Wellington, FL — February 16, 2018 — With his second win in two days, Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) took home the top prize in the $132,000 Rushy Marsh Farm Grand Prix CSI 3* on Friday, February 16, at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. On the main grounds of WEF, championships were awarded for five hunter divisions as part of World Championship Hunter Rider competition.
Olivier Philippaerts and H&M Ikker. Photo by Sportfot
FEI jumper competition in week six is being held at Equestrian Village, home to the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (13500 South Shore Blvd.) at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The highlight event of the week, the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular during “Saturday Night Lights” takes place on Saturday, February 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the WEF International Arena. The sixth week of WEF continues through Sunday, February 18, while WEF goes through April 1 and offers more than $9 million in prize money.
There were 43 entries in the Friday night grand prix, and seven of those were clear over the course designed by Ana Catalina Cruz-Harris of Mexico. As the second to last in the ring for the jump-off, Philippaerts and H&M Ikker, a ten-year-old BWP gelding by Ogano Sitte x Up To Date owned by Roger Van Nuffelen, put down a smooth and fast round in 38.85 seconds for the win.
Gustavo Prato and Carna Z. Photo by Sportfot
Gustavo Prato of Argentina rode Carna Z, a 13-year-old Zangersheide mare by Crown Z x Grannus owned by Equus Forte LLC, to second place with a clear round in 40.38 seconds, while Canada’s Mario Deslauriers finished third on Bardolina 2, a nine-year-old Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Landros owned by Wishing Well Farm LLC.
Prato has been riding Carna Z for two years and only started doing 1.40m-1.50m last year.
“Now I think she has started to be consistent,” he said of the sensitive mare, which jumps with no boots and a special headstall on its bridle. “I thought she was going to be a little bit tired today because she jumped the first two days and this was the third day in a row. The first round I felt like she was a little bit tired and rubbing some fences, and then in the jump-off she felt way better.”
Mario Deslauriers and Bardolina 2. Photo by Sportfot
Deslauriers and Bardolina 2 started in the 1.40m jumpers at WEF in 2017 and the mare has moved up in competition quickly.
“It’s a young horse that I think is the real deal, so I backed off a little and tried to build her up this winter here at WEF,” said Deslauriers. “She had a long rest after indoors, so now I just want to try to get everything ready for the summer and the goal is to hopefully be on the team at the end of summer for [the World Equestrian Games].”
Philippaerts (24) and H&M Ikker also won Thursday’s $35,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6.
“He was a little tired after the jump-off from yesterday, but again today he was very good,” said Philippaerts of his partner of three years. “It was a good day for him and I am very happy with him.”
Gustavo Prato, Olivier Philippaerts, and Mario Deslauriers in the awards presentation ceremony with ringmaster Steve Rector and Whitney Stahl of Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC. Photo by Sportfot
This is Philippaerts’s first time competing at WEF, and he planned accurately, bringing horses that would jump well outdoors compared to his usual indoor winter season in Europe.
“This one is more like an outdoor horse and he jumps very good out here,” said Philippaerts, who is only three months back in the saddle after a fall and shoulder surgery in August last year. “He’s been jumping well the last two weeks, so I was hoping to get a win after that. This week he went very well, so I think the horse is going to stay a little longer and maybe do a few more shows in the month of March. It’s been very good for me as a European rider – we go to different venues every week in Europe – to come here for three weeks and jump four different shows. It makes coming really worth it.”
Gustavo Prato, Olivier Philippaerts, and Mario Deslauriers celebrate their top three placings with a champagne spray. Photo by Sportfot
Final Results: $132,000 Rushy Marsh Farm Grand Prix CSI 3*
1 H&M IKKER: 2008 BWP gelding by Ogano Sitte x Up To Date
OLIVIER PHILIPPAERTS (BEL), Roger Van Nuffelen: 0/0/38.85
2 CARNA Z: 2005 Zangersheide mare by Crown Z x Grannus
GUSTAVO PRATO (ARG), Equus Forte LLC: 0/0/40.38
3 BARDOLINA 2: 2009 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Landos
MARIO DESLAURIERS (CAN), Wishing Well Farm LLC: 0/ 0/41.39
4 AUSTRIA 2: 2008 Holsteiner mare by Casall x Corrado I
AMBER HARTE (USA), Take The High Road, LLC: 0/0/42.17
5 ILIONA: 2008 BWP mare by Wandor van de Mispelaere x Lux Z
DAVID RAPOSA (USA), David Raposa: 0/0/45.01
6 CANAMERA 2: 2009 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Carthago
PETER WYLDE (USA), Kathleen Kamine: 0/4/41.37
7 RANDON PLEASURE: 2005 Selle Francais mare by For Pleasure x Quidam de Revel
STEPHANIE MACIEIRA (BRA), Bonne Chance Farm: 0/elim
8 BULL RUN’S FAUSTINO DE TILI: 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Berlin x Darco
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC: 4/69.82
9 DICAS: 2009 Rheinlander gelding by Diarado x Cassini I
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Storm Ridge Capital LLC, Show Horses, Garber & Gladewinds Partners LLC: 4/71.82
10 GENTILLE: 2006 BWP mare by Heartbreaker x Kannan
KAELY TOMEU (USA), Siboney Ranch: 4/72.56
11 THRILLER P: 2004 SWB stallion by Cardento x Lucky Light
SAMUEL PAROT (CHI), Parot Horses LLC: 4/73.56
12 BUTTON SITTE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Ogano Sitte x Parco
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 4/73.62
Stella Propp and Kathryn Hall Best UHealth Junior Hunter 15 & Under 3’3”
The International Arena welcomed back Stella Propp, aboard Maraschino, and Kathryn Hall, aboard Cansas, for their championship presentations on Friday in the UHealth Junior Hunter 15 & Under 3’3” division.
Stella Propp, aboard Maraschino. Photo by Sportfot
Propp claimed a blue ribbon in Section A in the under saddle and piloted Maraschino, owned by Aquitaine Equine, all the way to a first, third, and third over fences. The pair were united during week ten of the Winter Equestrian Festival last year and began their championship streak right from the beginning in the Junior Hunter 15 & Under 3’3” division. Propp, of New York, NY, expressed her enthusiasm for how far they have progressed since their partnership began.
“Winning this is so big [for us],” said Propp. “I am so proud of her. I was terrified this morning [about showing] in this huge ring, but she was great. I really wanted to have my year in Wellington this winter, and I am so proud of how far we have come. The beginning was a great start, and then we had to fix a lot of challenges, but we overcame them!”
Propp, who was first to go in the order, had two other rides in the class and won Friday’s over fences round aboard Neato, a nine-year-old also owned by Aquitaine Equine.
“I thought that the course was well-designed and luckily, there weren’t any major challenges,” said Propp. “The ring itself is big, so my horses went at a different pace than they usually do.”
Hall, who claimed the Section B championship with Cansas, owned by Grady Lyman, agreed with Propp on the course’s appeal.
Kathryn Hall, aboard Cansas.Photo by Sportfot
“I liked it a lot,” said Hall. “I thought that it asked the rider good questions. I personally could have ridden it better, but I am really happy with my horse.”
Hall and the 11-year-old Warmblood gelding took the Section B tricolor ribbon with a third in the under saddle and a first and third over fences. The young rider of Versailles, KY, sat on the handsome gelding for the first time two days ago and quickly mastered his nuances in the ring.
“I think we were able to keep our rounds pretty smooth overall,” said Hall. “He jumps really well and keeps an even pace, so I can’t really take credit for that!”
The reserve champion title was shared between Gigi Moynihan, on J’Adore, and Tessa P. Brown, on Ganoso.
Championship Split between Caroline Ratigan and Ella Bostwick in UHealth Junior Hunter 16-17 3’3”
As hunter competition continued into the early evening on Friday, Caroline Ratigan, aboard Trust, and Ella Bostwick, riding Ecko, prevailed as champions in the UHealth Junior Hunter 16-17 3’3” division.
Caroline Ratigan, aboard Trust. Photo by Sportfot
Ratigan and her mount of two years, Trust, claimed the tricolor in Section A with a second in the under saddle and two first place finishes over fences. The rider, of Berwyn, PA, is a WEF regular and continues to blaze trails in the hunter ring with the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding for their third consecutive circuit together. Today’s win followed an impressive high score of 90 for the duo from last week.
“He has been a superstar from the beginning,” said Ratigan. “It was very exciting to get to go in [the International Arena], and I thought that the course was set nicely. It left a lot of space between the jumps to let you gallop and be nice the whole way around. He was unreal.”
Ella Bostwick, a Wellington, FL, native, was named champion in Section B with an eighth in the under saddle and a first, first, and second over fences aboard Ecko, owned by Muller Sport Horses LLC.
Ella Bostwick, riding Ecko. Photo by Sportfot
“I’m speechless,” said Bostwick about her round aboard the recent Holland import. “This is my third time showing him in the division, and I am so proud. My plan is to keep doing the same division and to have good rounds!”
Reserve honors were split between Alliyah Antoniadis, aboard Renoir, and Stephanie Smith, riding Life Is Good.
Jennifer Bliss and Google It Crowned Young Hunter 3’6” 7 Year Olds Champion
Jennifer Bliss exited the International Arena aboard her mount, Google It, owned by James Lala & Virginia Confer, on Friday evening with a top score of 85 and claimed the championship win in the Young Hunter 3’6” 7 Year Olds division. The duo dominated the division with a first, first, and third over fences and a first in the under saddle. Havens Schatt was reserve champion aboard Diatendro, owned by Kelley Corrigan, with a second in the under saddle and a first, second, and second over fences.
Jennifer Bliss and her mount, Google It. Photo by Sportfot
“I am so proud of him,” said Bliss. “He has never done a class like this before. It was such a nice feeling to have him go in there faced with the challenges [of the International Arena] and handle the situation with such confidence. It was great to feel the progression of how he has developed since we got him.”
Bliss and James Lala, who imported the seven-year-old from Holland in May of last year, have been working on helping the young gelding develop and gain experience in the show ring and started him in some smaller local shows before moving him up to the Green Hunter 3’6” division at WEF in December. Having never shown in the International Arena before, especially under the lights, Google It went above and beyond.
Martha Ingram and Stephanie Danhakl Claim Adequan Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 3’3” Championships
Fonteyn, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram and ridden by Martha Ingram of Nashville, TN, and Enough Said, owned and ridden by Stephanie Danhakl of Pacific Palisades, CA, were named champions of the Adequan Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 3’3” division after a California split in the International Ring on Friday.
Ingram won all three jumping classes, as well as the under saddle, to sweep her section with Fonteyn, a 13-year-old German Sporthorse mare by Liberty Son.
Fonteyn, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram and ridden by Martha Ingram. Photo by Sportfot
“This is incredible because as hunters we don’t generally get to go in this ring, but it is so much fun to gallop around out there,” said Ingram, who studies political science at Furman University in Greenville, SC. “I have been competing in WCHR Week since I rode ponies and I try to come every year for this week.
“She’s perfect at stuff like this; so brave and completely a winner,” continued Ingram of Fonteyn, a mare she has had the ride on for four years after her father, John, also competed the mount. “I can always count on her!”
Danhakl jumped to first, second, and fourth-place ribbons and took second under saddle to share the champion honors aboard her own Enough Said, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding.
“This is one of my favorite weeks of the year and definitely my favorite week of WEF,” said Danhakl, who is currently a professor of Art History while pursuing her doctorate at Boston University. “I love all the attention that the hunters get, so this is always a weekend that I look forward to and try to prepare for.”
Enough Said, owned and ridden by Stephanie Danhakl. Photo by Sportfot
Danhakl was sidelined from competition for the entire 2017 season after an injury and is now back in the show ring, saying, “Everything came together for me this week and my horses were perfect. Enough Said is a perfect animal and he has been my rock for four years now. He has a lovely way of going, is my easiest horse to ride by far, and always puts in 100%; he has everything you could want in a hunter!”
Reserve champion titles in the Adequan Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 3’3” division were presented to Starina B, also piloted by Danhakl, and Belgravia, ridden by Lindsay Maxwell.
Margot Peroni Pockets Osphos Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’3” Tricolor
Margot Peroni of Califon, NJ, piloted her own Orlon to a championship in the Osphos Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’3” division. The eight-year-old German Sport Horse gelding by Olympic Fire carried her to top honors with two victories over fences.
Margot Peroni and her own Orlon. Photo by Sportfot
Peroni brought Orlon along herself after purchasing the mount for $7,000 as a two-year-old, saying, “We found him near where my husband grew up in Germany and broke him ourselves and thought he would be a great project to have around. He has exceeded every single one of our expectations time and time again.
“He was brave and game, so coming [into the International Ring] on him is really fun because I know he’s going to relax and do his job, and I can go out there and do mine,” continued Peroni, who trains under the direction of fellow hunter rider Amanda Steege. “It feels pretty unbelievable to walk out of here with a tricolor this week at this show!”
Verdict, ridden by Jean Sheptoff, collected the reserve champion title in the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’3” division.
The sixth week of WEF, featuring WCHR competition, continues on Saturday with the highlight event of the circuit, the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular at 6:30 pm, along with jumper competition on the grass derby field during the day.