Equestrian Sport Productions Holiday Festival III Wrap-Up: December 20-22, 2013

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

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

Wellington, FL – December 23, 2013 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) hosted its Holiday Festival III this weekend on December 20-22, 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 Holiday III Grand Prix.

The $25,000 Holiday III Grand Prix was the highlight event of the weekend, held on Sunday afternoon in the International Arena at PBIEC. Jumping a track set by Mexico’s Anna Catalina Harris Cruz, 47 entries contested the first round course, and 10 advanced to the jump-off with three double clear rounds. Second to jump-off, Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Primo de Revel, owned by Michael Hayden, had the fastest round of the day in 35.029 seconds that could not be beat.

Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Goldrush, owned by Alexander LLC, finished second in 35.943 seconds. Jimmy Torano (USA) and Ben Maher’s Dolores MB placed third with their time of 38.655 seconds. Alex Granato (USA) was fast with Paige Tredennick’s Zenith Dance in 35.173 seconds, but the pair had one rail down in the jump-off to finish fourth.

Paul O’Shea has had a phenomenal year with Primo de Revel, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Quinault x Lys de Darmen. Sunday’s win marked the pair’s fifth grand prix victory of the season, adding to their wins in the $25,000 ESP Spring III Grand Prix in April, the $75,000 Equine Insurance Services/Great American Great Prix of Lake Placid in June, the $75,000 Equestrian Estates Planning Group Grand Prix at Silver Oak in August, and the $25,000 ESP Fall III Grand Prix in Wellington in October.

O’Shea was excited to get another win this week and see his top horse continue to perform consistently. “He just knows his job, and he always does the right thing,” the rider remarked. “He is good everywhere. It doesn’t matter where he goes; he just has a great mind.”

O’Shea and Primo de Revel were second to go in the jump-off out of 10 and stuck to their plan on course. “I saw the first rider go, but I just did what I had decided and everything came up good,” O’Shea explained. “I think we all did the same thing. The main difference was the last fence. The fence was in the corner, very close to the stands, and we were coming at it at a little bit of an angle. It was a little bit difficult, but it actually helped me because we went down there quite fast and it kind of backed him up, so he gave a really good jump over it.”

O’Shea has been riding Primo de Revel for nearly seven years and has a great relationship with the horse in and out of the ring. “We have been friends a long time now,” O’Shea acknowledged. “He is like the stable pet. He is like having a dog around the place. He is very quiet. He is just a real gentleman, and he is very easy to do everything with.”

At home or at the show, Primo de Revel is a class act with a simple training routine. “He is just really straightforward,” O’Shea said. “He really knows his job. Everything kind of came naturally to him, so we don’t do much. Most of the time I don’t even jump him at home. You don’t need to train him because he just goes, and he just does everything. We focus on keeping him fit, keeping him happy, and keeping him interested. He goes in the field every day. Nothing stresses him out. He is very laid back.”

Primo de Revel will conclude a fantastic season with one more night class, competing in two weeks in the $25,000 ESP Holiday Finale Grand Prix on Saturday, January 4, at 7 p.m. O’Shea then plans to give the horse a well-deserved break and only work him lightly throughout the winter, gearing up to show again in the spring.

Jumper Highlights

ESP’s Holiday Festival III began on Friday afternoon with a win for Darragh Kenny in the $10,000 Open Jumper Stake class riding Skara Glen’s Basel, owned by Mershad Stables LLC. The class saw 38 entries with 10 qualifiers for the jump-off. There were six double clear rounds and Darragh Kenny and Skara Glen’s Basel had the fastest time of 34.107 seconds for the win.

Emanuel Andrade finished second riding Hollow Creek Farm’s Carboni through the timers in 34.145 seconds. Jordan Coyne and Lazaro finished in 34.657 seconds to place third. Untouchable and Alma Bjorklund were fourth in 35.736 seconds.

The $1,500 Tackeria NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic was held on Saturday with a win for Maya Kobacker and The Kalahari Group’s Kalahari Mario. Nancy Hooker and Heather Hooker’s Corianos Boy finished second. John Tredennick and Trueman’s Affair, owned by Wood Run Farms, placed third. Tessa Weise and Carzat won the $2,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic on Sunday with Keely McIntosh in second aboard McLain Ward’s Twinkie. Sheer Levitan placed third and fourth with Penelope Z and Nabuco du Theil, respectively.

The $2,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic was won by Daniela Stransky aboard Liverpool, owned by Stransky’s Mission Farms Inc. Heather Hooker and Perle finished second, with Jennifer Santana and Santana Stables LLC’s Option d’Auge in third.

The $2,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Gold Coast Feed, saw a win for Liza Finsness aboard Shiver. Haley Schaufeld and River Farm Sporthorses’ Ana Sia placed second. Emanuel Andrade and Hollow Creek Farm’s Tiny Tim were third.

Joaquina Barrios and Simply the Best won the $1,500 Low Child/Adult Jumper Classic with Elizabeth Craven and Silverado in second and Tamara Seely riding Legrako finishing in third.

Hunter and Equitation Highlights

A full schedule of hunter competition was also featured throughout the weekend with many top horses and riders. In the combined Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ and 3’6″ division, Chris Brown guided his horse Pillow Talk to championship honors with Paige Tredennick and Apricot Lane finishing in reserve.

Kelley Farmer swept the First Year Green Working Hunters, earning the division championship with Certainty and the reserve honors with High Regard, both horses owned by Glefke and Kensel LLC. Farmer also earned the championship in the combine Second Year/High Performance Working Hunter division with High Regard. There was a tie for the reserve championship between Farmer and her mount Verbatim, owned by Glefke and Kensel LLC, as well as Jennifer Bliss riding Harris Hill Farm LLC’s Poker Face.

In the #1 Education Place Junior Hunters, Ali Tritschler guided Elizabeth D’Loren’s Zapateada to championship honors with Sophie Michaels and Further Lane Farm LLC’s Stellar in reserve.

The Large Pony Hunter champion was Scott Stewart’s Find the Laughter ridden by Emma Kurtz with Back Country Farm’s Love and Logic, ridden by Alexandra Pielet, in reserve. Kurtz also swept the Medium Pony Hunter division, earning the championship aboard Cyprus Taraporevala’s Blackout and finishing in reserve riding Elizabeth Foster’s Qualen’s Commence the Magic. Alexandra Pielet and Back Country Farm’s Secret Love topped the Small Pony Hunter division with Christina Rogalny and Lochmoor Stables’ Firefly in reserve.

In the equitation, Spencer Smith rode Artisan Farms LLC’s Naturel to a clean sweep of the the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal presented by Randolph College as well as the ASPCA Maclay and WIHS Equitation classes. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

Equestrian Sport Productions will host its ESP New Year’s horse show next on December 27-29, 2013, featuring National (A) and 4* Jumper Rated competition. Highlights include the $10,000 Open Stake on Friday, December 27, and the $25,000 ESP New Year’s Grand Prix on Sunday, December 29 at 2 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