Emanuel Andrade and ZZ Top VH Schaarbroek. Photos © ManciniPhotos.

Emanuel Andrade and ZZ Top VH Schaarbroek Win $25,000 New Year’s Grand Prix

Wellington, FL – December 30, 2013 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) hosted its New Year’s horse show this weekend on December 27-29, 2013, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The competition featured National ‘A’ rated hunter and 4* jumper competition, including a $10,000 Open Jumper Stake and a $25,000 New Year’s Grand Prix.

The $25,000 New Year’s Grand Prix was the highlight event of the weekend, held on Sunday afternoon in the International Arena at PBIEC. Jumping a course set by Puerto Rico’s Mauricio Garcia Ballesteros, 30 entries jumped in round one with five advancing to the jump-off, and three double clear rounds.

Seventeen-year-old Emanuel Andrade of Caracas, Venezuela, guided Hollow Creek Farm’s ZZ Top VH Schaarbroek to the fastest clear jump-off round in 45.64 seconds to earn top honors. Amy Momrow (USA) and Monty Kelly’s Baldino du’Rouet placed second in a time of 48.11 seconds. Bryn Sadler (USA) guided Showcase 81 LLC’s Bon Giorno to third place honors with their time of 48.12 seconds.

Andrade’s win comes just one month after celebrating a Team Gold Medal in the 2013 Bolivarian Games in Trujillo, Peru. He made his debut for the Venezuelan Show Jumping Team at the Bolivarian Games riding ZZ Top, a 12-year-old bay Zangersheide gelding (Zandor Z x Latus I).

Commenting on his winning round on Sunday, Andrade explained, “I was third going back for the jump-off, and the first two had jumped clear and really fast. I jumped three seconds faster. The last two riders had almost the same time as me, but had fences down.”

“I’m so thrilled!” said Andrade who trains with Andrea King of Hollow Creek Farm in Aiken, South Carolina. “It feels so good. I’m so excited. I really worked hard these last three weeks with Andrea. She helps me a lot. She spends all day with me and teaches me about the horses.”

Andrade began riding ZZ Top mid-way through the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.

“He jumped so well,” the rider noted. “He matches nicely with me, and we are a team now.”

The win marked the second grand prix victory of Andrade’s young career. In June, he won the $50,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke at the Roanoke Valley Horse Show in Salem, Virginia, riding Walter 61.

In addition to claiming the win in the $25,000 New Year’s Grand Prix, Andrade also won the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on the same day riding Tiny Tim.

Andrade now has his sights set on the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival opening January 8 and running for 12 weeks. In addition to contesting the Low, Medium, and High Junior Jumper divisions, Andrade will also be going head-to-head with seasoned professionals in the grand prix divisions.

“Especially after today’s win, we feel so ready for that,” said Andrade. “This year, we want to go to the next level and jump Saturday nights. We know it’s hard, but we think we are ready for it.”

At only 16 years of age, Andrade was named the Leading Jumper Rider of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival while King was named the Leading Jumper Trainer and Hollow Creek Farm was named the Leading Jumper Owner. A student in his hometown of Caracas, Andrade divides his time between Venezuela and the United States.

Jumper Highlights

ESP’s New Year’s horse show began on Friday afternoon with a win for Callan Solem and Horseshoe Trail Farm Florida LLC’s VDL Wizard in the $10,000 Open Jumper Stake class. Out of 22 competitors, five jumped off in the class, and Solem and VDL Wizard were the only combination to post a double clear round. Todd Minikus and Legacy Stables LLC’s Tuxedo finished second with the fastest four-fault round, and Lauren Hough and Bockman’s Lazio, owned by Karina Rotenberg, finished third.

The $1,500 Tackeria NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic was held on Saturday with a win for Luciano Gomez riding Conterno, owned by Stephanie Saint-Pierre Bernier. Courtney Line and VDL Zulu Time, owned by Caroline Young and The Zulu Group, placed second. Stephanie Ann Cook guided Lionsway Farm’s Eastbound and Down to third place honors.

The $2,500 Equiline NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic saw a win for Meg O’Mara riding Walstib Stables LLC’s Aborillo. Taylor Alexander and Alexander LLC’s Onyx du Haut Bois finished second. Jorge Matte and Buberta VDK placed third.

Emanuel Andrade and Hollow Creek Farm’s Tiny Tim won the $2,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Gold Coast Feed. Jennifer Santana and Santana Stables’ LLC’s Player de Brocelia placed second, and Alexa Lowe-Wiseman finished third aboard Windsor Farm Sales’ Excellent.

The $2,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic was also held on Sunday with a win for Lucy Mitchell-Innes riding Riley II, owned by Casey Curtis. Stephanie Ann Cook and Eastbound and Down placed second. Courtney Line and VDL Zulu Time were third.

In the $1,500 Low Children’s Jumper Classic, Kennedy McCaulley guided Zandro RV to victory. Charles Jacobs, Jr. finished second aboard CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Elphaba, and Natalia Gierbolini placed third riding Twinkie, owned by McLain Ward. In the $1,500 Low Adult Jumper Classic, Alexandra Lieberman and Heritage Farm Inc.’s Z were the winners. Lieberman also finished second riding Redfield Farm’s Baronesse, and Nathan Rolfe guided Alex Jayne’s Fly Away to a third place finish.

Hunter and Equitation Highlights

Professional hunter rider, John French, swept the combined Performance Working Hunter 3’3″ and 3’6″ division this week, earning the championship aboard Lyn Pedersen’s Small Affair and finishing in reserve with Pedersen’s Silhouette. The Green Hunter champion was Avignion, owned by Francesca Migliore and ridden by Jennifer Bauersachs. Le Reve Farm Inc.’s Good Call and Christopher Payne finished in reserve.

In the Amateur-Owner/Junior Hunter 3’3″ division, Bella Cramer and Emilio earned the championship with Paige Tredennick and Apricot Lane in reserve.

The UHealth Children’s Hunter champion was Lochmoor Stables’ Leopold, ridden by Madison Arani. Evangelista, owned and ridden by Ally Marrinan, finished in reserve.

The Pilates Rocks Low Adult Hunter champion was Spoken For, owned and ridden by Hillary Jean with All-Star and owner/rider Lynn Blanchette in reserve. The Pine Hollow Stables Low Children’s Hunter champion was Without Question, owned by Ponies and Palms Show Stables LLC and ridden by Sophie Gochman. There was a tie for reserve champion between Slow Dance and Elizabeth Foster and Rivervue, owned by Michelle Guardino and ridden by Gabrielle Bernier.

Emma Kurtz and Scott Stewart’s Find the Laughter topped the Large Pony Hunter division with Pride and owner/rider Francesca Dildabanian finishing in reserve. Kurtz swept the Medium Pony Hunter division, earning the championship with Elizabeth Foster’s Qualen’s Commence the Magic and finishing in reserve aboard Cyprus Taraporevala’s Blackout. The Small Pony Hunter champion was Rafael, owned by David Gochman and ridden by Mimi Gochman. Emma Seving guided David Gochman’s Grand Jete’ to reserve honors.

In the equitation classes, Kate Ross rode Valerie Renihan’s Sancho to top honors in the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal presented by Randolph College. The pair also topped the ASCPA Maclay class. Sophie Simpson won the WIHS Equitation Overall riding Dutch Letter, owned by Ginny James. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

Equestrian Sport Productions will host its Holiday Finale on January 1-5, 2014, featuring premier (AA) and 5* jumper rated competition. Highlights include a $10,000 Open Stake on Thursday, January 2, and a $25,000 ESP Holiday Finale Grand Prix on Saturday, January 4, at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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