Wellington, FL – February 21, 2014 – Friday’s competition at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival featured a $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class with a win for 19-year-old Abigail McArdle (USA) aboard Cosma 20. In the hunter rings, Kyle Owens swept the youngest division of the Adult Amateur Hunters with his horses Voila and Messick.
Sponsored by Adequan, FTI WEF week seven runs February 19-23, 2014. The week will feature the $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* on Saturday night and the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.
Take in “Saturday Night Lights” from some of the best seats in the house! Tables and individual seats are available for sale in The Wellington Club, which offers a fantastic view of the International Arena for Saturday night’s grand prix. Enjoy a full buffet courtesy of White Horse Catering while watching thrilling competition from a spectacular vantage point on Saturday, February 22. Tables are going fast, so reserve yours today! Email vip@equestriansport.com for complete information.
Fredric Cottier of France set the track for Friday’s $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m with 77 entries and 16 clear rounds, the fastest of which belonged to Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 in 58.70 seconds. The pair beat out Reed Kessler (USA) and Soraya de l’Obstination, who finished second in 59.43 seconds. Germany’s David Will and Black Jack 163 finished third in 60.68 seconds, and Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and Elky van het Indihof placed fourth in 61.31 seconds.
McArdle had a very successful 2013 season with Cosma 20 with many international wins and was excited to start her year with an FEI win on home turf. She praised her horse, an eleven-year-old Hanoverian mare by Couleur Rubin x Stakkato, on a great effort.
“She was great,” McArdle smiled. “I was really happy because this was my first world ranking class that I was able to win here in Florida. It was great because all of these classes are really difficult, and it is definitely stepping up my game to be able to compete against the best professionals in the world and really go for it.”
“It was nice to be able to watch a little bit,” McArdle noted. “I got to see Reed before I went, who was in the lead and finished second, so we saw what we had to beat on that. We had a very specific plan on numbers (of strides) between the fences. We were planning all of the long numbers and the numbers in the turn backs and everything, so we knew exactly what we had to do to win. She went really well, so I can’t say anything bad. She gave me everything.”
McArdle spoke about the confidence that Cosma 20 gives her with each consistent round and the great partnership that they have formed. Even with an open water jump that gave some riders problems, she knew that she did not have to worry.
“She is a great water jumper and it is nice because I know her really well now,” the rider acknowledged. “It is definitely a lot of confidence being able to walk into the ring and know your horse so well and be consistently clean.”
She also spoke about Cosma 20’s personality, noting, “She definitely has a lot of personality. She bites one of us at least once a day. She is definitely a feisty mare. We always say she is little, but she’s mighty. She is pretty calm outside of the ring, but no matter what, it could be on her most tired day and she still goes into the ring and is still a great speed horse, in that respect.”
McArdle has a new horse, Cade de Guldenboom, that she is aiming towards the bigger classes now and hopes to keep Cosma 20 as her speed horse this season. For the remainder of the FTI WEF circuit, she is carefully picking some important classes to compete in. She plans to do more of the 1.45m FEI World Ranking classes with the mare and will show in the $50,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Finale during week eleven.
The Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 division awarded its championship tricolors for week seven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival with an exciting top finish for 22-year-old Kyle Owens of Powell, OH. The rider, trained by Peter Pletcher, took home champion and reserve honors for the week with his two mounts, Voila and Messick.
Owens guided Voila to the division championship with a first place ribbon over fences on Thursday followed up by first and third place finishes over fences and a fifth place ribbon under saddle in Friday’s classes. With Messick, Owens earned the reserve title with second and third place ribbons on Thursday as well as a third over fences and second under saddle on Friday.
Voila and Kyle Owens
This is Owens’ fourth year coming to Wellington and his best finish yet with a group of talented new horses. Voila (a.k.a. Victor) is a five-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Verdi that was imported from Germany at the beginning of January. Messick (a.k.a. Scooby) is a five-year-old Westphalian gelding by Furst Grandios, imported in July. Both horses also show in the Pre-Green Hunters with Peter Pletcher, and Owens has a horse named Luxe that he competes in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division as well.
“It is awesome to do so well,” Owens said after his championship win. “I just got all three horses that I have down here within the last six months, so they are all pretty new to me and I am just figuring them out, but I love them all.”
“Voila is really green. This is only his fourth horse show,” Owens explained. “They are both pretty green, but they are really good horses. They are super brave.”
“Scooby is more of a typical hunter. He goes without a martingale, he has a great canter, and a great rhythm. He jumps really slow, and he is so brave. He will do anything,” Owens described. “Victor is very typey, but he is a great mover and a really good jumper. He is definitely the greener one of the two, but after four weeks he is already so simple compared to what he was, so he is definitely getting a lot better. I don’t know how to describe him; he kind of goes like a pony almost.”
When the FTI WEF circuit ends, the horses and their rider will continue on to show and train with Peter Pletcher throughout the year, traveling to shows in Texas, Kentucky, and Michigan. Owens hopes to move both horses up to the Amateur-Owner Hunters as they progress, explaining that Messick is a little further along. “Scooby will probably do the 3’6″ Amateurs and Victor may do the 3’3″ Amateurs. He is just more green than the other one. Scooby is so young, but he is just naturally so easy to ride, he has kind of already figured it out himself. He is so straightforward.”
Hunter competition for week seven continues on Saturday with the presentation of championship honors in the Greenspoon Marder Law Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under division in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. The $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* will be the feature “Saturday Night Lights” event in the International Arena at 7 p.m. 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.
“Saturday Night Lights” continues during week seven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.
The $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* will start tonight, Saturday, February 22, at 7 p.m. Watch some of the best show jumpers in the world vie for top honors in this four-star grand prix, held under the lights in the International Arena on the Main Grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
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.
The Closer and Havens Schatt Seal the Deal in Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level One
Wellington, FL – February 20, 2014 – Week seven of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday afternoon with a shared victory for Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda aboard AD Uutje and Rodrigo Pessoa with Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7. Held in a “California Split” due to the large number of entries, the competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $125,000 distributed.
Sponsored by Adequan, FTI WEF week seven runs February 19-23, 2014. The week will feature the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Friday, the $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* on Saturday night, and the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.
Take in “Saturday Night Lights” from some of the best seats in the house! Tables and individual seats are available for sale in The Wellington Club, which offers a fantastic view of the International Arena for Saturday night’s grand prix. Enjoy a full buffet courtesy of White Horse Catering while watching thrilling competition from a spectacular vantage point on Saturday, February 22. Tables are going fast, so reserve yours today! Email vip@equestriansport.com for complete information.
Fredric Cottier of France set the track for Thursday’s $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in the International Arena at PBIEC. The class saw a total of 115 entries in round one with 30 clear trips to jump-off. The short course saw ten clear rounds with two combinations opting not to return. Alvaro de Miranda completed the fastest tie breaking round in 37.63 seconds overall for the win in Section A of the class riding AD Uutje. Rodrigo Pessoa finished in 37.89 seconds with Alain van Campenhoudt’s Citizenguard Cadjanine Z for the win in Section B. Another rider for Brazil, Yuri Mansor, had the third fastest time of 39.01 seconds with QH Amor.
With the split class, the top three finishers in Section A were Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje in 37.63 seconds, Yuri Mansor and QH Amor in 39.01 seconds, and Reed Kessler (USA) with Ligist in 39.60 seconds.
Section B saw the top placing for Rodrigo Pessoa and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in 37.89 seconds followed by Kent Farrington (USA) and Amalaya Investments’ Willow in 39.14 seconds, and Laura Kraut (USA) with Cherry Knoll Farm Inc.’s Cedric in 42.96 seconds.
De Miranda and AD Uutje also shared a victory in week two’s $34,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 and the rider noted that his horse, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Monaco x Calypso, is making great progress throughout the circuit.
Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje
“He is improving a lot,” the rider stated. “Sometimes it is still difficult for me between the lines, with a stride to add, but today in the first round it was easier than last time and I think, I hope, I can get him very good for the last grand prix.”
“He is a very nice horse, very sweet and nice to ride,” de Miranda said. “Only when you have lines that are very short, sometimes it is a little bit difficult for me to get him together, but it is improving. It is slow, but it is getting there. Nelson Pessoa did a very good job. He found the right bit for him, and he has helped me at home. I think that makes a difference because three or four months ago I was very lost with this horse, and with Nelson’s help everything came much easier. I see progress every day.”
Going into the jump-off, de Miranda knew that it had to be another very fast round with the leading time of Rodrigo Pessoa to chase. He remarked that this jump-off was even faster than his win during week two.
“With this horse, for sure, this was the fastest day for me,” he stated. “I saw Rodrigo go and the mare is so fast. I knew that from jump one to two I needed to take more risk. I think that was the only difference maybe because the rest Rodrigo was very fast, but at the end we both won, and that is good.”
AD Uutje will compete with de Miranda on the Brazilian team in next week’s $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm, and the riders are excited to have such a promising team going in after the top three finish for Brazil on Thursday.
“I am very happy,” de Miranda stated. “It was a long class with a lot of riders, and it is very special to have three Brazilians like that. It is very good before the Nations Cup also to give us more motivation. It was perfect for us.”
Pessoa agreed, adding that it is great to see so many new riders coming to compete in Wellington. “I think it is really good,” Pessoa acknowledged. “This circuit is really booming. There are a lot of newcomers. For us in particular, for the morale, I think it is really good. Uutje is going to do the Nations Cup, and I am going to do the Nations Cup with Status. He was clear as well today, but he didn’t go in the jump-off. Yuri that was third will go with that horse and then one more rider. It doesn’t mean that we are going to win the Nations Cup, but it is promising that the horses are jumping well and it is good for next week when our Chef d’Equipe (Jean-Maurice Bonneau) arrives. He will be happy with what we have been doing so far, hopefully.”
Pessoa was very happy with his top finish on Thursday aboard Citizenguard Cadjanine Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide mare by Canabis Z x Feinschnitt I Z. He started riding the mare in July of 2013 and explained that she was previously ridden by Gregory Wathelet from Belgium and went to the Olympic Games in London with him in 2012.
“She is a difficult mare, but she has a lot of potential,” Pessoa described. “She is very scopey, and she is very fast. She has a big stride. Her rideability is not always great, but she is a fighter. We had a slow start to the circuit, but I think she is coming around and we will see her now in some bigger classes as well.”
Pessoa explained that Cottier’s jump-off track suited his mount very well. “It was a really good jump-off for her because it was a big gallop and she has a very big stride,” the rider noted. “Actually, the course was ideal for her in the jump-off, it could not have been any better. I was really happy to be competitive with her.”
In addition to the prize money in Thursday’s class, de Miranda earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion for wearing his SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.
An $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m class was also held on Thursday with a win for Kevin Babington and Meco Equestrian LLC’s Cord 11.For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
The Closer and Havens Schatt
The Closer and Havens Schatt Seal the Deal in Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level One
The first hunter championship of week seven was awarded to Kelley Corrigan’s The Closer with Havens Schatt in the irons in the Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level One three-foot division. Schatt and The Closer won the first class over fences on Wednesday and then placed first and second over fences on Thursday to earn the division championship.
Le Reve Farm, Inc.’s At Ease and Christopher Payne finished in reserve with first and second place ribbons on Wednesday and a second place finish in Thursday’s under saddle.
The Closer is a seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Sir Donnerhall. Owner, Kelley Corrigan, is from Lexington, KY, and bought the horse this past summer. He started showing in the Low Hunters there, and this is the third week that Schatt has shown him in the Pre-Green classes in his first trip to Wellington.
“He is green,” Schatt described. “He was a dressage horse, so he is very keen on his lead changes. Sometimes he will do a lead change in the line or just by getting confused, but he has been super brave here. I showed him in ring 7, ring 6, and this ring. Kelley is doing him in the adults. She was first and second today. He is just a really good, brave guy.”
Schatt explained that The Closer has beauty and consistency around the course that make him a winner. “His stride and his rhythm are always the same,” she stated. “He is very big and he is black, so he is very pretty. He is very pretty to watch go around the course, and he jumps all of the jumps the same. You don’t get a ten, but you don’t get a four. He is pretty much an eight all the way around and for an amateur horse, which is ultimately what he is supposed to be – for me that is what it is supposed to be about – (it’s about) consistency and nice rhythm and a nice way around the ring.”
The Closer will now have a couple of weeks off before showing at the end of the FTI WEF circuit. Schatt sees a bright future for the horse and hopes to keep him happy and enjoying his job as he continues to learn and compete.
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.
Wellington, FL – February 19, 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began its seventh week of competition on Wednesday with a win for Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.
Sponsored by Adequan, FTI WEF week seven runs February 19-23, 2014. The week will feature the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 on Thursday, the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Friday, the $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* on Saturday, and the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday. The FTI WEF features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.
Take in “Saturday Night Lights” from some of the best seats in the house! Tables and individual seats are available for sale in The Wellington Club, which offers a fantastic view of the International Arena for Saturday night’s grand prix. Enjoy a full buffet courtesy of White Horse Catering while watching thrilling competition from a spectacular vantage point on Saturday, February 22. Tables are going fast, so reserve yours today! Email vip@equestriansport.com for complete information.
Week seven kicked off its competition on Wednesday with the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m as the highlight class of the day in the International Arena at PBIEC. Fredric Cottier of France is the international course designer this week and set the speed track for 85 competitors in the class with 29 clear rounds. Fifth to go, Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083 set the unbeatable pace of 59.10 seconds.
Germany’s David Will and Black Jack 163, owned by Eveline Kraus, finished second in 59.49 seconds. Lauren Hough (USA) and The Ohlala Group’s Ohlala were third in 59.84 seconds. Brianne Goutal (USA) and Cloverleaf Farm’s Uata placed fourth in 61.19 seconds.
Wednesday was the third trip to the winner’s circle for Sweetnam and Cyklon at this year’s FTI WEF after also winning the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed classes during weeks three and five. The 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion (Cardento x Cortus) has been a consistent top horse for Sweetnam and continues to excel.
“He is very consistent, and he has improved each year since I have gotten to know him better,” Sweetnam stated. “I know his little quirks and things now. He was very good last circuit here as well and obviously he is having a great run at the moment.”
“He felt great today,” Sweetnam said. “The last class I did with him he won two weeks ago, and he had last week off, so he felt fresh. I was early to go and I wasn’t really sure if my time would hold the whole way because you know when you go early in this class, there are a lot of good riders and good horses, so I was very happy today at the end to still be on top.”
Sweetnam explained that although he would prefer to go later in the order to be able to watch more rounds, his round would not have been much different today.
“It’s nice to watch to know what you have to do,” he noted. “The last class that I won I was later to go, so I knew exactly what I had to do, where this one I am really taking chances and risks and sometimes they don’t come off. You can be a little bit more careful if you are later in the class, but my plan didn’t really change. I would have probably still had to do the same as what I did to win the class.”
Sweetnam and Cyklon have been a winning partnership for two years now with top finishes around the world, and the rider recalled that the last time Cyklon jumped one of Fredric Cottier’s courses last year in La Baule, he won.
“He is a very good course designer, and the course was good today,” Sweetnam acknowledged. “The top 10 or 12 were all within a few seconds of each other, so the rollbacks had to be tight and then if you were to leave out a stride in places, that was going to play an advantage. I think that is what worked for me. I left out a stride from jump two to three and then from four to the in-and-out, and then even the last line. Not everyone did five strides there and I did five. I think if you were leaving out strides, it was going to help you win today.”
A $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class was also held on Wednesday with a California Split for the placings due to the large number of entries. Pedro Muylaert (BRA) and Wessel, owned by Henrique Tielas, had the fastest clear round to earn top honors in Section A of the class. Daniel Zetterman (SWE) and Springfield Showjumpers’ Jolly Joker were the winners in Section B. A $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class concluded the day with a win for Joao Victor Castro (BRA) aboard Wamira.
Week seven of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will continue on Thursday with the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in the International Arena. 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.
Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela guided ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z to a fifth place finish in the $84,000 CSI3* Salamander Hotels & Resorts Grand Prix. Photo by The Chronicle of the Horse/Mollie Bailey.
Wellington, Florida – 17-year-old Emanuel Andrade of Caracas, Venezuela enjoyed great success in grand prix competition during Week VI of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) running January 8 through March 30 in Wellington, FL.
Andrade, who trains with Hollow Creek Farm of Aiken, SC, stepped up into the international open jumper divisions to earn multiple top-five finishes against some of the most seasoned veterans in the sport of show jumping during WEF Week VI of competition, held February 12-16.
On WEF Week VI’s opening day of competition, Andrade set the tone for the week ahead by winning the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed class riding Reve du Paradis, Hollow Creek Farm’s nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Crown Z x Adelfos).
“My trainer told me not to try to win, but just to go smooth,” said Andrade of his strategy for Wednesday’s opening competition. He also gave insight about Reve du Paradis, saying, “He is a green horse, but he tries hard to jump clear. He was a stallion in Europe and is gelded now, but he still thinks he’s a stallion and that can sometimes be difficult.”
Andrade continued, “He feels amazing. He was eight last year, so he was a baby. He jumped great last year, but this year he is jumping so well. He is jumping much, much better.”
The following day, Andrade returned to the international ring, this time for the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round VI, which was also held as a speed class. His partner was ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z, a 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Zandor Z x Latus I) owned by Hollow Creek Farm. Competing against a large starting field of 74 entries, Andrade posted a fast and faultless round over the course designed by Great Britain’s Richard Jeffery, stopping the clock at 75.67 seconds to finish in fourth place.
Andrade’s biggest international class of the week came on Friday night, where he proved his stamina and consistency with ZZ Top v/h Schaarbroek Z to take fifth place in the $84,000 CSI3* Salamander Hotels & Resorts Grand Prix. With a clear first round, Andrade was one of eight riders to advance to the jump-off where he posted the fastest four-fault effort. His time of 37.89 seconds was only bettered by United States Show Jumping Team veteran Kent Farrington, who was clear in 36.58 seconds to take the win riding Blue Angel.
As WEF Week VI played host to the annual World Champion Hunter Rider series, show jumping competitors experienced a change of venue, with all major classes taking place at the Global Dressage Festival Stadium, usually reserved for CDI dressage competition.
“I love that ring and I love that place,” said Andrade of the all-weather ring, which many noted had a decidedly European atmosphere. “I think it is great for the horse show to have the competition over there, because sometimes the horses need different rings. I really liked jumping there.”
In addition to his grand prix success, Andrade has been racking up numerous wins and championship titles in the Junior Jumper divisions during the first half of the 12-week WEF. As one of the busiest junior riders on the circuit, Andrade typically has 10 or more mounts in the Junior Jumper divisions. Highlights from Week VI included double wins on February15 in the Low Junior Jumper division with Windline and in the Medium Junior Jumper division with La Fe Forli. Andrade claimed the Reserve Championship titles in both the Low Junior Jumper and Medium Junior Jumper divisions for WEF Week VI, bringing his tally thus far to six junior jumper championship titles and eight reserve championship titles.
Success at WEF is nothing new for Andrade, who was named the overall Leading Jumper Rider in 2013. Also at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, Andrea King was named the Leading Jumper Trainer while Hollow Creek Farm received the Leading Jumper Owner Award.
Hollow Creek Farm is a major sponsor of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, presenting the Medium Junior Jumper division each week as well as being the title sponsor of the second annual Children’s, Junior and Young Riders’ Nations’ Cup competition during WEF Week VIII, running February 26 through March 2.
Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights Champion the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic
Wellington, FL – February 16, 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded its sixth week of competition, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, with action on both sides of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Sunday. On the beautiful grass field at The Stadium at PBIEC, 25-year-old Santiago Diaz of Colombia earned the biggest win of his career riding Tizimin LS in the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby. In the International Arena on the Main Grounds, Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights were victorious in the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic.
Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England set the track for Sunday’s jumper derby that featured 20 numbered obstacles, including the derby bank, table bank, open water, devil’s dyke and more. The number of challenging natural obstacles along with the length of the course tested the stamina of all of the horses and riders competing, resulting in no clear rounds. Last to go, Santiago Diaz and Tizimin LS had one rail down, combined with a fast time in the faults converted format, to finish in 143.98 seconds for the win.
Nicholas Dello Joio and Nathalie de Gunzburg’s Ganjana were faster, but incurred eight faults to bring their total time up to 144.92 seconds to finish in second. James North and Fair Play Farm’s The Man to See had four faults added to his time to place third in 146.17 seconds.
Diaz has owned Tizimin LS, an eight-year-old La Silla gelding, for three years. Tizimin is by the stallion Tlaloc La Silla, out of the Polydor mare Sonora La Silla, the same dam as Daniel Bluman’s Olympic mount Sancha LS. Living in Colombia, Diaz moved up the children’s and junior ranks and is now a professional rider. Diaz showed at the FTI WEF for the first time in 2013 and made his second trip worthwhile on Sunday with the biggest payday of his career.
Diaz explained that although Tizimin is young and very green, he did a derby in Colombia last year, and he felt confident aiming the horse at this class. “I brought him here for the season to have a different experience for him,” Diaz stated. “He is young for this, but I knew that he can do it well. He was really good, and I am so happy.”
Diaz noted that his horse is very fit, and the only thing he did to prepare was practice some water jumps and hills last week. “He is really brave,” the rider added. “When I walked the course, I didn’t have any worries. My horse already did those kind of jumps, and I knew that he was fit for that.”
Diaz stuck to his plan on course as the last to go, but he did have an enthusiastic Colombian cheering section and lots of encouragement as his round went on. “I heard people around the course whistling and saying go forward. In every corner there was somebody,” he laughed.
For Nick Dello Joio, the opportunity to show Ganjana was great, and the rider was happy with his round. He was showing the 12-year-old Hanoverian mare for owner Laura de Gunzburg and started riding her a few weeks ago.
“She had come from a background of doing some derbies in Germany, so Laura said it would be fun for me to ride her in this derby,” Dello Joio explained. “I don’t know her that well, but luckily today it was a friendly course. Richard did a great job, and he made it really inviting. I think I got a little bit flat at the end, but I was thrilled with her. She was great. She jumped well, and she made my job a lot easier.”
He continued, “This is a fun class. It is nice for all of these horses to come out here. You could go out and have a gallop around and have fun. I think a lot of people who watched it probably regretted not showing today, and I think next year there will be a lot more people in this class.”
James North has done this class the last three years in a row with his 14-year-old Holsteiner stallion The Man to See and noted that the course was exactly the same as last year.
“I had a little advantage with that,” he acknowledged, “and I know my horse is super brave, but he is a little cold and slow, so that has always been my issue with him is to keep him fit enough for the course. The last two years I had the last jump down, so this year I was not going to have the last jump down! I was a little careful to that one, but he is a super horse.”
“My plan was exactly the same as last year,” North said. “These courses you don’t worry too much about the rails, you just have to go fast. Mine is a little slow. He is a stallion, and he dwells up in the air, so I just know that I have to keep kicking.”
“It was a good day to go jumping around out there,” North added. “It is beautiful; the sun is shining. It was great.”
Equestrian Sotheby’s representative Tom Baldwin also had fun as a supporter of Sunday’s class and was happy with the great result.
“This is our first time sponsoring an event like this,” Baldwin stated. “We were presented with the idea and we just thought it was so different and original and out of the box. We thought it was a great opportunity to come out here and be a part of a really unique athletic event. It is truly athletes out there, horse and rider at their best on a really beautiful day, so we were really happy to be a part of it.”
In addition to Sunday’s fantastic derby, a special award was presented for week six competition. American rider Kaitlin Campbell was named the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider of the week after top finishes with her mount Rocky W. The award is sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.
Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights Win in Classic
Sunday was the Adult Amateur Hunters’ turn to take on the International Arena at PBIEC for World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition. The $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic saw the top hunter horses and riders, who qualified for the classic earlier in the week in their regular divisions.
Laura Lee Montross and Nairobi Nights
Laura Lee Montross and her own Nairobi Nights topped the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic on Sunday afternoon at the FTI WEF. Montross and “Nairobi” bested a field of 77 horse/rider combinations with a total score of 172.5. The pair qualified for the second round of competition after earning a first round score of 86.5. Montross piloted Nairobi to an 86 round two to give them the lead.
Samantha Sommers and Graffiti were second in the class, which called back the top twelve riders to contest a second round of competition. With a first round score of 86.75, Sommers returned in round two to ride Graffiti to a score of 83, finishing second with a total score of 169.75. Wendy Gifford rounded out the top three with Weekend Affair. Gifford and Weekend Affair were the final pair to return for round two after earning a high score of 87 in round one. The duo earned a round two score of 82 to finish narrowly behind Sommers with a 169.
Montross has owned Nairobi, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, for eight years and has enjoyed experiencing their partnership develop. “He’s a nice, big horse. His trot and his canter are very comfortable. I was showing him and he was a little tough. He was very young when I got him and very green, so I turned him over to the professionals for a while,” Montross recounted.
She continued, “He’s always been great in the barn and great to flat, and now he’s just a nice adult horse. He would do anything, I think. His father’s the famous Nairobi, and I think he was difficult for a while too. Morgan [Thomas, former rider] told me they take a long time to grow up and then they’re really good.”
Montross, of Bedford, NY, admitted having a few butterflies walking into the International Arena, but quickly found her stride with Nairobi and simply had fun with their courses.
“I was a little nervous at first. But then, quite honestly, after the second jump I was just having fun. It was beautiful. It was wonderful; I like that it was wide open and I could gallop. The six to the two [stride] was a little bit snug, but he handled it and it was fun,” Montross commented. “I didn’t worry about anything. I could move up to the jumps, and he didn’t look at anything. He didn’t spook; he was just very soft.”
Montross grew up in the foxhunting tradition today’s show hunter classes are rooted in, hunting with her mother with the Golden’s Bridge Hounds in North Salem, NY. She was an avid Pony Club participant as a child before trying out the show ring. After taking some time off from riding, she got back into hunting when her mother moved to Tryon, NC, joining her on hunts with the Tryon Hounds.
The pull of the show ring was still strong, and while Montross still gets plenty of offers to come join the field after returning to the world of show hunters, she admits she may not have the most appropriate mounts.
“Nairobi’s a good trail horse. He actually probably would hunt now; he’s such a good boy,” Montross joked.
Riding is now a third-generation tradition for Montross, who shares the sport with her 15-year-old daughter and husband. Montross’ daughter shares a trainer with her, contesting the jumper ring under Jimmy Torano’s watchful eye, while Montross’ husband Tad enjoys touring around the 2’6″ Low Adult Hunters.
The 3’3″ classics followed the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic, with the $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Classic being the next to hand out awards. Barbara Spizzirro and Hundred Acre topped the class with a cumulative score of 171. Spizzirro rode Hundred Acre to a first round score of 84 before following up with an 87 in the second round to clinch the first place prize.
Martel and owner-rider Olivia Easton earned top call in the $5,000 WCHR Junior 3’3″ Hunter Classic with an overall score of 162. Easton rode Martel to an 80 in the first round before earning a score of 82 for round two.
Earlier in the afternoon, Mary Jane King was recognized as the Grand Adult Hunter for WCHR competition at the FTI WEF for her three over fences wins with Boss, Inc.’s Ebony in the Camping World Adult Amateur 51+ division.
Lillie Keenan and Soulja Boy
Correction: Lillie Keenan was division champion of the Large Junior Hunters 16-17 with Soulja Boy, not on Grayon as previously published. The pair won the under saddle and placed fifth, first, and fifth over fences in the division. Keenan and the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding’s over fences victory came in the handy round, which the pair won with a high score of 94. The score held up for the High Score Junior award, presented to Keenan and Soulja Boy prior to their round in the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular. Soulja Boy, owned by James Fairclough’s Stone Horse Farm, ultimately finished tenth in the Hunter Spectacular.
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.
Alexander Zetterman and Cafino Win $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
Wellington, FL – February 15, 2014 – World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition peaked on Saturday evening under the lights of the International Arena at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. The country’s top professional, amateur, and junior hunter riders went head-to-head to earn top call in the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
FTI WEF week six, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, concludes on Sunday, February 16, with the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby at 2 p.m. on the beautiful grass derby field at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Hunter horses and riders have been showcased throughout week six of the FTI WEF in WCHR competition. Riders qualified for the class during competition for their respective divisions throughout the week.
Sixteen-year-old Victoria Colvin topped the class for the third year in a row with champion mount Ovation, who she rode to the 2013 title as well. Ovation, a 14-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, won the class with a score of 89.66 with Colvin in the irons. Not only did Colvin clinch her third title in the Hunter Spectacular, she took the top two spots. She rode Way Cool (the 2012 WCHR Hunter Spectacular winner), a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding also owned by Dr. Parker, to second place with a score of 89.16.
Kelley Farmer and Certainty, owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC, were next best, taking third place with an 87.50. Peter Pletcher and Empire, owned by David Gochman, rounded out the top four after also finishing with an 87.50.
Colvin had the disadvantage of going first out of the 29 entries for the class and did her best to lay down a round with a score that would hold up. She was happy with an 89, but she admitted she never thought it would stick. “I thought the first [round], [the judges] wouldn’t give too high of a score. I thought 89 is a good score, but it’s also very beatable,” Colvin acknowledged.
Colvin returned mid-way through the order with her second mount Way Cool, the gelding she rode to victory in the 2012 Hunter Spectacular that can have a penchant for untimely misbehavior. She admitted she was unsure how either mount would act under the lights of the International Arena, but went into the ring determined to best her score with Ovation.
“I picked horses that are unpredictable, and I didn’t really know how they were going to go when they walked in, but I was very happy with how both of them went. Way Cool, I wasn’t sure when I trotted in what he was going to do, but he went right around. He was a little freaked out at the people, but he went right around,” Colvin remarked.
She explained, “They’re both a bit spooky, but they’re old souls in a way. The night, the people, it’s just a big class for both of those horses to do.”
With two “byes” for the class thanks to previous wins, Colvin could have had her pick of horses to take in the ring for the class, but she settled on Ovation and Way Cool based on their good behavior earlier in the day during the Junior Hunter divisions. Dr. Parker admitted that she didn’t want either of the horses to go in the class, but was ultimately happy that Colvin remained the voice of reason.
“I kind of love the way our team works because we have a lot of back and forth between us, (trainer) Scott (Stewart) and I, and Tori and her mother. Nobody seems to have the primary voice. And tonight I really didn’t want Tori to ride either of those horses, and I’m so glad the team didn’t listen to me!” Dr. Parker laughed.
While many successful riders her age are all too eager to leave the hunter divisions behind for the thrills of the jumper ring, Colvin still campaigns multiple hunter mounts. Colvin admitted that with horses like Dr. Parker’s, she’s in no rush to transition out of the hunter divisions. “I do really like the jumpers and the jumpers are really fun, but I have so many nice hunters, and these classes I love, so I think that I will continue to do these classes,” Colvin expressed.
Colvin’s piece of the $100,000 prize will be donated to Danny & Ron’s Rescue, a cause that is near and dear to Dr. Parker’s philanthropist heart. With the prize money doubled this year for the Hunter Spectacular, Parker was especially thrilled to be able to share the wealth, especially after having doubts whether Colvin could pick up a third victory.
“I was really excited tonight to win the Hunter Spectacular for the [third] time because first of all, I told my team members, I don’t believe lightning strikes [three] times in the same spot, so I was wrong. I was thrilled to be wrong tonight!” Dr. Parker smiled. “It’s important to find a good cause to get behind and bring it forward, like Danny and Ron have been brought forward. I was really thrilled for that.”
Kelley Farmer and Certainty
Like Colvin, Farmer also had her pick of a barn packed with talent. She ultimately chose one of her greener mounts; Certainty hasn’t even turned six yet. The Oldenburg gelding has been brave and scopey ever since Farmer first swung her leg over him last summer, so she had no doubts he would rise to the occasion on Saturday evening.
“From the first day we got him, he has been just as brave as can be,” Farmer beamed. “I was pretty confident with him. With one that young and that green anything can go wrong, but I knew that he wasn’t going to come in here and have a meltdown. He was great this week both days. He’s got that mentality; he thinks he’s too good. The only thing we did wrong was let Tori show up!”
Pletcher was happy to be mounted on a more experienced horse. Empire, an 11-year-old Warmblood stallion, is regularly seen in the Amateur-Owner Hunters with owner Becky Gochman and Pletcher contested the Hunter Spectacular with him in 2013.
“There’s nothing better to ride than a good amateur horse. You take away a lot of the pressure to know that horse is going to go around like he’s going to go around. He went super; I couldn’t be any happier with the way he went. I thought that was as good as he’s gonna be, so I was very happy,” Pletcher commented.
Pletcher was also pleased with how the course rode, feeling that course designer Steve Stephens produced a very fair course for Saturday night’s field of horses and riders. With junior and amateur riders and horses with a wide range of experience, Stephens had to build a course that everyone could handle, yet was also still a challenge.
“I thought it was a good course. It wasn’t really hard in any aspect one way or the other. Steve is a very good course designer for sure, and he knew the group of horses that were coming into this class, and he did the course perfectly for it,” Pletcher described.
Lilli Hymowitz and Tiffani
Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6″ Divisions Award Top Honors Saturday Morning
The Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6″ division champions had the shortest turn-around to Saturday night’s competition after only qualifying earlier in the day. First to take on the International Arena on Saturday morning was the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, presented by Greenspoon Marder Law. Tiffani and owner-rider Lilli Hymowitz took home the tricolor honors for the division. The pair won two over fences rounds before finishing third in the final jumping class to clinch the title. Reserve champion went to Imagine, owned and ridden by Jake Wasson. Wasson piloted Imagine to seventh under saddle and fourth, second, and first over fences.
The Equestrian Sotheby’s Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division was topped by Akinda and owner-rider Victoria Press. Akinda was first under saddle and eighth, second, and first over fences with Press in the irons. The reserve champion for the division was Crystal Clear, owned and ridden by Coco Fath. Fath piloted Crystal Clear to sixth under saddle and sixth, first, and second over fences.
Next to award championship honors was the Bainbridge Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division. Lexi Maounis and her own Sienna conquered the division after placing second, first, and first over fences. The reserve champion for the division was Zoom, owned and ridden by Laura Sexton. The pair were first and second over fences and third under saddle.
Lyn Pedersen and Silhouette were champions of the Hunt Ltd Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 division. Silhouette and Pederson were first, fourth, and third over fences and eighth under saddle. Behind Silhouette by only one point was Amarillo, who was ultimately reserve champion with Katie Jacobs-Robinson. Jacobs-Robinson rode Amarillo to fifth under saddle and first and third over fences.
It was a battle of the sport’s top teen superstars for the Antarés Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division. Lillie Keenan edged out Colvin for the division championship. Keenan piloted Grayon to top call for the division after placing fifth, third, and third over fences and second under saddle. The pair were presented with the Toad Hall Perpetual Trophy, donated by Missy Apmann, for their victory. Colvin and long-time partner Way Cool were reserve champions for the division, winning two over fences classes.
Colvin didn’t stay out of the winner’s circle for long; she was champion and reserve champion of the EnTrust Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division. Colvin topped the division with Canadian Blue. The pair won two over fences classes and placed second in another to earn the championship title. Colvin and Canadian Blue were presented with the Awesome Perpetual Trophy, donated by Patricia Tanner, for their winning effort and were also crowned Grand Junior Hunter Champion for the weekend. Colvin piloted Ovation to the blue ribbon under saddle and finished third in two over fences classes.
Alexander Zetterman and Cafino Win $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
Saturday’s competition at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) featured a $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, held on the beautiful derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), with a win for 24-year-old Alexander Zetterman (SWE) aboard Cafino. Twenty-eight entries showed over the Richard Jeffery (GBR) designed course with five clear rounds to jump-off. Zetterman and Cafino were first to go in the jump-off and set an unbeatable pace with their double clear round in 46.34 seconds.
Kevin Babington (IRL) and Mark Q were the only other pair to clear the short course without fault and finished second in 48.27 seconds. Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) was clear over the course, but incurred two time faults in 51.14 seconds aboard Mike Collins’ Zoe II, to place third. Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and S&L Slingback had four faults in 49.65 seconds to finish fourth, while Abigail McArdle guided David McArdle’s Cade de Guldenboom to fifth place honors with four faults in 49.85 seconds.
Cafino, a 2003 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Cardento 933 x Roderik 856), is still a relatively new mount for Zetterman since the partnership first formed in September. The duo won the $25,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Holiday I Grand Prix in one of their first classes together in December and has since earned many top placings in the first half of FTI WEF competition.
The pair finished fourth in week two’s $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2*, placed fifth in week three’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 Section B, and also placed fifth in week three’s $125,000 Fidelity investments Grand Prix CSI 3*.
“Obviously the partnership has developed more and more,” Zetterman stated after his win on Saturday. “It has taken a bit of time, but when you really want to get to know them at the top level, you have to work on all of the small details and those parts are falling into place more and more.
“I still have had a lot of success,” Zetterman noted. “He had his first fence down in a very long time last night, but I think my rounds are smoother now. I feel better with him. Even if I have had success, I still feel that I can ride him even smoother, and he has been jumping even better.”
Saturday was Cafino’s first time jumping on the grass field at The Stadium, and Zetterman said that he felt great.
“I think he likes it,” the rider noted. “He is spooky; probably in a good way, but he does look at everything a little bit. He jumps some very funny jumps sometimes when he looks down at the water or something, but he knows exactly what he is doing.”
The extra spook played to Zetterman’s advantage with Cafino in the jump-off, since he knew his horse was being extra careful over the jumps. “You can really trust his carefulness,” Zetterman detailed. “I know I have a really fast horse, so I knew that if I could just keep going on stride and just try not to add too many strides, I would probably have a hard time to catch.”
While working on the smoothness and small details of his ride with Cafino this winter, Zetterman has been working with trainer Michelle Grubb, and explained that her expertise has been very helpful. “She has been a very good complement to our team,” he acknowledged. “She knows the set up here in the USA and we have a great dialogue about not only riding, but about everything from flatting and jumping, to the care of the horses and management. That has been great.”
As the FTI WEF circuit continues to amp up week by week, Zetterman has his sights set on week twelve’s $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*. With his many top finishes, the rider is in a good position to qualify moving forward, and noted that competing at the different venue this week has been great for the horses and riders heading into the remaining six weeks of competition.
“I think it is good to get this week here to do something different, to jump in the dressage arena, and today on the grass,” Zetterman said. “It was a good, fresh breath before the last few weeks now; it is going to be very tough.”
One more class will be featured at The Stadium this weekend as week six of FTI WEF competition concludes on Sunday. The $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby is set to begin at 2 p.m. on the derby field. For full show 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.
Amateur-Owner and Junior 3’3″ Hunters Crown Champions of WCHR Competition at FTI WEF
Wellington, FL – February 14, 2014 – A special $84,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Valentine’s Grand Prix CSI 3* was held on Friday night at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) with another exciting win for Kent Farrington (USA) and his speedy mount, Blue Angel. The pair has been on fire this season and topped the class almost three seconds faster than second place finishers Cian O’Connor (IRL) and Carolus Z. Australia’s Benjamin Meredith and Bernadien van Westuur finished third.
FTI WEF week six, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, runs February 12-16, 2014. The week features the coveted World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition, with hunters taking to the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) for their daily classes, weekly championships, and a chance to compete in Saturday night’s $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
As the hunters are featured on the main showgrounds at PBIEC, the highlight jumper competition will be held on the adjacent showgrounds at The Stadium at PBIEC. Exciting jumper classes will be held on the beautiful grass derby field at The Stadium, including the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, and the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
On Friday night, Great Britain’s Richard Jeffery set the course for 42 starters in the grand prix, held in the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC, with eight clear rounds to jump-off. Third to go in the order, Kent Farrington and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel slammed the door on the other competitors, not leaving little room for improvement on their blazing fast time of 36.58 seconds for the win.
Cian O’Connor and Ronnoco Jump Ltd.’s Carolus Z tried their best and finished second in 39.28 seconds. Benjamin Meredith and River Farm Sporthorses’ Bernadien van Westuur finished third in 41.56 seconds. The only other pair to clear the short course without fault, Thomas Dresler (DEN) and Never Say Never, placed fourth in 42.52 seconds. Emanuel Andrade (VEN) and Hollow Creek Farm’s ZZ Top VH Schaarbroek Z had the fastest four-fault round in 37.89 seconds.
Kent Farrington and Blue Angel kicked off the winter with a great win in the $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix CSI 2*, presented by Rolex, in January and also had a great start to this week with a win in Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6. The momentum of that win just one day prior definitely helped keep the pair on their toes for Friday night’s class.
“Blue Angel is a very consistent horse. She has been a real winner for me over the last year, and I think she is just starting to hit her stride for this season,” Farrington stated after his win. “Yesterday was a great warm up. A ‘Table A’ class like that really suits the horse in this venue, and I thought it was the same tonight. It really suited the horse’s strengths, and in the jump-off, I really just let her do her thing.”
“I thought I got a couple lucky rubs actually in the first round, and she came out for the jump-off and really upped her game and jumped much better,” Farrington noted. “She was back on form and felt more like herself in the jump-off.”
Talking about his super-fast pace through the short course, Farrington detailed, “It’s a very competitive horse. She has had a lot of experience and we have gotten to know each other really well, so she’s looking for the fences now off the corner. More and more, the more I ride her, the more she knows me. We know each other’s moves, and she knows what to expect.”
Farrington also acknowledged the great venue at The Stadium at PBIEC for Friday’s class, which was a nice change for both horses and riders as well as a more intimate setting with the fantastic Friday night crowd.
“I think this is a great change of pace from the other venue,” Farrington stated. “It’s great for the horses not to feel like they are showing in the same ring over and over again. This has an indoor feel to it in terms of dimensions with a close audience to the arena, and I think they could really use this ring for World Cup qualifiers. I think it would really help prepare our horses for World Cup Finals much better than the bigger arena over there (on the Main Grounds). It’s always sort of a shock to our horses to go from a huge gallop outside to a tiny indoor ring, so that could be really beneficial to us in the future.”
Blue Angel has won classes in many different venues and proved that she likes the ring at The Stadium with back to back wins this week. “She’s pretty versatile like that, but I think as rideable as she is, she can really excel in an arena like this,” Farrington said.
Cian O’Connor and Carolus Z
For Cian O’Connor, the second place finish was great with Carolus Z, who he explained is a fairly new mount.
“It’s the first grand prix placing with him, so I’m pretty happy,” O’Connor stated. “I knew it was going to be mission impossible to beat Kent, so I just tried to jump a clear round and hopefully hold on for second place. It was great prize money tonight, so thanks very much to the sponsor. It is fantastic to come to a different venue, but also to jump for this kind of money is fantastic. Some people are jumping younger horses or new horses, and it’s great; it’s worthwhile.”
“I just got him in the winter, so I did a few indoors with him,” O’Connor said of Carolus Z. “He is a big horse to keep together and I’m just getting the hang of him, so hopefully good things to come.”
Benjamin Meredith was quite pleased to get a top finish with his mount, Bernadien van Westuur, and explained that this was his first time showing in a big grand prix at the FTI WEF.
“I’m stoked to be here with these guys; this is very exciting for me,” Meredith said. “Thank you very much to Sheila Johnson for sponsoring the class. My partnership with this horse is relatively new, and I’m actually not the rider of this horse. My client, Haley Schaufeld, who normally rides it, is up north at a funeral and Fred Schaufeld is part owner of a couple of things with Salamander, so it is really exciting that this could work out.”
“This is actually my first big grand prix in Wellington, so it’s pretty exciting really, and it’s really cool to ride here,” Meredith acknowledged. “The horse was really great tonight. She has not jumped this big in a while, so halfway through the first round she was jumping a little too high, and then she went ‘Oh right, I remember,’ and then it was fine.”
“She has to keep going, and I just thought, ‘Why not?'” Meredith said of the decision to jump in the night class. “I did the ‘WEF’ (Challenge Cup) and she was really fun, so I thought I would give it a go and it worked out!”
Sheila C. Johnson, founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, was thrilled with the fantastic class and praised the riders on a job well done.
“First of all, I would like to thank the Bellissimos,” Johnson stated. “This is incredible. I think all evening, I have been hearing how much the spectators love this venue and I think the riders like it, it’s much more intimate. We love the other ring also, but this is much more of a European-type ring. I just have to say that as the sponsor, I live my life believing in the double bottom line. The sport has been so terrific for my family and my daughter. Kent is my daughter’s trainer, which I am thrilled about. This is my way to be able to give back to the sport and I think that’s very important. I hope that there are many other families that want to give back to the sport as well.”
“It has been terrific for my children to grow up in this environment, and to be able to really see them strive for the passion that they have and for the love of the sport,” Johnson continued. “It is really just an honor to be able to be a sponsor tonight. It is also a way of showcasing the third act of my life- this is my third company, so it just really fits into this venue with the equestrian feel. The resort in Middleburg is an equestrian resort of the highest caliber, so we are just very excited for its future and invite anyone to come see it, especially the riders!”
Amateur-Owner and Junior 3’3″ Hunters Crown Champions of WCHR Competition
As World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition continues at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), Amateur-Owner and Junior Hunter divisions set at the 3’3″ height awarded top honors on Friday afternoon. For the victories, Friday’s champions will earn spots in the $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner Junior Hunter 3’3″ Classic on Sunday morning.
Enough Said and Stephanie Danhakl
The FarmVet Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunter division was the first to announce division championship recipients, with Stephanie Danhakl taking champion with Enough Said as well as reserve champion with Quest.
Danhakl was thrilled with her one-two finish with her two new mounts. Enough Said, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding, won the under saddle class and finished first in the final over fences round for the division in the International Arena. Quest, a seven-year-old Warmblood gelding, was second to Enough Said in the under saddle before earning first and sixth place ribbons over fences.
“I am so happy with them. They were both so amazing!” Danhakl beamed. “Enough Said was a little spooky yesterday, but ended up winning the hack. I came in here today thinking there was no way [Enough Said wouldn’t be spooky again]! He’s really green, and he’s only been to a few shows. But he was just perfect.”
Both horses are relatively new to Danhakl, who just acquired them at the end of last year. Enough Said and Quest are both still green, evidenced by Enough Said’s extra spirit during the jog for the class in the International Arena. Danhakl admitted she’s enjoying still getting to know them, and both horses’ talent is undeniable. In addition to Friday’s results, trainer Scott Stewart rode Quest to the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Working Hunter championship on Thursday morning.
Despite being mounted on green horses, Danhakl was excited to take on the sprawling International Arena, explaining that it suited Enough Said quite well. “Enough Said has a huge stride, so I’m constantly thinking about steadying and collecting everywhere in the ring, so it was nice today to just be able to go on his natural stride and go with a little more pace. It was definitely fun for me to ride him in here and it was lucky that we didn’t get going too fast!” she said with a smile. “It’s nice to have the space to just get out and gallop and have fun.”
Seasoned partners Daryl Portela and Winner, an eleven-year-old Warmblood gelding, were next to pick up top honors. Portela and Winner were second under saddle before finishing second and first over fences. Reserve champion for the division was Positano, owned and ridden by Missy Luczak-Smith. Positano and Luczak-Smith won the under saddle class and placed third and second over fences.
Winner has continued to live up to his name, picking up countless division championships with Portela in the irons over the last several years, but his worth goes far behind his raw talent. “I’m really competitive, so it’s nice that I can always count on him and trust him. It’s different going into that big [International Arena], but I can trust him and know he’s not going to do anything stupid,” Portela expressed.
As with many top horses, Portela and trainer Jimmy Torano carefully pick which shows Winner goes to in order to keep him in top form without over-showing. Winner is always aimed at WCHR week at the FTI WEF, and Portela believes he can sense when an important class is at stake.
“We pick and choose our shows, but I think he knows. He knows the prestige and he rises to the occasion for sure. We’re both really competitive and aim for the same thing, and the results have been good!” Portela smiled.
One of the highlights of the week for Portela was her top score in the handy round for the division. Winner has always done well in those classes, but Portela was particularly excited to win the class with a 90.
“It’s nice when you get 90s thrown at you. You see 90s in the professionals and the top juniors, but [not as often] in the amateurs. You’ll get the 86s and 88s, maybe an 89. So it’s nice,” Portela acknowledged.
Thirteen-year-old Daisy Farish picked up the final division championship of the day with Larkspur in the Junior 3’3″ Hunter division. Larkspur, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, and Farish won two over fences classes and placed second in another to clinch the championship title. The reserve champion for the division was Bombay, ridden by Samantha Cohen and owned by Lyn Pedersen. Bombay and Cohen were first in the under saddle and first and second over fences.
Farish has earned plenty of championship prizes in the pony divisions, and as she continues to transition up into horses, she’s maintained her edge. Her first time riding Larkspur was only a few days ago, but the pair kept their cool in the International Arena for the final class of the division. The Jumbotron, towering palm trees, and spread out course tripped up quite a few riders and horses, but Farish laid down a consistent round with “Larry” to win the class.
“Larry is such a great horse. He doesn’t spook at anything. He was more confident than I was about the course!” Farish laughed. “He makes me feel like I don’t have to worry about him doing anything bad or being fresh.”
She continued, “He’s really fun. He’s got a really great rhythm and the jumps come right up. He was really easy to get to know. He’s very sweet and consistent. He made it easy.”
Farish has enjoyed learning the ropes of the horse divisions, which she admitted were an entirely different world from ponies. “I like it. Horses are so different from ponies because the competition is harder. There’s people that have been doing it longer and I’m smaller [than most other riders in the division], but it’s definitely fun!”
Farish’s win wrapped up WCHR competition on Friday. The 3’6″ junior and amateur-owner divisions will kick off the final round of championships on Saturday before the feature event that evening, the WCHR $100,000 Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
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.
Kent Farrington and Blue Angel Top $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6
Wellington, FL – February 13, 2014 – Hunter competition took over the International Arena during Week 6 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The country’s best hunter riders and horses will compete throughout Week 6 for a qualifying spot in the week’s feature event, the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Saturday evening.
FTI WEF week six, sponsored by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, runs February 12-16, 2014. The week features the coveted World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition, with hunters taking to the International Arena at PBIEC for their daily classes, weekly championships, and a chance to compete in Saturday night’s $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
As the hunters are featured on the main showgrounds at PBIEC, the highlight jumper competitions will be held on the adjacent showgrounds at The Stadium at PBIEC. Exciting jumper classes will be held on the beautiful grass derby field at The Stadium, including the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, and the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. A special $84,000 Salamander Hotels and Resorts Valentine’s Grand Prix CSI 3* will also be held in the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC at 7 p.m. on Friday night as part of the “Friday Night Stars” series. Anyone who wants to purchase a VIP table for Friday night’s grand prix should contact vip@equestriansport.com.
Thursday brought the first round of hunter division champion awards, with Scott Stewart and Quest topping the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Working Hunter division. Quest, a seven-year-old Warmblood owned by Stephanie Danhakl, won two over fences classes with Stewart and was third under saddle. The pair was also fifth in the handy round. Reserve champion for the division was Scripted, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC and ridden by Kelley Farmer. Farmer piloted Scripted to first and third over fences out of 37 entries for the division. Stewart and Quest were also presented with the Music Row Perpetual Trophy, donated by Susan Stanley, for their victory in the division.
The expansive International Arena and its surrounding stadium seating could be a lot for any green horse to handle even without the towering palm tree additions, but Quest took it all in stride on Thursday morning. “He was awesome. I was a little worried because he schooled a little bit fresh today and it was tough out there with everything blowing around, but not in a bad way. He felt perfect the whole time, so I was really happy with him,” Stewart commented.
Stewart actually owned the gelding up until a few months ago, after buying Quest as a three-year-old with Ken Berkley. Since then, Quest hasn’t seen much of the show ring, showing only once last year at Capital Challenge. Despite being a little inexperienced, Stewart aimed the gelding at WCHR competition during the FTI WEF and also hoped his owner could debut with him in the FarmVet Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunter division the same week. Danhakl and Quest are also off to a good start, wining an over fences class on the first day of competition.
“That was our goal in mind to hope to peak for Hunter Week and for Stephanie to show him this week, so that turned out great,” Stewart smiled.
Peaking in time for WCHR competition is on the mind of every competitor, and Stewart acknowledged that each horse needs a different plan, whether it means showing them early on and giving them time off, or doing a week of prep-work leading up to “Hunter Week.”
“Quest is better the less he does,” Stewart explained. “He’s really brave, always. He’s usually better the first time in the ring.”
That’s lucky for Stewart, since the annual trip south to Wellington from Flemington, NJ, where Stewart’s River’s Edge Farm is based, seems to make Quest uncharacteristically feisty. “He’s always been pretty mature, but for some reason, each year when he comes to Florida he gets a little wild! He’s naturally a very quiet horse. This is only his third show of the season because he was a little bit too fresh to get going well [and keep focused in the ring],” Stewart commented.
Earlier in the day, Stewart swept the Perfect Products High Performance Hunter division with Everly and Golden Rule. Everly, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, was champion of the division after finishing third and first over fences and winning the under saddle to wrap up the division. Stewart rode Golden Rule to reserve champion with third, first, and third place finishes over fences. Stewart was presented with the Peterbilt Special Perpetual Trophy, donated by Leslie Clarke, for his win with Everly.
Up until August, Everly could be seen jumping around 1.50m show jumping courses with Irish show jumper Shane Sweetnam. Stewart and Parker purchased the mare in August and were able to easily transition her into the ideal High Performance Hunter mount for Stewart.
“She started off really well. We’ve had it pretty easy,” Stewart smiled. “We showed her the next week [after we bought her] in Kentucky. I was already there for USEF Pony Finals [Lexington, Ky.], so I got to ride her every day. It was pretty simple. It was just getting her to realize she could be quiet. She’s such a naturally good jumper; there’s nothing really to train her to do!” Stewart remarked.
Keeping Everly relaxed has continued to be Stewart’s focus with the mare, which is why he is unsure of whether she’ll be showing under the lights Saturday evening for the Hunter Spectacular. “I’m worried that she might get a little bit lit up under the lights. I might let her wait [until next year]. I don’t know if that atmosphere might give her flashbacks to her old jumper days! I don’t want to get her upset, so I’m going to wait and see until tomorrow,” Stewart explained.
Stewart picked up his third championship of the day in the Shapley’s Green Conformation Hunter division, this time with Lucador. Stewart was presented with the Wrenwood Farm Perpetual Trophy after winning four of the six classes for the division aboard Lucador, including wins in the model and under saddle. Lucador is a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker.
The reserve champion for the division was also a familiar face: Kelley Farmer collected reserve honors with Scripted, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC. The pair won the stake round over fences in addition to placing second and fourth in the model and under saddle, respectively.
Stewart and Farmer continued to trade off division championships, with Farmer topping the Shapley’s Regular Conformation Hunter division with Quotable. The pair won two over fences classes and the model as well as placing second under saddle and eighth in the handy round. Quotable, a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC, and Farmer were presented with the Montoga Perpetual Trophy for their victory. The reserve champion for the division was Scott Stewart with Showman. The pair was second in the model, first under saddle, and second, eighth, and second over fences.
Quotable was already familiar with the International Arena after contesting the Hunter Spectacular last year with Farmer. The gelding has been wildly successful with Farmer over the past year, and Farmer couldn’t be more grateful for their success. “Every time, he’s been a winner. He’s done nothing but win for us!” Farmer expressed.
While Quotable is quite a handsome dark bay now, Farmer revealed he wasn’t always so polished looking. Nevertheless, Lane Change Farm knew they had something special on their hands.
“It was funny, when we got him, he was not hugely fat and was sort of that liver chestnut [color]… or really [the color] of this dirt!” Farmer laughed, gesturing to the arena footing. “He walked off that truck though, and we thought, ‘God, he’s going to be a pretty horse!'”
Havens Schatt conquered the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Second Year Green Working Hunter division, winning champion with Balin, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ainsley Sadlo. Balin and Schatt were first, second, and eighth over fences and fourth under saddle. Schatt was also reserve champion with Bacardi, an eight-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Caroline Moran. The pair was sixth, first, and sixth over fences and finished fifth under saddle. For her win with Balin, Schatt was presented with the Pin Oak Farm Perpetual Trophy.
Balin is a star in his own right, but sharing a barn with a horse like Bacardi, who Schatt has piloted to multiple division championships over the last year, has kept Balin out of the limelight despite multiple wins in the Green Conformation divisions at last year’s FTI WEF. “Balin is great. It’s hard to be in the same barn as Bacardi. Everybody’s all about Bacardi!” Schatt laughed. “But Balin has always held his own.”
She continued, “Balin has always had to catch up to Bacardi in two ways. He only had one year of Pre-Green, where Bacardi did two. Bacardi’s never really done amateur [divisions] all the time, whereas Balin has always had to do both. Balin is just one you can always count on, no matter where you go.”
Balin will get the chance to step into the spotlight on Saturday night. Schatt has decided to leave Bacardi in the barn and let Balin shine. It’s exciting for every rider to qualify for the Saturday evening Hunter Spectacular, but Schatt was especially pleased with Balin’s performance after she asked owner Sadlo to let her show the gelding during FTI WEF 6.
“I had to beg her to let me show him here. She lives in Atlanta, and she was supposed to fly down yesterday. With the ice and everything, they’d already cancelled her flight on Monday. So she was like ‘I can’t come, so what if we just wait and show him Week 7?’ So I had to be like ‘Please? It’s Hunter Week!'” Schatt recounted.
Schatt continued, “She was ecstatic when I called her and told her. It was nice that it worked out!”
Schatt, like all the professional riders qualified thus far, is also looking forward to increased prize money for this year’s Hunter Spectacular. At an impressive $100,000, it’s on par with USHJA International Derby Finals (Lexington, Ky.).
“I think it’s great for the hunters. Any time we can get more money going is good, especially for this kind of class. It’s only open to champion and reserves, and it’s a special thing and a special night,” Schatt commented.
The Performance Hunter divisions wrapped up competition on Thursday evening. The CWD Performance 3’6″ Hunter division was split due to the number of entries, ultimately pinning two division champions. Come Monday, owned by Davlyn Farms, Inc., and ridden by Tara Metzner, were champions of Section A after winning the under saddle and placing fourth, first, and third over fences. The reserve champion was Fonteyn, ridden by Hayley Barnhill and owned by John & Stephanie Ingram. Barnhll and Fonteyn were third under saddle and first and second over fences.
Section B champion was By The Way, owned by Ruth Kanner and ridden by Jeff Gogul. Gogul rode By The Way to fourth under saddle and two blue ribbon over fences rounds. The Section B reserve champion was Illusion, ridden by Tara Metzner and owned by Dogwood Hill, LLC. Metzner and Illusion were third, second, and fourth over fences.
The Amberway/Kraft KT1 Performance Hunter 3’3″ division was also split, awarding tricolor honors in Section A to Caliber, owned by Laura Karet and ridden by Hayley Barnhill. Barnhill piloted Caliber to a first place finish under saddle and fourth and third place ribbons over fences. The reserve champion for Section A was Smiles, ridden by Havens Schatt and owned by Bruce Duchossois. Schatt and Smiles won the under saddle and were second in two over fences rounds.
The Section B division champion was Rookie, owned by Belhaven Stables, LLC. Tim Goguen was in the irons and rode Rookie to second under saddle and first, second, and third over fences. The reserve champion in Section B was Endeavor, ridden by Christopher Payne and owned by Hunt Tosh. Payne and Endeavor were third under saddle before jumping to first, third, second, and third place finishes.
WCHR competition will continue on Friday in the International Arena with championships for the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter divisions and the start of the Amateur-Owner 3’6″ Hunters and junior hunter divisions.
Kent Farrington and Blue Angel
Farrington and Blue Angel Fly to Win
It was a win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Blue Angel in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6. Held as a speed class, the pair topped the two fastest times both held by Ireland’s Kevin Babington, who finished second and third respectively with Shorapur and Mark Q.
Great Britain’s Richard Jeffery is the course designer at The Stadium at PBIEC for week six competition and set a challenging speed track for 74 competitors in Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 with 14 clear rounds. Kevin Babington and Mark Q were the first pair to clear the course, fifth to go, with a time of 75.34 seconds that held on to the lead for most of the class to eventually finish third. Fifty-seven rounds later, it was Babington again who beat his own time to move into the lead with Shorapur in 72.91 seconds. It looked like the rider might have a one-two finish on his hands, but Kent Farrington got the edge with Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel to win it in 71.51 seconds with just four horses left to go.
Farrington and Blue Angel have developed a great partnership and are no strangers to the winner’s circle. The rider noted that the day’s tight speed track suited his horse quite well in addition to the advantage of going at the very end. Blue Angel is a 2002 Anglo European mare by Luidam x Ascendant.
“I saw Kevin’s first horse go,” Farrington noted. “Kevin is a great rider; I thought he had a really competitive round to start, but I had an advantage there going at the end. I have a very fast horse, so for her it is kind of just doing her round and knowing if there is something incredible that she has to do. I thought today the course really suited her. In the small arena, her natural speed just kind of carried her around all by itself.”
“I think generally the horse is very fast across the ground,” Farrington said of his winning round. “I did the leave-out strides the same as everybody else. I think she had a great turn to the skinny fence and a great rollback to the last line, that’s probably where she made up the time. When there’s a small ring like that and all of the horses have to do more or less the same track, it is an advantage to be on a handy horse like that, that has natural foot speed. You are already going to be a second up on everybody just with the horse’s gallop.”
“It is a very consistent horse,” the rider described. “She has been a great addition to my team of horses and she is a real winner. She is an opinionated mare like most of the good mares are. She has a little bit her own way of going and the way she wants to do things. I think now, I know her well enough that we sort of have an agreement of terms, a little bit my way and a little bit her way, and it works out pretty well.”
In addition to the prize money in Thursday’s class, Farrington earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion for wearing his SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.
Farrington plans to show Blue Angel again in Friday night’s $84,000 Salamander Hotels & Resorts Valentine’s Grand Prix CSI 3* and will then bring her back out for CSIO week.
Although he got beat in the end, Kevin Babington had a great day with his second and third place finishes aboard Shorapur and Mark Q, and spoke about each of his mounts.
“It’s never over until Kent has gone,” Babington admitted. “I was very surprised that Mark Q’s time held up as long as it did. It was a careful course and those table A speeds always end up harder than you think. He tried really hard today, but I knew there were a few places that they could catch me. It just turned out that a lot of the very fast ones had faults, so it just kind of worked out.”
“When I went on my younger horse, it’s her first time really moving up to this level here in Florida, so she really impressed me that she was able to go as fast as she did,” Babington noted. “She is naturally a faster horse than Mark Q. She is fast across the air, she is just learning to turn a little better.”
Shorapur, a 2005 Hanoverian mare by Stakkato Gold x Drosselklang II, did the eight-year-old young jumper classes last year and moved up to some national grand prix classes this summer, but Babington is taking his time with her. “I have really high hopes for that horse,” the rider stated. “My plan down here is just to keep her in the 1.50m and not do Saturday night classes, but we are just playing it by ear right now.”
“She is quite sensitive,” Babington detailed. “She is very much a mare, but she is leveling out in the ring. She was very hot when I first got her. She likes you to sit a little bit quiet, and I ride her without a spur. She has so much scope and she is extremely careful, so I am just trying not to move too fast with her and not move her up the ranks too fast. She is the kind of horse you could easily do that because she is so brave, but she is also extremely careful, so I have to be careful”
Babington has a list of great achievements with his more experienced partner, Mark Q, a 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Obos Quality 004 x Positively. He explained that although it is a comfortable relationship, the horse always keeps things interesting.
“He is a different kettle of fish,” Babington laughed. “He comes out and you never know what hat he is going to have on. The first week I jumped him down here he was too strong and then I thought he jumped extremely well last week, but I over bridled him. On Sunday I did him in the 1.50m and put him back in a softer bridle and he was fantastic, and he was really good today, so I think I have the bridle sorted out now.”
“He has never felt better in his body,” Babington added. “He feels very strong and straight. I am hoping he has turned the corner. He was always weaker on one side, and it just took a long time to get him balanced. He is quite opinionated, so he doesn’t allow you to train him much, but he is getting better all the time. He is eleven this year, so he has matured a lot. I love that horse; he keeps me thinking.”
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.
Wellington, FL – February 12, 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off its sixth week of competition on Wednesday with a $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class held in the International Ring at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) with a win for Venezuela’s Emanuel Andrade and Reve du Paradis.
FTI WEF week six, sponsored by Salamander Resort & Spa, runs February 12-16, 2014. The week features the coveted World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition, with hunters taking to the International Arena at PBIEC for their daily classes, weekly championships, and a chance to compete in Saturday night’s $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
As the hunters are featured on the main showgrounds at PBIEC, the highlight jumper competitions will be held on the adjacent showgrounds at The Stadium at PBIEC. Exciting jumper classes will be held on the beautiful grass derby field at The Stadium, including the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, and the $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. The $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 will be held in the International Ring at The Stadium at 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. A special $84,000 Salamander Resort and Spa Valentine’s Grand Prix CSI 3* will also be held in the International Ring at The Stadium at PBIEC at 7 p.m. on Friday night as part of the “Friday Night Stars” series.
Great Britain’s Richard Jeffery is the course designer at The Stadium at PBIEC for week six competition. Jeffery saw 32 competitors in Wednesday morning’s $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m with nine clear rounds through the course. Seventeen-year-old Emanuel Andrade, of Caracas, Venezuela, was the winner aboard Hollow Creek Farm’s Reve du Paradis. Andrade and the nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Crown Z x Adelfos) cleared the course in 73.22 seconds.
Second place honors went to Luis Felipe de Azevedo Filho (BRA) with a clear round in 78.56 seconds aboard Paulo Stewarts’ Quoste Zavaan Texas. Emily George (CAN) and Mira VIII placed third in 80.20 seconds. Jorge Matte (CHI) finished fourth in 81.31 seconds with Carla TM, and Jennifer Goddard (USA) placed fifth with Stateside Farm LLC’s Lucky Lord 20 in 83.60 seconds.
Andrade has had Reve du Paradis for a year and half and has been competing the gray gelding in the Eight-Year-Old Young Jumper and Junior Jumper divisions until this year. Wednesday’s class was the pair’s first time moving up to the 1.40m level this year, and Andrade was very happy with his round, explaining that Reve du Paradis is constantly improving.
“He was eight last year, so he was a baby,” Andrade noted. “He jumped great last year, but this year he is jumping so well. He is jumping much, much better.”
“He doesn’t know what he has to do, he is a green horse, but he tries hard to jump clear,” Andrade said. “He is a little bit tricky. He is a hard horse, he is difficult. He was a stallion in Europe and he is a gelding now, but he still thinks he’s a stallion and that can sometimes be difficult.”
Andrade explained that the plan for this class was to have a nice, smooth course.
“My trainer told me not to try to win, but just to go smooth,” he described. “I went really smooth and no one else jumped that smooth. The others had some trouble with the course and my horse jumped great, so I am happy.”
“He feels amazing,” the rider added. “The course for me was difficult because the ring is so tiny and I have never been in that ring before, but I am so excited and I am so proud of myself because we did a great job.”
Andrade enjoyed competing in the different venue at The Stadium and explained that the horses also enjoy the change of scenery.
“I love that ring and I love that place,” Andrade stated. “I think it is great for the horse show to have the competition over there because sometimes the horses need different rings. They jump better because they don’t like all of the weeks in the same ring, so I really liked jumping there.”
Another $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class was held in the Denemethy Ring at the main showgrounds of PBIEC on Wednesday with a win for Laura Chapot and Bradberry. Chapot also topped the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class with Mary Chapot’s Umberto. An $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m class was held in the morning as well with a win for Peter Wylde and Apple 3Z, owned by Aram Ampagoumian.
Week six competition will continue on Thursday with the first championships of WCHR week presented in the International Arena at PBIEC. The International Ring at The Stadium will host the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 at 1 p.m. 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.
