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Paul O’Shea and Primo de Revel Win $25,000 ESP Fall III Grand Prix

Paul O’Shea and Primo de Revel. Photo (c) Mancini Photos.

Wellington, FL – October 28, 2013 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) hosted its Fall III Horse Show this weekend on October 25-27, 2013, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The first grand prix of the fall season was held on Sunday afternoon with a win for Ireland’s Paul O’Shea riding the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Primo de Revel (Quinault x Lys de Darmen), owned by Michael Hayden.

Skip Bailey of Wellington, FL, set the course for Sunday’s grand prix with six out of 29 entries advancing to the jump-off. Four of those jumped double clear over the short course, and Paul O’Shea and Primo de Revel had the fastest time of 33.910 seconds for victory. Sharn Wordley and Ashland Stables’ Axel finished second in 34.838 seconds. Michael Dorman finished third and fourth aboard Wyndmont entries IV Ever and Zephyr. IV Ever stopped the clock in 34.924 seconds to place third; Zephyr was fourth in 36.581 seconds.

Paul O’Shea has had Primo de Revel since the horse was six years old and has developed a great partnership with the gelding. Primo de Revel has been on top form this year, winning four grands prix, including the win this weekend. He also topped the $25,000 ESP Spring III Grand Prix in April, won the $75,000 Equine Insurance Services/Great American Great Prix of Lake Placid in June, and took top honors in the $75,000 Equestrian Estates Planning Group Grand Prix at Silver Oak in August.

O’Shea liked the course this weekend for Primo de Revel and noted that although it was not huge, it was difficult. They went third in the jump-off and had to chase a very fast time from Sharn Wordley and Axel.

“I saw Sharn go, so I just aimed to go a little bit faster and was hoping that that would be enough,” O’Shea stated. “There was a long gallop to the last jump and my horse is naturally very well balanced, so I knew that I could just keep going and he jumped it very well. It came off today. We were a little bit faster than Sharn, and it just happened to be enough.”

Primo de Revel will continue to show in Wellington this fall and in the ESP Holiday Show Series, which runs from November 27, 2013, to January 5, 2014.

O’Shea also had a top result with his mount Wizz, who finished seventh with the fastest four-fault round on Sunday. Wizz had top results this summer as well, including a win in the $30,000 Grand Prix of Princeton a few weeks ago. O’Shea was happy with his finish this weekend.

“He is more inexperienced, but he is kind of getting it together now,” O’Shea acknowledged. “I have big hopes for him.”

O’Shea is now in Wellington for the season and looking forward to this winter’s FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival as well as the many great events leading up to the winter circuit. He noted that it is great to be able to come to Wellington early and jump in some good grand prix classes with good prize money.

“It is nice to have these classes to keep the horses jumping, and the money is good,” he said. “It’s great to get in the main ring too. For Primo de Revel, he has a lot of experience, but Wizz isn’t that experienced, so it was good for him to get in the main ring there and jump around. In three weeks there is a night class there, so that will be good experience for him too.”

Jumper Highlights

ESP’s Fall III Horse Show kicked off competition on Friday with a $10,000 Welcome Stake that saw victory for Ireland’s Darragh Kerins and his speedy mount Hot Wheels, owned by Sarah Kerins. Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Eternal placed second with Samantha Senft and Treasure Coast Stables’ Star Watch in third.

In Saturday’s Tackeria Child/Adult Jumper Classic, Evi Smith and No Limits were victorious over Sheer Levitin and Penelope Z with Lindsay Standley and Gail Sonnenberg’s Grappelli in third. The M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic saw another win for Evi Smith and No Limits. Ana Olivares and Tornado finished second with Emma Butchard and Long Creek Properties LLC’s Capice BS in third.
In the Equine Conditioning Center’s NAL Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Anne Bingler and Tanimara were the winners with Brett Burlington and ‘T Is Picobello Z in second and Jennifer Santana with Santana Stables LLC’s Horseflight.com Kendall in third.

The Office Depot Low Child/Adult Jumper Classic was won by Victoria Craig and Bellalina. Rebecca Fain and Ericka Koenigsberg’s Desert Rose finished second, while Elizabeth Craven and Silverado were third.

Hunter and Equitation Highlights

The weekend also hosted championship presentations for the hunter divisions. In the Adult Amateur Hunters, Calero and Susannah Rose were champions, with Meadowood Farm LLC’s Brave Art and Courtney Schweppe in reserve.

The Unhealth Children’s Hunter champion was Harriet Schiele’s Bismarck ridden by Marissa Damone with Cassis and Brooke Giacin in reserve.

Samantha Wight swept the #1 Education Place Large Junior Hunter division, earning the championship aboard Melissa Wight’s Nobility and finishing reserve riding Melissa Wight’s Charmeur S.

The Pilates Rocks Low Adult Hunter champion was Celtic-Z, owned by Lauren A. Kellar and ridden by Paige Benezette. Reserve honors went to Mr. Vegas, owned and ridden by Jenna Norton. In the Pine Hollow Low Children’s Hunter division, Grace Gruverman’s Ominous and Olivia Gruverman took the championship with Madison Specht’s Calypso Bay and Christine Potthast in reserve.

The McGuinn’s Modified Hunter champion was Christine Potthast’s Mr. Brightside with rider Jeanne-Marie Potthast. Kimberly Rice’s Run Forest Run and Marissa Rice finished in reserve.

The Performance Working Hunter 3’3″ division awarded championship honors to Hannah Whiting’s Tucandu with Lauren Schweppe in the irons. Jacob Pope and Heritage Farm, Inc.’s Sway were the reserve champions.

In the equitation classes, Brett Burlington won the ASPCA Maclay riding Jefferson. Adam Rittenberg topped the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal, presented by Randolph College, riding Alchemy. Nikki Carr and SCNC Investments’ Lightning were the WIHS Equitation winners overall.

Equestrian Sport Productions 2013 Fall Series continues with three more shows through November:

  • ESP Fall Finale – November 1-3, 2013 – “A” rated hunter and 3-star jumper competition featuring a $10,000 Open Jumper Stake class on Sunday, November 3.
  • ESP November – November 9-10, 2013 – “C” rated hunter and 2-star jumper competition featuring a $10,000 Open Jumper Stake class on Sunday, November 10.
    Counts for both PBCHA and ESP Circuits.
  • ESP Pre-Charity – November 16-17, 2013 – Featuring a $10,000 Open Jumper Stake class on Sunday, November 17.

For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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

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Boston Pride Reigns as O’Shea Wins $50,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix at Fieldstone Summer Showcase I

Paul O’Shea and Instant Karma. Photos By: Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group.

Halifax, MA – August 17, 2013 – The luck of the Irish was with Paul O’Shea this afternoon at the Fieldstone Show Park as he piloted Instant Karma to the victory in the $50,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix, presented by Gallo Dark Horse Wine, Ocean Spray and Samuel Adams, narrowly beating Boston Bruins owner, Charlie Jacobs. Not only did O’Shea claim the win, but because of his back to back victories, he nailed down the inaugural $25,000 Boston Strong Rider Bonus check. Hometown girl Kristen Bumpus rode Cupid to the third place finish, making today a day to remember for Boston at the Fieldstone Summer Showcase I. Spectators looked upon the all-grass Grand Prix Field for the fourth day of the event, filling the sidelines as they felt the building anticipation as 26 entrants attempted the challenging course.

The first round course was one for the books, with only three riders navigating the 16 efforts to find their spot in the jump-off. Philip J De Vita of Apopka, FL, designed the course for the $50,000 Fieldstone Grand Prix, promising an eventful track for the horse and rider combinations. The course featured an opening triple bar, several double combinations, and bending lines. De Vita asked many questions of the riders, setting obstacles set atop the bank and table on the side of the field, as well as placing a tall vertical inside the grob. One of the challenges on the course was to complete a series of three elements representing the pride of Boston, their prestigious sports teams. An entire combination was made of a Boston Bruins vertical, A Boston Celtics vertical to a Boston Red Sox oxer. Although there was no true bogey fence, 12 riders found fault at the final oxer-liverpool obstacle.

“For $50,000 the class had to have some integrity,” De Vita explained. “The time allowed was a little snug; the course was spot on for a big field. It had a lot of 1.50m spreads, but I think it was difficult enough. It was a good class; I was very happy. Nothing was really a big bogey jump, there were plenty of big jumps, the triple bar was a run-up-and-get-it — it really got you going, and that was my intention. I love starting on a triple bar. I think that it was a good class. I was tickled to death at the outcome. It was my style of a lot of triples, serpentines, a lot of good approaches but straight to the jumps.”

Kristen Bumpus and Cupid
Kristen Bumpus and Cupid

Kristen Bumpus and Cupid, the seventh to take on the first round course, became first to master the tough track. She was the initial rider to return to the ring out of the three qualified contenders to take on the short course.

The shortened track opened over the large oxer set near the in-gate, and rider then had to take the Unbridled Passion vertical after a sharp left turn and bend to the large Fieldstone oxer below the bank. Upon landing they then made a right turn to the vertical-vertical double combination set on the diagonal, made a left turn over the triple bar set between brick walls and made a left turn through the final vertical-oxer line to break the beam and seal their fate.

Bumpus unfortunately had a refusal at the second obstacle of the jump-off, but they completed the course sans faults upon clearing it. They incurred four faults for their drive-by, as well as two time faults for their final time of 56.681 seconds.

“He’s been a little bit of a project, he’s very quirky and has a lot of rules that I need to follow in order for him to be good,” Bumpus smiled. “I just recently worked with Margie Engle to try to break some bad habits that I have with him trying to overprotect him; he’s a quirky horse. Honestly, I would have been happy just completing the course and not looking like I didn’t belong there; I’m so thrilled for my horse and myself to be in company like that.”

Bumpus continued, “My heart rate rose a bit down the vertical-vertical combination; we had a hard rub, but he tends to rub a lot of jumps; that’s how he jumps. He’s not a super; he doesn’t have a huge jump all the time, but he’s perfected the skim. Most of the time when he’s rubbing them they don’t fall down.”

Paul O’Shea had nearly qualified for the jump-off with three of his mounts, including the winner of the $75,000 Equestrian Estates Planning Group Grand Prix at Silver Oak last week, Primo De Revel. Unfortunately, four faults kept Primo De Revel and Wizz out of the jump-off. He did ride to a clean first round aboard Instant Karma, owned by himself and Michael Hayden, and when he entered the Grand Prix Field, he was riding to win, leaving absolutely nothing to chance on the turf today. Instant Karma won the $20,000 Welcome Stake for O’Shea last week at Silver Oak.

“Instant Karma needs a good canter and I have to keep her focused and forward at the base of the jump,” O’Shea explained. “I had her here last year, and she was a little nervous. She has really come along a lot, and she has really matured. She is relaxed all the time now, and she has really grown up. I think the best is ahead for her. I had a good feeling with her; I thought she could do it. We were unlucky with Primo De Revel with the four faults, but he jumped great, too. I have all the faith in the world in my horses, and she was all there for me today.”

The Irish could be proud of their rider this afternoon as he took the inside options, and answered the many questions that we asked of him along the course. He made a speedy inside turn to the double combination, as well as excluding a stride from the final vertical-oxer line. He broke the beam in 43.875 seconds, setting the pace for Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star.

O’Shea explained, “Charlie’s horse is very fast, so I knew had to give it a good go. I had to take all of the options, turn inside, give it a good go, and leave out a stride in the last line. She really tried for me out there.”

Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star
Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star

All of the pressure fell on Jacobs as he entered the ring aboard his hot-blooded 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Flaming Star. If he could take on the track without any rails falling to the ground, and surpass O’Shea with a speedy jump-off, the lion’s share of the prize money would be his, and O’Shea would lose the $25,000 Boston Strong Rider Bonus. Jacobs was hot on O’Shea’s heels, erupting from the in-gate with a quick speed and taking all of the fences with ease. Although he wanted to catch the Irish rider, he focused on accuracy, not daring to test the fates with a possible fault. He tripped the timers in 46.295 seconds for the second place finish.

“What a remarkable two weeks to him,” Jacobs expressed of O’Shea’s win. “Obviously I was hoping to be riding for the rider bonus having jumped clean last week. I’m using this horse show as a set up to go to Spruce Meadows in two weeks, and I didn’t necessarily want to send my horse off his feet until we get to the 1.60m.  I wasn’t prepared to go belly to the ground.”

“Flaming Star is spoiled, as he deserves to be spoiled. He gives it his all, and he’s also a stoic horse, he’s tough as nails, he’s a great friend and has been a great partner for a number of years,” Jacobs said. “This is like the last chapter of our summer travels so we spend the most time here at the show grounds just having fun; I get to jump in a class next week with my kids, so it’s just a lot of fun. It’s a great show, and it only keeps getting better.”

Irishman O’Shea came to the United States three years ago in October, and he has had nothing short of a phenomenal two weeks. Although it was Primo De Revel who won him the $75,000 Equestrian Estates Panning Group Grand Prix at Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, he knew that today was Instant Karma’s time to shine. The young mare had a multitude of fans to pat her and offer her celebratory compliments, but it was co-owner Michael Hayden who received her affections. The dedicated owner took a plane from Ireland the night before to watch her go in the Grand Prix today, and he could not have been happier as he stood next to the brilliant bay with her blue ribbon waving in the brisk Massachusetts breeze.

“She was bought by Paul as a yearling with a friend of ours, and I stepped in to buy 50 percent of the mare when she was a 3-year-old, and she didn’t seem very promising so she was thrown out into the field,” Hayden laughed. “Our mistake – when we brought her back as a 5-year-old it turned out she was a bit of a super star. I kept her in Ireland for a bit, and I brought her back to Paul about two years ago. I decided to travel from Ireland to here at 9 a.m. yesterday morning to see her take the win today, and I fly back tomorrow at this time. Luckily her win will pay for it all.”

Not only did O’Shea win the majority of the $50,000 purse, but he also pocketed the $25,000 Boston Strong Rider Bonus. The rider bonus is the brainchild of Silver Oak Jumper Tournament Chairman Jeff Papows and Fieldstone Show Park CEO Scott Clawson. McLain Ward had mentioned the idea to Papows, and the two show directors jumped at the opportunity to expand their horizons and offer a rider bonus.

“It feels incredible to win that bonus,” O’Shea concluded. “It is fantastic that Jeff and Scott put that up. It was a great idea, and they deserve a lot of credit for running two fantastic shows. I will absolutely be back next year. I think a lot of people will come to these shows next year, and they should, because they are great shows and they are going to grow and grow. These shows have the true makings of a Summer Circuit in New England.”

The Fieldstone Summer Showcase I will conclude tomorrow with the $10,000 GGT Footing 3’3″ Hunter Derby on Sunday, Aug. 18. The hunter riders will take to the grass field for Derby Day, where spectators can watch the exciting action at 1 p.m. For more information on Stadium Jumping and the Fieldstone Summer Showcase, please visit www.showfieldstone.com. You can also follow the Fieldstone Horse Shows on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fieldstone.equestrian.

Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
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Paul O’Shea Captures $75,000 Equestrian Estates Planning Group Grand Prix at Silver Oak Jumper Tournament

Paul O’Shea and Primo de Revel Win$75,000 Equestrian Estates Planning Group Grand Prix at Silver Oak. Photos By: Tammy Hardy.

Hampton Falls, NH – August 11, 2013 – The inaugural edition of the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament drew to a close on Sunday, under gorgeous sunny skies, low humidity and perfect temperatures in mid 70s. The fantastic weather put an exclamation point on what can only be described as an extraordinary debut for what certainly will become one of the nation’s premier show jumping extravaganzas. A huge Sunday crowd documented the success of the local promotion that went into this first year event. From the three deep folks that lined every available spot along the rail, to many sold out luncheon tables in the numerous VIP tents surrounding the grand prix ring, the throng on hand enjoyed a great Sunday of big-time show jumping in the Granite State of New Hampshire.

“A lot of work went into this event. Seeing this great crowd on Sunday is very rewarding to me and those of us that love the sport of show jumping,” said Show Chairman Jeff Papows. “Although this first year was everything we expected and more, we’re already looking ahead to next year and the different improvements we can make. I’m confident that there will be more money offered next year and a few changes will make this wonderful event even better. I am confident my good friend David Birdsall would be proud.”

The first round course designed by Olaf Petersen Jr. of Munich, Germany, proved to be king today, yielding only one clear round. Twenty-six riders showed over the track, and only Charlie Jacobs of Boston, MA, left all the fences intact aboard Flaming Star, but 10 would return for the winning round format. The course featured an open water and a vertical-oxer double combination, but the most daunting task was the oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination coming off a tight turn for home, which caused 22 horses to lower 28 rails.

“It was a big, long and wide opening galloping course, but then at the end, it was a short turn to home for a tight triple combination, so you really had to get your horse back and under control,” said Course Designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. “But I was surprised that so many people had trouble through there, to be honest.”

The lone clear rider, Jacobs, stated, “The combination was quite difficult. I had seen a number of riders get stuck in there. The footing was pretty deep in there, so when I went in I looked at the jump and saw how deep it was and I tried to stay as far left as I could through the turn so my horse could have the best footing possible. I came in real quiet, sat up, and kicked real hard to get out in two.”

The format for today’s class invited the top 10 finishers from the first round to return for the jump-off in reverse order of faults and time, with only Jacobs returning on a score of zero. The shortened track began over an oxer-vertical line to a new vertical oxer line, before bending to a third oxer. Riders then rolled back and galloped over the first two fences in the triple combination and finished over a vertical towards the gate.

Kevin Babington and Mark Q
Kevin Babington and Mark Q

Irish rider Darragh Kenny set the original score to beat in the jump-off, clearing the course in 48.590 seconds with Quiz. His total of four faults from the first round would hold up for fourth place. Fellow Irishman Kevin Babington and Mark Q soon bested him, shaving off valuable time through the rollbacks and clearing the course in 46.276 seconds, which would earn the second place award, also with four faults from the first round. Ramiro Quintana of Argentina followed aboard Whitney. The pair was right on Babington’s heels, but fell just shy of the time breaking the beam at 46.972 seconds to take home the third place award.

When Paul O’Shea entered the ring he had his eye on the prize with his experienced mount Primo De Revel. The luck of the Irish was on his side, as he quickly made his way around the arena, never wasting a second in the air and leaving each rail in place in a time of 45.112 seconds, and just his first round four faults.

“My plan was just to be a little bit faster than Kevin,” explained O’Shea. Between the third and fourth fences I did one less stride, and then to the last fence I also left a stride out. I had the advantage of watching him and everyone else go, so that was a big help.”

All of the pressure fell on Jacobs and Flaming Star, because with less than four fault they would claim the win. Unfortunately, that would not be the case. They lowered the height of two fences, bringing their grand total to eight faults, finishing in eighth place to seal O’Shea’s victory.

“Hats off to Paul O’Shea; he had a great week,” stated Jacobs. “Olaf had built a very similarly difficult course last year. One horse jumped clean and won the class. I was hoping to win the class as the one clean, but I came back and had a couple rails, and those are the breaks. It was fun; it was a good class. We’ll keep going and jump next week at Fieldstone before the Masters at Spruce Meadows.”

“The first round did not walk as hard as it rode,” admitted O’Shea after his win.” The triple combination walked a little short, and with my horse, when I jumped in, I really supported him up front. He was good in front, but knocked it behind. In the jump-off I just kept my hand really soft and he jumped it really well in front and behind.”

O’Shea continued, “We have this format a lot in Europe, and sometimes it has worked to my advantage and sometimes it has not, but today it really did, so I was very happy about that.”

O’Shea has been riding Primo De Revel, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, for six years. “We’ve had a lot of fun,” he noted. “He hasn’t jumped since Lake Placid when he won the grand prix, and before that he won the grand prix in April during the spring series in Wellington. I am over the moon with him. He’s a really fantastic horse. He’s a real trier. He’s very easy to ride, very straight forward; I just have to get him to the jump. He does everything else.”

The Silver Oak Tournament already resulted in one win for O’Shea, who has had a wonderful week in New Hampshire. “I love this show; everything has just been fantastic,” he expressed. “The ground was fantastic today, there was a super crowd, they had a band, there was great food, they thought of everything for the horses and the riders. The stalls are actually a stall and a half. They are huge stalls. I’ve never been at a show where the stalls are so big, which is very nice for the horses. I think the horses really enjoyed it!”

The $15,000 Agero Speed Stake was held earlier this morning with 26 entrants competing over a technical track that included a liverpool fence, two vertical-oxer double combinations, and multiple rollbacks. Ireland’s Darragh Kenny was fourth in the order aboard Manta, owned by Oakland Ventures of Ocala, FL, setting the early time to beat with a clear effort in 63.824 seconds. His lead was short lived, though, when Greek rider Myrto Iliadis-Koutsikos and Voila HE sped through the timers three rounds later in 63.736 seconds, just 1/10th of a second faster, which would hold up for third place, while Kenny settled for fourth place.

At the end of the class, Peter Wylde broke through to the top of the leader board with Wiesielotti, owned by Winley Farm of Millbrook, CT. The duo sped through each turn, dashing through the times in 60.776 seconds with all the rails in place.

Ramiro Quintana and Ollywood Des Horts
Ramiro Quintana and Ollywood Des Horts

Ramiro Quintana was a not about to let Wylde capture the win though. He and his experienced mount Ollywood Des Horts picked up a fast gallop and never held back. They rolled back very short to both of the double combinations and sped easily through the last line, never touching a fence and crossing the finish line in 59.191 to claim the victory while Wylde placed second.

“Luckily I went after Peter and he took the lead right before me,” admitted Quintana. “My horse is very experienced and naturally fast. I got him right after Florida to be sold, and he’s been moving up and getting really consistent results.  He can do the speeds really well, but he can also jump bigger tracks. He’ll go to the Hampton Classic after this to do the 1.50m classes.

So, for many, it’s on to the Fieldstone Summer Showcase, the Hampton Classic and beyond. For the organizers here, preparations begin for the 2014 Silver Oak Jumper Tournament. We’ll see you next year in Hampton Falls!

For more information about the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, please visit www.SilverOakJumperTournament.com.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Paul O’Shea and Instant Karma Race to Victory in $20,000 ESP Welcome Stake

Paul O’Shea and Instant Karma, winners of the $20,000 ESP Welcome Stake.

A half a second behind, Charlie Jacobs finishes second with Flaming Star

Hampton Falls, NH – August 8, 2013 – Irish eyes were smiling on a day that started with overcast skies and a hint of rain, but ended in brilliant sunshine in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, as Paul O’Shea and his long-time partner Instant Karma topped a strong field of fifty-five competitors to take the win in the $20,000 ESP Welcome Stake class, the first of the big money classes headed into the big weekend here at the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament.

Munich, Germany’s Olaf Petersen, Jr. is designing the tests out on the huge grass field and today came up with the perfect course, one that yielded fourteen clear rides from the fifty-five that went to the post. Of those fourteen, eight horse and rider combinations went on to be double clear in the chase for the title over the short course.

“I think it worked out pretty well,” said Petersen. “The thing is, it’s only a 1.40m class, but it has to be a little more difficult. It was technical enough with three combinations and some of the jumps at 1.45m. Also, I’m trying to judge how good is the level of riders and horses for the Sunday grand prix. My plan was not to scare them already, but to see what I had in the class,” he said.

Petersen always builds in a progression, leading up to the main event, which in this case is the $75,000 Equestrian Estate Planning Group Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. “And this is really the only chance that I can see the horses and see how to judge for Sunday.”

Speaking of the facility here at Silver Oak, Petersen said, “It’s great. It’s amazing. There are not many places like this in all of the world and the footing is very good. Though it was raining a bit early this morning, the field is still perfect and there’s not one place to complain.”

That’s pretty much been the sentiment of all of the riders competing here this year. Leslie Howard called Silver Oak “the Spruce Meadows of the East.” Another rider said the grass footing is “like a carpet.”

Those ideal conditions led to the fourteen clear, but in the jump-off it was decided right away with the first three to return for the tiebreaker taking the top three spots in the final order.

Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star. Photo by Kenneth Kraus
Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star. Photo by Kenneth Kraus

The first to master the first round course and first pair to return, Charlie Jacobs and CMJ Sporthorses’ Flaming Star made it look easy the second time around as well, dodging the in-ring photographer and still putting up a stellar time of 45.025 seconds, a time that in the end would be a half a second too slow.

Darragh Kenny challenged next with the flashy chestnut Quiz, owned by Oakland Ventures, but crossed the finish line 9/10ths of a second off the pace set by Jacobs, tripping the timers in 45.961 seconds.

And then, as the third to go, O’Shea and his mare sealed the deal on the Welcome Stake.

With a quick start over fence #1, O’Shea and Instant Karma were off and running and never let up until the end. Neat and tidy all the way around and then a great cut to the double combination headed for home and a fast gallop to the final oxer set O’Shea up for the win as he raced across the finish line in 44.547 seconds, the only rider on the day to break through the 45 second barrier.

“She’s been a great mare for me,” said a beaming O’Shea following his victory gallop. “I’ve had her since she was a foal, so a long time. I bought her with a friend of mine and she’s been a really, really successful mount for me.”

O’Shea talked about his winning ride.

“I thought to come to the first jump on the left rein. I thought that would be a faster approach and it turned out to be right,” he explained. “It gave me a straighter line to the second fence. Coming around to fence #9, it was important to stick close to the oxer in passing and we did that. Fence nine was a big enough oxer, that’s for sure. And then it was a matter of keeping the pace through the turn for home, over the double combination. Finally, it was eight very long strides to the last fence. I saw Charlie Jacobs, the first to go, was able to get the eight, so I thought I’d have a go at it too,” he said.

O’Shea found a great gallop to that final fence and Instant Karma gave him a huge effort to seal the win. “Walking the course, that was actually a normal ten stride walk, so you think, going against the clock you could do nine, right? But to get the eight strides, you really have to go to get that and we did.”

“She’s very good in her turns, very rideable, very balanced, and that’s makes it a lot easier to get the job done,” O’Shea added. “But, I really think I won it going to number one; I think I saved a lot of time coming off that left rein.”

“I love this place. I think it’s the nicest show I’ve ever been to really,” O’Shea commented. “It’s a beautiful setting. It’s a dream for any horse or rider. The ground is absolutely fantastic and they have everything for us. Food, fruit, water, they even have carrots for the horses, they just really want to look after us and make sure we’re happy. The stalls are huge. I can’t say enough nice things about this show.”

Speaking of the big grand prix field, O’Shea noted, “A good grass surface is very rare these days. The horses love it and we riders really love it, so it’s great to have that.”

“Hopefully I’ll have three horses ready to go on Sunday and we can bring that one home as well,” he said in conclusion.

As we mentioned the first three were all alone at the top of the leaderboard.

Finishing in fourth place, almost four seconds off the winning pace was Ramiro Quintana and St. Bride’s Farms’ Whitney. Quintana tripped the timers in 48.416 seconds. Fifth place went to Goodwin’s Loyalty, owned and shown by Kevin Babington. They crossed the finish line in 48.531 seconds. Babington nailed down sixth place as well, stopping the clock in 49.119 seconds on Shorapur, owned by Shorapur LLC.

Ziedento, another St Bride’s Farm entry, finished seventh with Ramiro Quintana in the irons and eighth place went to Lilli, owned by the Gotham Enterprizes and shown by Georgina Bloomberg.

Earlier in the day, Paul Halpern guided Super G to victory in the Open Jumpers 1.30m Power and Speed. Halpern was clean through the Power phase and raced home in the Speed phase in 34.724 seconds for the win.

It was a narrow victory as Leslie Howard finished just 2/10ths of a second off the pace to take home second place honors with Moon Doggie and then finished third with Zaragoza. Howard broke the beams in 34.954 seconds with Moon Doggie for the red ribbon and crossed the finish line in 35.518 with Zaragoza.

Halpern returned to pick up the white ribbon for fourth place with Marquis, finishing the speed phase in 36.549 seconds.

Kevin Babington and Lauren Tisbo rounded out the top six placings with Tamina and Sting Van de Withoeve.

Tomorrow, Open, Junior-A/O Jumpers and the popular Pro Am team competition takes center stage.

The $75,000 Equestrian Estate Planning Group Grand Prix dominates the Sunday schedule in Hampton Falls as an elite group of top riders will vie for big prize money in the class and the $25,000 Boston Strong Bonus. The $25,000 cash prize will go to any horse and rider combination that win both the $75,000 Equestrian Estates Planning Group Grand Prix at Silver Oak and the Grand Prix at Fieldstone next week. Sunday’s Grand Prix is preceded by the $15,000 Agero Speed Classic.

Saturday’s session features a number of exciting show jumping competitions, including the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics for top Junior and Amateur Owner Jumpers and the $15,000 DG Ventures Speed Derby, a challenging test over 18-20 obstacles in a race for the title.

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Paul O’Shea and Primo Level Win $35,000 Hermès Puissance

Lauren Tisbo and Welinde Gallop to $35,000 VitaFlex Match Races Victory, Reed Kessler and Onisha Triumph in $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic, Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S Capture Equine Couture/Tuff Rider Speed Stake, John Ingram and Hush Earn Tricolor in Elite Shavings Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunters

Paul O'Shea and Primo Level. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 3, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival had a very exciting day of competition on Saturday with a full schedule of hunters and jumpers. In the International Arena, the night session hosted two classes that highlighted power and speed. In the $35,000 Hermès Puissance, Paul O’Shea (IRL) rode Primo Level, owned by Michael Hayden, to win in four rounds of the high jump competition. Lauren Tisbo and Welinde were the fastest through four rounds for victory in the $35,000 VitaFlex Match Races. Earlier in the day, Reed Kessler scored an international win in the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic, while Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Wang Chung M2S captured victory in the $25,000 Equine Couture/Tuff Rider Jumper Stake.

Week eight of the FTI WEF, sponsored by G&C Farm, will feature CSIO competition through Sunday, March 4. The week will conclude tomorrow with the $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSIO 4* Grand Prix on Sunday, March 4. The 2012 FTI WEF has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

Continue reading Paul O’Shea and Primo Level Win $35,000 Hermès Puissance

Paul O’Shea and Daydream St. Ghyvan Z Triumph in $30,000 Speed Derby at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival

Paul O'Shea and Daydream St. Ghyvan Z won the $30,000 Speed Derby during week one at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 16, 2011 – The first week of competition at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon with an exciting $30,000 Speed Derby held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The class was won by an extremely fast round from Irish rider Paul O’Shea and Daydream St. Ghyvan Z, owned by Paul Clarke and Michael Walsh. Both competing for the first time in the United States this winter, horse and rider had a fantastic class and were awarded the top prize.

Twenty-six entries started the $30,000 Speed Derby class, showing over a course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. In a Table III, faults converted format, the challenging course saw many rails come down, but it was the horses and riders that jumped clear that finished in the top standings.

Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, set a blazing fast time right from the start going second in the order and finishing in 77.783 seconds. Although that time held through most of the class, the last few rounds were even faster and Pessoa finished the class in fourth place.

Continue reading Paul O’Shea and Daydream St. Ghyvan Z Triumph in $30,000 Speed Derby at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival