had a plan for this week, which included finishing up with this class and it worked out well for us.”
Karolyi went on to speak of the first round track and jump-off designed by Catsy Cruz (MEX), which saw four combinations move forward to a competitive test of the short course.
“The first round walked pretty straight forward. In the jump-off, I walked fences one to two and there were eight steps there, but I decided to do nine considering the turn we had to tackle on the landing side,” detailed Karolyi. “I have to always go a little wide on a rollback back to an oxer to give him more room and momentum to clear the back rail.”
“I galloped everywhere I could, and honestly, I got a bit lucky. Going into the last line I even lost my left stirrup, and hoped for the best. The last two days I thought I was a little bit unlucky with him, but today my luck turned around,” he smiled.
Karolyi and his team are thrilled for the opportunity to travel to The Colorado Horse Park (CHP) for the Adequan®/FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) this coming week, but are set with plans to return to TIEC for the 2016 Tryon Fall Series to begin later this season.
“I am very excited to go to The Colorado Horse Park and see how it has been upgraded this past year. I would love to compete there in the future,” commented Karolyi. “At the same time, I am very excited about returning to TIEC in the fall. I am beginning to put a string of horses together that are well suited for these high level classes and it really comes down to hard work.”
Karolyi made mention of the emotional importance of the win for him personally, as it was his first international victory since his close friend and Venezuelan teammate Andres Rodriguez passed away.
“My friends and family here have been celebrating him this week and all I can say is I hope he heard our anthem up there and was smiling.”
Molly Hay and her own Akatschino topped the $10,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic presented by Asheville Regional Airport, finishing the jump-off track in 38.754 seconds. Haley Gassel and her own Quite Dark 2 collected second place with a time of 38.382 seconds and four faults, while Haley Schaufeld and Harley 86, owned by River Farm Sporthorses, took third place honors, finishing with four faults and a time of 39.506 seconds.
Sunday’s classes concluded competition at the 2016 Tryon Summer Series, which featured four consecutive weeks of FEI competition. The venue will welcome the United States Pony Club Championships East beginning Wednesday, July 27, and continuing through Sunday, July 31. All events throughout the week are free and open to the public. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.
Mill Spring, NC – July 2, 2015 – The second day of FEI competition continued at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) with the $34,00 Suncast® 1.45m FEI Welcome. Venezuela’s Angel Karolyi collected a big win aboard 2002 Dutch Warmblood mare, Venus, owned by Raylyn Farms. The duo bested a six-horse jump-off, tripping the timers in 40.341 seconds to secure Karolyi’s first FEI win at TIEC this season. Kaitlin Campbell (USA) aboard veteran mount Rocky W followed in second, finishing in 41.021 seconds. Liubov Kochetova (RUS) and Balou Du Reventon rounded out the top three with a time of 41.893 seconds. Tryon Summer 2 will continue through Sunday, July 5, hosting the $127,000 Ariat® Grand Prix on Saturday, July 4, with gates opening to the public at 6pm and competition beginning at 8pm.
The class saw 40 combinations test the course designed by Hector Loyola (PRI), who will continue to serve as the FEI course designer in the George H. Morris Arena in the Tryon Stadium for the remainder of Tryon Summer 2 competition. Karolyi and Venus have performed very well at TIEC and finally clinched a victory that was seemingly long overdue.
“Today’s track definitely seemed difficult when I walked it this morning. There were turns right out of the corners to the triple bar and triple combination and I thought both questions would be pretty testing,” said Karolyi. “The open water line was also tight, so overall I thought it was a great course for the class.”
“There were more clear rounds than I expected and I thought from the beginning of the class that the jump-off would be really quick and fast,” he remarked. “There were a couple turns that I didn’t see people trying and I took a big risk to the last inside turn and that helped. I saw a line that most of the people I had talked with didn’t think was there, but I found it on course and just needed to ride it very accurately to make it happen, so I went for it.”
Karolyi and Venus have had spectacular spring and summer seasons at TIEC, racking up several top five finishes and consistently qualifying for jump-off rounds in many of their classes together. The mare really tries according to Karolyi, which is what makes her so special in the ring.
“She’s a super horse. She always tries her hardest. She’s very scopey and I think we’ve gotten a little unlucky in terms of actually pulling out a win. She was really good here in the spring,” he continued. “We made some adjustments after watching my videos on her and she’s handled them really well. She placed fifth last week in the big Grand Prix and fifth in the FEI Speed last week too.”
Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W
The mare continues to thrive under Karolyi’s guidance and the duo seems to always be in the mix during all of their classes. Venus has an impressive competition background, as both Kent Farrington and Marilyn Little were instrumental in giving the mare top international experience before Karolyi took over the ride last year.
“I’m really happy for her that we were able to win this class. She is always working so hard for me and she deserves this win. I know she’s always right there at the top and I think this win is exactly what we needed,” he noted.
A familiar face around the venue with an impressive and seemingly ever-growing string of horses competing, TIEC has provided an opportunity for Karolyi to compete at the highest levels of the sport, while also helping to bring some of his new mounts into the spotlight.
“Mark Bellissimo and the partners have done an incredible job developing this facility and I think it’s going to continue building on the success it has already seen so far this year,” he commented. “The venue is going to bring a lot of big events here in the future and I’m looking forward to watching it unfold.”
The $127,000 Ariat® Grand Prix will begin at 8pm on Saturday, July 4, with an array of family fun and entertainment beginning between 5pm-6pm. For a full list of results and weekly schedule, please visit www.tryon.com.
About Tryon International Equestrian Center
The Tryon International Equestrian Center is destined to become one of the premier centers in the equestrian world. This new facility opened in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility and fitness center. Future expansion includes a sports complex, two hotels, sporting clay course, and an 18-hole golf course plus a full calendar of equestrian competitions and activities. It is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts. For more information, call 828-863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.
Angel Karolyi and Wings soared to the win in the Pasmore Stables Power & Speed 1.35m class in 36.98 seconds. (Photos courtesy of www.PicsofYou.com)
Angel Karolyi Proves He Has “Wings” to Win the Pasmore Stables 1.35m and Cian O’Connor Raises the Bar to Win the 1.40m Waldron Private Wealth Management Welcome Speed Stake
Ocala, FL (March 21, 2015) — A cool breeze and blazing string of performances marked opening day of international CSI2*-W show jumping competition at Live Oak International in Ocala, Florida, the ‘Horse Capital of America.’ Two of the world’s top riders swapped top spots in the afternoon’s title events.
Marking the first win of the 2015 show jumping program was defending $34,000 CSI2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round 2014 winner, Angel Karolyi of Venezuela, who soared above a field of 38 in the Pasmore Stables Power & Speed 1.35m class. Karolyi achieved a penalty-free performance in 36.98 seconds riding McLain Ward’s 17-year-old chestnut KWPN (Lexicon x Columbus) gelding, Wings.
“Live Oak is proof that, if you produce a quality horse show, people will support it,” said Karolyi, who rides for Hollow Creek Farm. “Chester Weber, Juliet Reid, and the Live Oak team do a great job working in the best interests of the competitors, spectators, and sport as a whole.”
Finishing second to Karolyi in the 1.35 m Power & Speed was Ireland’s Cian O’Connor, who had a clean 37.89-second ride over the Leopoldo Palacios course on Andrea Quadros’ bay 10-year-old gelding, Chandon Blue (Chaco-Blue x Landcapitol). Later that afternoon, O’Connor claimed his own win in the Waldron Private Wealth Management Welcome Speed Stake.
Cian O’Connor and Quidam’s Cherie
O’Connor dominated the 1.40m Welcome Stake on Adena Springs Quidam’s Cherie, 10-year-old bay Oldenburg mare (Quidam’s Rubin x Lifestyle). The pair established a 60.56 fault-free second lead early in the 58-rider field. That lead remained unthreatened until Karolyi, 39th in the line-up, took his turn over the fences.
“I thought I had nothing left,” Karolyi remarked with a smile and shake of his head while exiting the in-gate on Raylyn Far’s 13-year-old bay KWPN mare Venus (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Julius), clearly pleased with a clean go. The pair crossed the timers in 61.17 seconds, not quite enough to catch O’Connor, but enough to build a four-second lead that would be impossible to beat by other competitors and would earn Karolyi a second place finish to O’Connor in the class.
Fifty-six horse-and-rider combinations did their best to break the pair’s lock on the top slots. Canada’s Nicole Walker came in third (65.22/0) on her 11-year-old Diamond de Semi-bred Westfalian Dek de Landetta Z. The highest placed United States rider was Chloe Reid, who came in fourth (65.63/0) on her 10-year-old KWPN mare, Athena. Reid is proud to carry on the tradition of excellence at Live Oak International, as she is the daughter of Live Oak International president Juliet W. Reid and the niece of Live Oak International president Chester C. Weber. Reid also earned ninth place (68.27/0) in the Welcome Stake on her Indoctro-bred KWPN stallion, Victor E, and was joined in the top ten by fellow Americans David Beisel, seventh (66.78/0) on KWPN stallion Ameretto; Schuyler Riley, eighth (68.23/0) on Wolfstone Stable’s Dobra de Porceyo; and Callan Solem, tenth with Horseshoe Trail Farm’s KWPN gelding, VDL Wizard. Rounding out the international riders in its top ten were Guatemalan entry Christina Heurtematte, fifth (66.09/0) on Holala Z; and Spain’s Paulo Santana Filho, sixth (66.39/0) on Taloubet.
Saturday’s schedule truly promises the best grand prix performances in the world, as nearly two dozen nations will be represented in the $50,000 CSI2*-W Live Oak International Grand Prix at 2:00 p.m. Competitors include O’Connor, a two-time Olympian who earned Bronze for his native Ireland at the 2012 London Games, and American rising star Jessica Springsteen, honored in 2014 with the Maxine Beard Award as well as earning the Leading International Jumper Rider Award at the Washington International Horse Show.
Prior to that World Cup qualifier, the Live Oak International begins at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning with the fast-paced action and dynamic reinsmanship of combined driving’s marathon phase — the second of three legs of competition to crown the top horse and pony Single, Pair and Four-in-Hand competitors in FEI and Intermediate divisions.
Outside the arena, Saturday and Sunday will also feature family-friendly fun with a Kids’ Horseless Jumping Competition at noon on both days, Parelli Horsemanship Demonstrations on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and the Sleepy P Ranch Leadline Class at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
For results, live-streaming coverage, and more about Ocala’s most beloved annual equestrian tradition, please visit www.liveoakinternational.com.
Ocala, Florida – For the second week in a row, Angel Karolyi of Venezuela stood in the winner’s circle following the Sunday Grand Prix at HITS Ocala in Ocala, FL.
Having claimed the $50,000 Purina Animal Health Grand Prix on Sunday, March 8, riding Wings, Karolyi returned to Post Time Farm to capture the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix on Sunday, March 15, this time riding Venus. Both horses are trained by Karolyi’s business partner, Andrea King of Aiken, SC.
As a sign of good things to come, Karolyi and Venus won the $10,000 1.45m Friday Prix before topping the standings in the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix. Back-to-back Grand Prix victories do not come easily, however, and Karolyi had his work cut out for him, facing off against a 46-horse starting field. Only six entries managed to pass the tough test set by course designer Manuel Esparza of Mexico to qualify for the tie-breaker.
When Karolyi watched the first jump-off contender, David Beisel, make quick work of the shortened jump-off track with Ammeretto, he wasn’t sure he could catch him.
“I watched David Beisel; he was first to go and he is always a fast rider,” explained Karolyi. “He went around so fast I didn’t know whether or not I should try to beat him. I thought he was going to be really hard to catch. I don’t know Venus that well, but as I walked in the ring, I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to go for it!’”
“I thought I was a little slower than David at the beginning, and then I got a green light,” continued Karolyi. “I didn’t know if I was quite fast enough to beat him when I landed from the last jump, but I think I was able to catch him because the mare is just so naturally fast across the ground and over the jumps.”
Crossing the timers in 44.78 seconds, Karolyi shaved a full second off Beisel’s time, and none of the four entries that followed were able to catch the leaders. Olympian Kirk Webby of New Zealand came the closest, placing third with Brando du Rouet.
While Karolyi and Venus are a new combination, the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Julius) is no stranger to international competition. Owned by Ray and Lynne Little of Raylyn Farms, Inc., Venus was campaigned throughout the 2012 season by Kent Farrington before Marilyn Little, who competes in both show jumping and eventing, took over the reins in 2013.
“She’s been around; she’s jumped all over the world,” said Karolyi of the mare that has competed everywhere from Spruce Meadows and the Hampton Classic in North America to various international events in Europe. “She is a very careful mare with all the scope, and she’s just a fighter. You’ve got to balance her to the jumps, but other than that, she tries to leaves the jumps up for the rider. She’s a great horse with lots of experience!”
Of how he came to ride Venus, Karolyi explained, “We started helping Lynne with some young horses in Wellington last winter because Marilyn was focusing on her eventing career. Andrea and Lynne starting talking about Venus and discussed getting her back in the show ring. I started riding her about a month ago, just going slowly to build her up and to get to know her.
“Last week, she was fourth in the $10,000 1.45m Friday Prix,” continued Karolyi of the pair’s progression. “This week, I only jumped her in the $10,000 Friday Prix and she won it. Andrea and I talked about it, and decided to put her in the $100,000 Grand Prix.”
It proved to be a wise decision, and one that paid $30,000 in prize money for the win. With back-to-back Grand Prix victories, Karolyi is looking forward to showing both Venus and Wings, a 17-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding (Lexicon x Columbus) owned by McLain Ward, in the CSI2*-W Live Oak International in Ocala, FL, from March 18 to 22.
“I’m really happy,” said Karolyi, 28, who is based in Wellington, FL. “Andrea and I have been apart for a little bit, and we started about a month ago getting the horses ready for the end of the HITS Ocala circuit and for Live Oak. Wings won a $10,000 Friday Prix and then the Grand Prix, and then Venus won the $10,000 Friday Prix and now the Grand Prix. We are happy that the plan has come together, and the horses feel in top shape for next week at Live Oak. That really brings our winter plan to conclusion.”
Karolyi was quick to acknowledge those who have made his success possible, saying, “Thank you to Andrea and the rest of the team, as well as Ray and Lynne Little of Raylyn Farms for allowing me to have such a nice horse to ride.”
In addition to partnering with King, Karolyi also rides several mounts for the Andrade family of Venezuela. Karolyi spent the majority of the 2014 season campaigning their top international mounts around the world, scoring a major victory in the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby during the Spruce Meadows Summer Series in Calgary, Canada, with Indiana 127 and representing Venezuela at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, with Amigo.
In the fall, Karolyi was again a member of the Venezuelan Show Jumping Team for its debut in the Furusiyya Nations’ Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain. He then headed to Mexico for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz where he won the Silver Medal in the Individual Final riding Indiana 127.
Karolyi’s next major goal is to compete for Venezuela at the 2015 Pan American Games, hosted in Toronto, Canada. The Pan American Games act as a qualifying event for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where Venezuela hopes to be one of two teams to earn an Olympic berth.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Ocala, Florida – Angel Karolyi and Wings flew to victory in the $50,000 Purina Animal Health Grand Prix held at HITS Ocala on Sunday, March 8, in Ocala, FL.
Riding for Venezuela, Karolyi was the only entry in the 37-horse starting field to jump double clear. Competing over a course designed by Florencio Hernandez of Mexico, seven horse-rider combinations were clear over the first round track to qualify for the jump-off. Karolyi was in the enviable position of being last to go, and was well aware that a clear jump-off performance would win the class.
“I figured I had to play it safe, not go too slow or too fast, and hope for the clear round,” said Karolyi of his jump-off strategy. “Wings is a veteran. When you are riding a good, experienced horse, if you do things right and give him a good ride, he is going to give you quality and carefulness. It is pretty simple as long as you keep the basics correct.”
Those correct basics led to a clear round, giving Karolyi the win – and $15,000 in first place prize money – in the $50,000 Purina Animal Health Grand Prix. Dr. Fernando Cardenas riding Quincy Car and Kristen VanderVeen riding Bull Run’s Testify placed second and third respectively, having produced the only four fault efforts in the jump-off.
Wings is a horse that Karolyi and business partner Andrea King got last spring from double U.S. Olympic gold medalist, McLain Ward. Karolyi showed the 17-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding (Lexicon x Columbus) briefly in the spring of 2014, enjoying a second place finish in the $25,000 Carolina Real Estate Grand Prix in Aiken, SC, before turning his focus solely to his top international mounts, Amigo and Indiana 127, both owned by Hollow Creek Farm.
In what would become a ‘career year’, Karolyi spent the latter half of 2014 embarking on a show jumping world tour. He scored a major victory in the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby during the Spruce Meadows Summer Series in Calgary, Canada before competing with Amigo at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, marking the first time Venezuela had fielded a full team for the major championships.
In the fall, Karolyi was again a member of the Venezuelan Show Jumping Team for its debut in the Furusiyya Nations’ Cup Final in Barcelona, Spain. He then headed to Mexico for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz where he won the Silver Medal in the Individual Final riding Indiana 127.
Focusing on his international career meant a lot of travel and time away from the United States, where Karolyi makes his home. With 2014 in the record books, Karolyi, who is now based in Wellington, FL, traveled to Ocala to meet up with Wings, who is cared for by King at her base in Aiken, SC.
In their first competition together this year, Karolyi and Wings enjoyed success, winning the $10,000 1.45m Friday Prix on February 20.
“Wings is a horse that we got from McLain last year,” explained Karolyi. “I showed him a bit in the spring and then he stayed at home with Andrea. He had not been competing for a while, so when he won the $10,000 Friday Prix, it was very exciting for both Andrea and for me. Andrea had been working the horses and keeping them fit while I was gone, so to come off a long rest and win the $10,000 Friday Prix was exciting.”
Two weeks later, Karolyi and Wings were back to contest the HITS VIII Ocala Winter Finals, held March 3 to 8. Karolyi felt that King had put together the perfect plan to lead them to grand prix victory.
“Andrea thought up a strategy for this week,” said Karolyi of the renowned horse trainer. “We jumped a Level 6 class on Wednesday, gave Wings a day off, jumped the $10,000 on Friday, gave a day off, and then jumped in the grand prix on Sunday. I discussed it with Andrea, and we thought it was the perfect plan for the horse. It worked out, and ended up being a great result.
“I am really excited for Andrea,” continued Karolyi, 28, who has worked with King for the past seven years. “She has worked so much on these horses without me being there for the past eight or nine months, and they are all going beautifully. I am focusing on my career down in Wellington, but that is not stopping us from working together and continuing to have success.”
Karolyi’s major goal for 2015 is to compete for Venezuela at the 2015 Pan American Games, hosted in Toronto, Canada. The Pan American Games act as a qualifying event for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where Venezuela hopes to be one of two teams to earn an Olympic berth.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
OCALA, Florida (March 8, 2015): HITS Ocala VIII finished up with the $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, held in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium on Sunday. Angel Karolyi of Aiken, South Carolina, riding McLain Ward’s Wings, was the only rider to have two clear rounds for the win.
Karolyi went last in the jump-off and took a chance by going slowly and carefully, riding for a clear round. Thirty-seven competed over the course designed by Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, Mexico. The course took its toll in both the first round and the jump-off with only seven going clean in the first round. Faults were scattered throughout the course but a difficult diagonal line of fences starting with a triple bar on a two stride combination, to a narrow vertical created some questions for the riders in both the first round and the jump-off.
In the jump-off, VanderVeen went first and four faults at the tricky combination, finishing with a time of 48.662, for third place. The winner of last Sunday’s $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix, on Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili, was happy with her ride, saying, “My horse jumped really well. We just got a little unlucky at the combination [with a downed rail at 8b].”
Eight-year-old Liratus and Devin Ryan jumped huge over the triple bar then stopped at the combination finishing seventh with multiple faults. Next up was Quincy Car and Cardenas who went clear all the way to the end, and just caught the back rail of the final oxer for four faults in 47.162. The next three had eight faults, leaving the door open for Karolyi, who took a chance at the clear and made it all the way home for the win.
Karolyi said, “It was risky going for the clear but I heard them announce that there were only two with four faults as I was riding towards the first fence and I figured if I had a rail I would still be third, so I took the chance — I wanted to win.”
Emanuel Andrade and Hardrock Z. Starting Gate Communications Inc. File Photo.
Arezzo, Italy — Show Jumping Team members Angel Karolyi and Emanuel Andrade helped Venezuela to secure a fifth place finish in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ held Friday, September 19, in Arezzo, Italy.
A total of 13 teams participated in Friday’s Nations’ Cup, which was a showdown to the very last rider. Following two intense rounds of competition, Venezuela finished with a two-round total of 25 faults for fifth place. In a tight race to the finish, the home squad of Italy took victory with a total of 16 faults while Sweden was second with 20. Proving what a tight race the Arezzo Nations’ Cup had become, Denmark and Ireland tied for third with 24 points, just one fault ahead of Venezuela.
Only 18 years of age, Andrade stepped into the arena riding his 2014 World Equestrian Games mount, Hardrock Z. With the 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion (Heartbreaker x Carthago), Andrade put in a solid first-round effort, incurring one rail and one time penalty for five faults.
The team then looked to Venezuelan veteran, Karolyi, who was riding Indiana 127, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Indoctro x Voltaire) owned by Hollow Creek Farm. The pair began the course with ease, but finished up with 12 jumping faults. Earlier this year, the pair enjoyed great success, winning the $210,000 Cenovus Derby during the CSI5* Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ tournament in Calgary, AB, in July.
Angel Karolyi and Indiana 127. Starting Gate Communications Inc. File Photo
Teammates Andres Rodriguez riding Darlon van Groenhove and Olympian Pablo Barrios riding Antares both did their part for the team. Rodriguez jumped clear in the first round while Barrios incurred a total of eight faults. Discarding Karolyi’s 12-fault effort, Venezuela was among the eight nations qualified for the second round, sitting in sixth position with a total of 13 faults.
As the lead-off rider for Venezuela, Rodriguez produced another fault-free effort, one of only three double-clear rounds on the day. Andrade rode second, faulting twice for a score of eight faults which would prove to be the discard score. Next up was Karolyi, who also posted an eight-fault round. When anchor rider Barrios produced a four-fault effort, Venezuela added 12 faults to their final tally and finished fifth overall in the final placings.
The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Series brings together countries from around the globe to compete as teams. The 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Series Final takes place in Barcelona, Spain, from October 9 to 12.
For more information on Emanuel Andrade and Angel Karolyi, please visit www.hollowcreekfarms.com.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Angel Karolyi and Indiana 127 emerged victorious in a rematch for the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby title. Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services.
Calgary, Alberta – Venezuela’s Angel Karolyi claimed redemption in a thrilling rematch versus Quentin Judge of the United States to win the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby at the CSI5* Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ tournament in Calgary, AB.
Two major derbies are held at Spruce Meadows each summer, with Karolyi and Judge last facing off in a two-man tie-breaker in the $210,000 CNOOC Nexen Cup Derby on June 8. On that occasion, Judge emerged the victor.
Karolyi got his revenge in the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby, when he and Judge were yet again tied with a perfect score of zero faults after 30 challengers attempted two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios’s notoriously difficult derby track, which has remained unchanged for the past seven years.
In the first round, Karolyi negotiated the natural obstacles, including the dreaded devil’s dyke, to post a perfect score of zero aboard Indiana 127, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Indoctro x Voltaire) owned by Hollow Creek Farm. Six horses later, Judge managed the exact same feat riding HH Dark de la Hart to force a rematch.
In June, Karolyi had produced a fault-free jump-off effort, only to have Judge eclipse his time by more than two seconds. This time, Karolyi left nothing to chance, laying it all on the table with another clear effort in a blistering fast time of 38.13 seconds. Judge succumbed to the pressure, dropping two rails for eight faults, conceding victory to Karolyi.
“I had a feeling I was going to have to jump-off and when Quentin went clear, I thought, ‘Well, here we go again, buddy!’” said Karolyi. “Today, I chose a different tactic for the jump-off. At the ‘National’ tournament in June, I went a bit safe to be clear and Quentin was faster. This time, I thought, ‘if I lose, it’s not going to be because I went too slow!’”
The victor’s spoils included a $60,000 share of the prize money.
“I’m glad I finally got a win in an important class like this one,” said Karolyi, 27, who was recently named to the Venezuelan team for the upcoming 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, with his other top mount, Amigo. “It’s a very special win for me. It’s not only the biggest win of my career, but also with a horse that I really believed in.”
In addition to winning the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby, Karolyi and Indiana 127 opened the ‘North American’ tournament with a fifth place finish in the $33,500 1.45m AON Cup and placed fourth in Friday’s $50,000 1.50m Lafarge Cup.
“He is finally showing me this year that I was right in believing in him,” said Karolyi of Indiana 127, who he has been partnered with since the fall of 2012. “This horse impressed me at the beginning of the Spruce Meadows Summer Series when he produced a beautiful round and finished second to Quentin. This time, I’m just glad to be the winner.”
Karolyi will continue to compete in the Spruce Meadows Summer Series, which concludes with the CSI5* ‘Pan American’ tournament from July 10 to 13.
Karolyi was a member of the gold medal team for Venezuela at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, before representing his country at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. The 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games taking place August 31 to September 7 will mark his first World Championship appearance.
For more information on Angel Karolyi and Hollow Creek Farm, please visit www.hollowcreekfarms.com.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
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Conor Swail and Martha Louise Win $85,000 Enbridge Cup
Calgary, AB, Canada – July 6, 2014 – The ‘North American’ Tournament CSI 5* at Spruce Meadows concluded on Sunday with an extraordinary showdown in the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby. It was déjà vu from the ‘National’ Tournament in June, as Angel Karolyi of Venezuela and Quentin Judge of the USA battled it out in an exciting derby jump-off. Judge took the win four weeks ago and was hoping to repeat his victory with HH Dark de la Hart, but this time, Karolyi and Indiana 127 took the win. Will Simpson (USA) and Geledimar placed third.
Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) designed the derby course seven years ago with a demanding 19 numbered obstacles and 25 jumping efforts. It is an incredible test of endurance and stamina for both horse and rider, including double liverpools, a table bank, a 26-foot, steep derby bank, and the Devil’s Dyke. The course is the same for every derby competition.
On Sunday, Palacios saw 27 entries with the two impressive clear rounds of Angel Karolyi and Quentin Judge. Two more finished on four faults each. During the first derby of the summer, Karolyi and Judge jumped off following eight faults each over the main course. On Sunday, they both mastered the track.
In the 29-year history of this derby competition at Spruce Meadows, Karolyi and Judge were only the 18th and 19th riders to ever go clear over the course out of 615 entries overall. In the jump-off, the two riders returned in the same order as week one of the Summer Series. Karolyi and Hollow Creek Farm’s Indiana 127 jumped double clear over the short course in 38.13 seconds. Judge and Double H Farm’s HH Dark de la Hart had eight faults in 39.31 seconds to finish second.
Will Simpson (USA) and Monarch International’s Geledimar had just four faults over the first round course in the fastest time of 136.32 seconds to finish third. Richard Spooner (USA) and Show Jumping Syndication International’s Cristallo had four faults in 136.75 seconds to place fourth.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios was happy with the result in Sunday’s competition and was also impressed with the exceptional efforts of the top horses and riders.
“I am very happy,” Palacios smiled. “I had 30 riders, and it is becoming popular. There were very good rounds, not only these three (Karolyi, Judge and Simpson). At the beginning I was worried, but at the end, I say it was good. It was safe for the horses, and they were jumping nice.”
Winner Angel Karolyi has been riding Indiana 127 for a year and a half and has had increasingly good results with the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Indoctro x Voltaire). Sunday’s victory was his first International Ring win at Spruce Meadows and a significant moment in his career.
“I’m glad I finally got my win in an important class like this one,” Karolyi acknowledged. “It’s a very special win for me. Not only probably the biggest win in my career, but also a horse that I really believed in. He finally is showing me this year that I was right in believing in him. This horse impressed me at the beginning of the circuit. I was second to Quentin, and he produced a beautiful round. I was not surprised that he went clear again. Obviously his horse is a very good derby horse as well. This time I’m just glad to be the winner.”
Speaking about Indiana, Karolyi added, “He’s very relaxed, very honest, and easy to keep the same pace around the whole course and not stress too much. By the end of the course he still has enough energy to keep jumping the jumps properly.”
Karolyi chose a little bit of a different tactic going into the jump-off this time around, explaining that he had planned to take more risk.
“This time I said, ‘Okay, last time I went a little bit on the safe side, a clear round,’ and now I said, ‘Okay, I got second for sure. I’m going all out, and if it works out, it works out.’ In the ‘National’ Tournament I went a bit safe and clear and he was faster. This time I thought, ‘If I lose, it’s not because I went too slow.’”
Not much changed in preparation for this week’s competition other than keeping Indiana 127 in top physical condition, but Karolyi now had experience to his advantage.
“I think more than helping him, it helped me,” the rider stated. “It helped me to ride the Devil’s Dyke properly. Last time I didn’t ride enough through it; he looked a little bit and I had ‘c’ down. It wasn’t really his fault. Both rails last time were my fault. I had an early draw; I went first in the derby. Watching a few rounds definitely helps. For the horse, it was the same. For me, it did help having one round already.”
Quentin Judge and HH Dark de la Hart
Judge and HH Dark de la Hart, an 11-year-old Belgian Sport Horse by Kasmir van Schuttershof x Nonstop, also had the experience of their win under their belt.
“Last time when I did the derby at the ‘National’, I didn’t really have any expectations,” Judge stated. “I wanted to do well at the beginning of the week and thought, ‘If the derby goes well, great. If it doesn’t, it’s okay.’ Now when I knew I had a good derby horse, I showed him in one class this week and tried to keep him fresh and his energy up and aim him for this class.”
“I knew he had gone fast,” Judge said of the jump-off. “Before I went in, McLain Ward watched Angel’s jump-off and he said that he went fast and was quick. He said, ‘Your horse is faster naturally, but he really went fast.’ I knew I could really trust my horse those first three or four jumps, and he’s really good turning back on verticals. The ‘b’ of the double got a little bit far away, the back rail, and I think I was a little deflated for the last jump and had it down also, but the horse was perfect.”
Third place finisher Will Simpson knew that he had a good derby horse in Geledimar as well. The mare had shown in the derby three years ago as a nine-year-old and was very competitive even then.
“She’s just been on fire. The whole team at Monarch has been great,” Simpson stated. “It was just such a beautiful day out there, so I thought, ‘Well, we’ll just go for a nice ride.’ The horse went along with me. I was just happy I wasn’t in the jump-off with those two guys. They’re fighters.”
“It’s a spectacular event. It should be preserved,” Simpson said of the derby. “The course designers are usually my enemy, but I have to take my hat off to them. They have done a great job with setting the course for the field of horses. It was very, very tough today, but there were a lot of great horses in there. The result was just spot on.”
Conor Swail and Martha Louise Win $85,000 Enbridge Cup
The $85,000 Enbridge Cup 1.50m competition was held first in the International Ring on Sunday with a win for Conor Swail (IRL) and Susan and Ariel Grange’s 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare, Martha Louise (Maloubet de Pleville x Wolfgang). Thirty-four entries jumped the first round course set by Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) with 10 returning for the jump-off. Six went clear over the short course, where Swail and Martha Louise were last to go in 40.04 seconds for the win.
Daniel Bluman (COL) finished second in 41.88 seconds with Ricardo and Alberto Simhon’s Apardi. Sameh el Dahan (EGY) took third place honors in 41.93 seconds aboard Sumas Zorro, owned by Dahan and Joanne Sloan-Allen.
Conor Swail and Martha Louise
“I think I was in a nice position there, last to go,” Swail said after his win. “I know at this stage, Martha with her form, that she is normally not far away. She is quick enough to win if I can ride her correctly and give her a good chance to jump the jumps, and thankfully today, that is how it worked out for me.”
“She loves it here, that’s for sure,” Swail stated. “She wins a lot everywhere, but especially here. She just keeps getting better and better. This is her second year, but it’s two wins, and I don’t know how many placings already. She is such a good girl.”
Martha Louise is just 10 years old, but shows the skill and maturity of a much more experienced horse. Swail knows that he can always count on her and even stepped her up a bit this week while his top horse was not showing.
“I did her in a few bigger classes the start of the week because Lansdowne hasn’t been out. He is just going to be coming back after this tournament, and she was going to have to maybe jump next week,” Swail explained. “I was sacrificing maybe winning or being competitive in the 1.50m classes, but I thought, ‘Okay, we’ll try to make a plan for next week and teach her how to jump a few of those bigger jumps and see how we get on next week with her as well.’ I’m glad it worked out nicely that we gave her the two big classes and this was the one that I was trying to win, and it worked out like that. I like when a plan comes together.”
“I have a lot of confidence in her,” Swail added. “When you are going in with her, unless you make a mistake, she won’t normally. That is our job to ride our horses correctly, and if we have quality as good as her, then that is nice that when you do all the right things. She always does.”
“She is unreal. You see her walking around in the parade, and you would think she was just out for a stroll there,” Swail said of Martha’s cool demeanor. “Funny enough, she does get quite nervous. She is a little funny in that if she hits a jump, it makes her really nervous and the reaction is kind of to get quicker. For me today, I thought she was fabulous in the first round. She was high and loose. This is her third class (this week), and she always relaxes into it a little bit and obviously that’s a good thing. The more jumping, the better for her a little bit.”
Commenting on the competition, Swail noted, “The first round was tough. It was a big track and quite long. There was a good few questions. There weren’t so many clean. The jump-off also was tricky. I think I got a little lucky for sure going into the double (combination). She gave that a good rub. It’s nice to be able to get a little rub and get away with it and have a good day. It was good and fast. To win at Spruce Meadows, you have to be going very, very fast, and I am lucky that she is very capable of doing that.”
Martha Louise will step up to show in next week’s grand prix, and Swail looks forward to giving her some good experience and seeing what she can do. “It will be pretty cool. It’s experience, but knowing Martha, she won’t be too far away,” he smiled.
Spruce Meadows’ Summer Series concludes next week with the ‘Pan American’ Tournament CSI 5* running July 10-13. The week features the $400,000 Pan American Cup presented by Rolex on Sunday, July 13. For more information and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
Angel Karolyi and Indiana 127 placed second in the $210,000 CNOOC Nexen Cup Derby. Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services.
Calgary, Alberta – Angel Karolyi of Venezuela enjoyed strong results at the CSI5* Spruce Meadows ‘National’ tournament in Calgary, Alberta, culminating with a second place finish in the $210,000 CNOOC Nexen Cup Derby on Sunday, June 8.
Karolyi, 27, opened the ‘National’ tournament with a confidence-building second place finish in the $33,500 Back On Track Cup riding Indiana 127 on Wednesday, June 4. Karolyi then rested the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Indoctro x Voltaire) owned by Hollow Creek Farm in preparation for the weekend’s events. His plan went according to the letter, with a fifth place finish in Saturday’s $60,000 TransCanada Parcours de Chasse followed by a second-place performance in Sunday’s $210,000 CNOOC Nexen Cup Derby.
One of the most grueling tests of show jumping stamina held in North America, the track designed seven years ago by two-time Olympic mastermind Leopoldo Palacios has yielded three clear rounds in its history. As the lead-off rider, Karolyi and Indiana 127 executed the course beautifully, only dropping rails at the ‘c’ element of the dreaded Devil’s Dyke and at the final fence. True to past form, none succeeded in delivering a clear round to force a jump-off between Karolyi and Quentin Judge of the United States, who had also posted a score of eight faults riding HH Dark de la Hart.
Karolyi left all the jumps in place in his return to the International Ring, stopping the timers in 47.90. Judge had the advantage of knowing what he had to do to win and stepped on the gas to cross the finish line in 45.73 seconds for the victory. For second place, Karolyi earned $37,000 in prize money.
“I know that Indiana has done some natural jumps before, and he just loved it!” said Karolyi, who acquired the ride on Indiana 127 in October of 2012. “I did the Parcours de Chasse on Saturday and just galloped around, and it proved to be a good set-up for the next day. In the Nexen Cup, the horse was having fun, and it really felt easy. It was just a fun round to ride, especially when you feel that your horse is enjoying it. Indiana did not feel tired at all; even at the end of the first round, this horse could have still kept jumping!”
Karolyi continued, “Having been the first rider in the ring, I never thought that I would be jumping off with eight faults, but I was really happy that we had a jump-off. I thought I made a smart decision with the way I rode it, just having an efficient clear round that wasn’t fast but wasn’t slow, either. I tried to put the pressure on Quentin and see if he would make a mistake, but he didn’t. To finish second in a big class like that – I’ll take it!”
With his success in the $210,000 CNOOC Nexen Cup Derby, Karolyi is looking forward to the $210,000 Cenovus Energy Classic Derby during the Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ tournament on July 6.
Meanwhile, his focus with his other top mount, Amigo, will be on the $210,000 ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup on July 5.
“When we decided that we were going to come to Spruce Meadows, I decided I would make that my main goal for the summer,” said Karolyi, who comes from a show jumping family that has often competed at Spruce Meadows. “I really want to focus on that class and do my best.”
During the ‘National’ tournament, Karolyi and Amigo jumped double clear to finish seventh in Thursday night’s $85,000 Spectra Energy Cup. Karolyi’s long-term goal with the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Coriano Z x Silvester) owned by Hollow Creek Farm is to be a member of the Venezuelan team for the upcoming 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, at the end of August.
“The WEG seems so far away!” laughed Karolyi, whose last major games appearance was at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. “We are taking it one week at a time and not getting too far ahead of ourselves. This has been a fantastic week, and a great start to the Spruce Meadows summer series. I’d like to thank everyone for all of their support and the role they played in our success this week.”
