Tag Archives: Eiken Sato

Eiken Sato and Egano van het Slogenhof Win $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

Eiken Sato and Egano van het Slogenhof. Photos © Sportfot.

Elizabeth Faraci and Posh Are Best in Sylvester Center Adult Amateur 36-50 Hunters

Wellington, FL – March 9, 2014 – Week nine of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies, concluded on Sunday with a win for Japan’s Eiken Sato and Egano van het Slogenhof in the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic showing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.

Alan Wade (IRL) finished the week out with a tough course for 59 entries in the 1.50m Classic with just three clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. Eiken Sato and Stephex Stables’ Egano van het Slogenhof were the first combination to jump off and set the leading time in 46.15 seconds. Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Hello Annie, owned by Lord & Lady Harris and Lord & Lady Kirkham, jumped another clear round and finished second in 47.03 seconds. Venezuela’s Andres Rodriguez and Arao Enterprises LLC’s Caballito had one rail down over the short course and finished third in 53.06 seconds.

Twenty-eight-year-old Eiken Sato grew up riding in Japan. His father was a horseman as well, and Sato started riding at the age of eight. At 18 years old he moved to Belgium to pursue his passion, and four years ago he began riding for the world-renowned Stephex Stables.

“I moved to Belgium when I was 18 years old, and it was really hard,” Sato admitted. “I didn’t speak English at all, and I didn’t know anybody. I have been riding for Stephex for nearly four years now, and we have a really good team. We have Daniel Deusser in the top 10 riders in the world. Every day we are training in the same place and that is really important for us. We have top grooms and a good boss, Stephan Conter. We have top management at the moment and top sponsors, so the whole team has been really good.”

Sato began riding Egano van het Slogenhof, a ten-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Electro x Nagano), six months ago.

“I have ridden this horse for six months, and I have always jumped 1.40m or 1.45m and he has gotten better and better,” Sato explained. “This show was really good. Last week in the grand prix he had one down. The ‘WEF’ (Challenge Cup) was not so good. He had two down, so I didn’t qualify for this week’s grand prix, so I was really motivated for this class.”

“I was first to go, so it was difficult to say what would happen with Scott going behind me,” Sato said of the jump-off. “I tried to do my best. My horse is naturally fast and he is very careful, so I can go fast and it really works out. I have nothing bad to say; I am really happy.”

“He is quite big for me,” Sato noted. “He is a big horse, but he has a lot of scope and so much quality and I am so happy that I can ride him. He is really amazing.”

Sato will remain in Wellington for the remaining three weeks of FTI WEF competition, showing Egano again during the last two weeks of 4* and 5* competition. He has his sights set on qualifying for the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* during week twelve.

Elizabeth Faraci and Posh Are Best in Sylvester Center Adult Amateur 36-50 Hunters

Elizabeth Faraci, of Annapolis, MD, topped the Sylvester Center Adult Amateur 36-50 Hunter division on Sunday morning at the FTI WEF with Posh. At just five years old, Posh bested a field of experienced horses with two wins over fences and a second place finish in the hack.

The reserve champion for the division was Sea Walker, owned and ridden by Nicole Oliynyk. Oliynyk and Sea Walker were sixth, fifth, sixth, and first over fences and first under saddle to secure the reserve champion title.

Elizabeth Faraci and Posh
Elizabeth Faraci and Posh

Faraci bought Posh, a five-year-old Warmblood gelding by Christ, at the end of last year and was thrilled that her young horse has taken so well to the show ring.

“This was his first show,” Faraci revealed. “He’s just turning five, so I couldn’t be more pleased with him! He’s just adorable. He went right around yesterday and today, and I really can’t say enough about him. He’s the real thing, I hope.”

Faraci bought the stunning black gelding after only watching a video of him, but she admitted it was love at first sight.

“I actually bought him off a video and really lucked out! I saw him and fell in the love with him. Typical black stallion thing I guess!” Faraci laughed.

Faraci had Posh gelded and went to work training Posh at home at her farm in Annapolis. With the help of trainers Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley of River’s Edge Farm as well as hunter professional Sandy Ferrell, Faraci has successfully brought Posh along.

“It’s my favorite thing to do, to buy the young ones and bring them along. You’re just so pleased when they get it and they do something right, it’s even more rewarding,” Faraci explained.

“He’s been great. He’s always quiet and focused. He just wants to do a great job. He’s been one of those that from the very start he wants to do it right,” she continued. “He’s a dream to ride. He’s very smooth and balanced. He has a good rhythm with easy lead changes. That’s nice on a young one like that.”

The atmosphere of the PBIEC showgrounds can be a lot for any horse to handle, much less a five-year-old that had yet to step foot in a show ring. “I was really worried, but he kind of put my fears to rest yesterday when he just marched in the ring and marched around. He was totally focused,” Faraci explained.

Hunter competition for week nine of the FTI WEF, presented by The Bainbridge Companies, concluded on Sunday afternoon following Faraci’s victory. Competition for week ten of the FTI WEF, presented by Horseware Ireland, will kick off on March 12. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

About FTI Consulting, Inc.

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Eiken Sato and Espyrante Succeed in $82,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*

Eiken Sato and Espyrante. Photo © Sportfot.

Walk the Line and Lillie Keenan Victorious in Antarés Large Junior 16-17 Hunters

Wellington, FL – March 16, 2013 – Japan’s Eiken Sato and Espyrante jumped to victory in the $82,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday night during another exciting evening of international competition for week ten at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). In a jump-off of seven nations, Sato beat out riders from Great Britain, Ireland, Venezuela, Germany, Greece and the United States for his first big win at the Pam Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany set the course for Saturday night’s Grand Prix with 40 entries competing at night under the lights. Ten riders representing seven different countries qualified for the jump-off and four went double clear over the short course.

Seventh to go, Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios and Zara Leandra, owned by the ZL Group Inc., were the first pair to jump the short course without fault and finished fourth with their time of 48.27 seconds. Up next, Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s Urico cleared the course in 44.27 seconds to briefly take the lead. They were pushed into second by Japan’s Eiken Sato and Stephex Stables’ Espyrante, who stopped the clock in 42.79 seconds for the win. Last to go, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof, owned by Spy Coast Farm LLC, finished clear in 47.61 seconds to take the third place prize.

Sato, 27, has lived in Belgium for nine years and began riding for Stephex Stables two years ago. His mount, Espyrante, is a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Obourg x Pauillac De Meia Lua that they got last year.

Watch an interview with Eiken Sato
Watch an interview with Eiken Sato

“My horse always jumps well,” Sato praised after his win. “Tonight she was amazing and I’m really happy. Last week Daniel Deusser won the Grand Prix, and this week I won one. We won for our stable two weeks in a row and this is my first Grand Prix that I have won in Palm Beach, so I am really happy.”

Describing Espyrante, Sato detailed, “She’s a really strong mare and actually nobody liked her at first. I tried working with her and she won the Grand Prix, so you never know. Only the horse can know.”

Sato went after a very fast round from Ben Maher and Urico and explained that he did watch them go, but trusted his horse’s ability to be faster.

“To be honest, I saw, but I tried not to see because he is such a fast rider,” Sato laughed. “The end I saw. My horse is naturally really fast, so I knew I needed to take risks, but I trust my horse and she did a fantastic job.”

Maher commented on his round with Urico, noting, “I was very happy. He felt back to himself tonight. He felt confident. The jump-off was one of those jump-offs again with a lot of riders knocking fences down, so I tried to beat the ones in front of me tonight, not the ones that were after me. I took a risk and it did not pay off tonight, but I could not be happier. He was fantastic and I would never complain about being second in a Grand Prix, especially to a great rider.”

Shane Sweetnam was showing his mount Eregast in the horse’s first Grand Prix as well as his first night class. Although the horse was a little green in the ring, Sweetnam was very happy with his performance.

“It’s his first Grand Prix of any sort. It’s his first Grand Prix here and WEF was his first 1.45m and last week was his first 1.50m,” Sweetnam emphasized. “Honestly, he wasn’t meant to be rushed as quickly, but with Siri getting injured, he had to step up and he has done a great job.”

“He is a very talented horse,” Sweetnam said. “He was very green in the jump-off. I wish I could have gone quicker because he can be a very fast horse, but the music and the crowd and everything was making him fairly high-strung. I was very, very happy with him. For the experience he has, he did unbelievable. I have very high hopes for him.”

Sweetnam commented on the course, stating, “I thought Olaf has always done a great job. As far as a going number of ten tonight in the jump-off, it made a very interesting jump-off with not so many clears. I think the second round the horses were a little tired, but I think he did a great job.”

Sato added, “I did the course walk for the first round and I thought there would be ten or twelve clear. In the jump-off there weren’t too many clear, but it was a fantastic course for the jump-off and it was really fun.”

Maher shared his opinion as well, noting, “It was a very different course. It was a lot more twisty and turny tonight. Not typically a course for here, but it was nice and different for the horses. It was good to see not big jumps, but a big course, take its toll with faults all over the place, which is a sign of a good Grand Prix.”

Walk the Line and Lillie Keenan Victorious in Antarés Large Junior 16-17 Hunters

Walk the Line and Lillie Keenan clinched the championship title in the Antarés Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division during week 10 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Keenan and Walk the Line were a force to be reckoned with over fences, winning three of four over fences rounds. Keenan and Don Stewart’s fourteen-year-old gelding were also fourth over fences during day one of competition for the division.

Reserve champion honors went to Norgan, Inc.’s Capstone, ridden by Sydney Shulman. Shulman and Capstone were third and first over fences day one and placed third day two in all three classes, including an under saddle and two over fences rounds.

The owner-rider champion was Perfectionist and Cloe Hymowitz. Hymowitz also picked up reserve owner-rider honors with Garfield, co-owned by Alexandra Crown.

Keenan is currently at the top of the circuit championship standings with her other Large Junior mount, Madison, but considers Walk the Line to be equally as talented. “Madison tends to win the hacks, but Walk the Line has a very striking jump. When he goes over the fence, it almost makes you open your eyes a little more. There’s a ‘wow’ factor to how he goes over each fence,” Keenan described.

“I’m very lucky because both of my Large Juniors are very fancy,” Keenan continued. “Both of them are a lot of fun to ride. They have a lot of similarities, but are still quite different. Walk the Line is a little quirky, but I like that about him. I think we match really well.”

While Keenan dominates junior divisions in hunters, jumpers, and equitation classes on a number of competitive mounts, she especially appreciates Walk the Line’s desire to be the best. “I know that every time he goes in the ring he wants to win. All of my horses are like that but it is especially true for him. It’s nice to know that every time you go in the ring, he wants to do well,” Keenan commented.

Keenan is quick to credit the gelding’s success to the exceptional support she receives from owner Don Stewart’s daughter, Erin. “Don is in Ocala right now and I go back to school every week. Erin does a wonderful job with him during the week. She comes to the ring and helps me with him, along with everyone at Heritage [Farm],” Keenan remarked.

Keenan juggles her time between attending the Spence School in her native New York City and competing at the FTI WEF every weekend in Wellington, a feat that she realizes would not be possible without the incredible support system she is surrounded by.

“I care a lot about my schoolwork and my grades. I’m expected to do really well by my family and I expect it of myself,” the fifteen-year-old explained.

“It’s definitely difficult but I’m very lucky. My family makes sure that I have all the opportunity to come [to Florida] every week and my school is wonderful about letting me miss Fridays. Heritage is amazing at making sure when I come back from school the horses are ready. Without everyone’s help – and it’s a lot of help – this would not be possible,” Keenan acknowledged.

Hunter competition for week ten of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, concludes Sunday with the Autism Speaks Children’s Large Pony Hunter, hosted in Ring 12 of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will complete the week in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com