Jennifer Wood Media | Ibrahim Barazi and Omnia Incipit Take $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6, Professional Hunter Champions Crowned at 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival

For Immediate Release
Jennifer Wood for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – February 13, 2019 – The sixth week of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) features international jumpers at Equestrian Village and the hunters on center stage in the International Arena at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. On Thursday, February 14, Ibrahim Barazi (JOR) took the top spot in the $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6.

Ibrahim Barazi and Omnia Incipit. Photo © Sportfot.

Highlight classes of the week include the $134,000 CabanaCoast Grand Prix CSI 3* on Friday, February 15, at 7 p.m. in the Global International Arena at Equestrian Village and the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular as part of the “Saturday Night Lights” series, on Saturday, February 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the main International Arena at PBIEC. WEF continues through Sunday, March 31, with 12 weeks of top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition.

In the $36,000 Equiminity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6, 61 entries went to post for a chance at prize money and the opportunity to compete in Friday night’s $134,000 CabanaCoast Grand Prix CSI 3*. There were 13 clear in the first round, and 10 of those chose to return for the jump-off.

Setting the pace as the first ones in the jump-off, Laura Chapot (USA) and Chandon Blue, owned by Mary Chapot, were clear and very fast in 36.77 seconds. However, it would not quite be enough, and they settled for second place. Third place went to Kelli Cruciotti (USA) riding her own Hadja van Orshof, who were clear in 38.01 seconds.

Cutting more than two seconds off the leading time, Barazi and Omnia Incipit, an 11-year-old Bavarian mare by Lordanos owned by IB Stable, brought the winning time down to 34.59 seconds.

See the winning round! Click here.

Barazi, who was only showing in his 22nd FEI class, won his first FEI class during week 9 last year and marked the first win for a Jordanian rider at WEF. He planned to compete in this event and aimed for a strong performance.

“I think I rode horribly the first round; she jumped amazing,” said the rider who trained with Joe Fargis after moving to the United States. “The course was very, very nice and challenging enough considering the size of the ring we have. I don’t think the course designer over-faced anyone. It wasn’t overly big or wide. It was just a smart course. The horses needed stamina to get from the start to the finish. Things show up quick. It’s almost like riding in an indoor.”

Barazi saw Chapot go first in the jump-off and felt there were two places on course where he cut off two seconds of time. “I saw everybody do 10 [strides] in the last line,” he explained. “My mare, although she’s small, she has a big stride. I decided to just use that stride and the long line to make up for the nine [strides] every step of the way, to get closer to the Hermès oxer, and it worked out. Where I also thought I was a little quicker was 3ab to 4. I just put a curve in that line and took the chances of jumping the oxer on an angle and making it wider for the horse, but I know she’s good and would do it.”

It’s a bit of a fairytale story for Barazi and the 15.3 hand-high Omnia Incipit. Barazi found her in Slovakia in “the middle of nowhere.” When friends in Europe called Barazi, knowing his type of horse, he watched a video of her jumping 1.20m online.

“I was like, ‘This horse looks like she can jump,’” he recalled. “I flew over all the way for her. I did one trip. She was spinning and doing exciting things, and I didn’t jump much. I got back to the airport, slept there for the night, and flew back the next morning. We did the vetting and it looked good, and I bought the horse.”

While he originally had partners that owned Omnia Incipit, Barazi now owns her fully. “She has a very big personality,” he said of the mare. “She’s very sensitive. I would describe her as a cat. If there’s anything underneath her, she’ll just jump away. That’s what makes her a good show jumper; she just wants to jump away from the fences, higher and higher.”

Ibrahim Barazi and Omnia Incipit in their winning presentation with ringmaster Steve Rector. Photo © Sportfot.

Final Results: $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6

1 OMNIA INCIPIT: 2008 Bavarian mare by Lordanos
IBRAHIM BARAZI (JOR), IB Stable: 0/0/34.59

2 CHANDON BLUE: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco Blue x Landcapitol
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Mary Chapot: 0/0/36.77

3 HADJA VAN ORSHOF: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Cabrio van de Heffinck
KELLI CRUCIOTTI (USA), Kelli Cruciotti: 0/0/38.01

4 D CAROLUS: 2008 KWPN gelding by Tjungske x Calando I
JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 0/0/39.41

5 DINGEMAN: 2008 KWPN gelding by Nintender x Darnels
SANTIAGO LAMBRE (MEX), Santiago Lambre: 0/4/35.76

6 CATINKA 25: 2009 Oldenburg mare by Catoki x Luxano
VANESSA MANNIX (CAN), Vanessa Mannix: 0/4/38.32

7 CACHAREL: 2007 KWPN mare by Vingino x Clinton
KELLY SOLEAU-MILLAR (USA), Bridge Brook Arms and Donna Vanderwoude-Dymant: 0/4/39.90

8 CHARLY BROWN: 2005 BWP gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Burggraaf
TEDDY VLOCK (ISR), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/4/40.10

9 KOULTAN DE TORRES: 2010 CDE gelding by Ukato x Skippy II
ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Martin Canet: 0/4/40.92

10 KS CORADINA: 2007 LWB mare by Corlensky G x Cardento 933
SUSAN HORN (CAN), Kingsfield Farm: 0/4/41.00

11 ROBIN DE PONTHUAL: 2005 Selle Francais gelding by Elf D’or x Calypso D’Herbiers*Ecolit
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), Katherine Gallagher: 0/WD

11 CLASSIC DREAM: 2010 German Sport Horse gelding by Colestus x Inster Graditz
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Darragh Kenny and Ann Thompson: 0/WD

11 DAYLIGHT VDL: 2008 KWPN gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Stakkato
MARKUS BEERBAUM (GER), Daylight Group: 0/WD

Professionals Dominate Green and Young Horse Divisions on the Second Day of WCHR Hunter Week

Scott Stewart swept both High Performance divisions during the start of WCHR Hunter Week at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival. Hunter Week will highlight hunter divisions at both the professional and amateur level and features the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Saturday night in the International Arena. The Antares High Performance Working Hunters kicked off competition Thursday morning in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Field where Stewart and Dr. Betsee Parker’s 11-year-old Warmblood gelding (Coriano), Cameo won three out of four classes for the championship. Stewart then returned to the ring with Parker’s Private Life, an eight-year-old KWPN gelding by Verdi x Pinot Rosso). The pair wrapped up the High Performance Conformation Hunters with two firsts, a second, a third, and a fourth for the champion ribbon. Stewart continued his day by taking Champion in the Green Conformation Hunter with Scandal, a five-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Scandix x Ramira Gracia) owned by Gochman Sport Horses LLC. Reserve Champion went to Kelley Farmer and Me Too, a six-year-old mare owned by Larry Glefke.

Champions Scott Stewart and Cameo were champion in the Antares High Performance Working Hunter. Photo © Sportfot.

Scott Stewart and Scandal champion in the Green Conformation Hunter. Photo © Sportfot.

“Scandal was awesome; he is five coming six so he’s the greenest one we have,” commented Stewart. “He was really good yesterday and today so I’m excited. He’s a beautiful horse and a beautiful mover as well, so he has the whole package.”

“As for Cameo we’ve had for quite a long time and he’s been a great winner for us,” Stewart said. “Private Life is only eight now but he’s been champion pretty much every time we’ve shown him except for a couple of times. My hope is that one or both of them will qualify to enter Saturday night’s event and then most likely neither of them will show again until the Devon Horse Show.”

Scott Stewart and Private Life in the High Performance Conformation Hunter. Photo © Sportfot.

Young hunter professional Victoria Colvin landed the reserve champion title in the High Performance Working Hunters with Bryan Baldwin and Meralex Farm, Inc.’s El Primero. The High Performance Conformation Hunters reserve champion went to Christopher Payne and Still Water Farm LLC’s Fibonacci.

The Equine Tack & Nutritionals Green Hunter 3’6” division saw two competitors take home the tricolor champion ribbon as the class was held in a California Split format due to the high volume of entries. Hunter veteran Kelley Farmer piloted the six-year-old Westphalian gelding (Los Angeles x Fiones), Consent, to the first champion title with two firsts and a third. Consent is an up-and-coming talent recently purchased from Europe under the ownership of Larry Glefke and Kent Farrington LLC. “Consent really is just the sweetest horse but he is a true competitor through and through.” Farmer commented, “He has the personality of a little puppy but you won’t find a horse more eager to win.”

Kelley Farmer and Consent also champions in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals Green Hunter 3’6 . Photo © Sportfot.

Right along with Farmer was Tara Metzner and the Davlyn Farms Inc’s gelding, Lion as they rounded out the division with two seconds and a first. Metzner has taken the gelding from the Pre-Green division and is looking forward to competing him in his first class under the lights in Saturday’s event. She complimented Lion with being a ‘true competitor’ and stated that “ he’s been a wonderful horse every step of the way; he is super brave and always jumps his best.”

The Young Hunter 3’6” (7YO & under) division took to the International Arena in the afternoon where Jimmy Torano and Dubai were ultimately assigned the champion title. Torano and the five-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Diarado x Wonja-K Van’t Kattenheye Z) came home with a total of two first places and three second places for the tricolor ribbon. Valerie Renihan of Findlay’s Ridge has been involved with Dubai since his purchase by client, Kirsten Ostling, and said that while he was originally sent to her to make into an equitation horse, she felt he would have a more successful career in the hunters. “ This is only his fourth time competing in the hunters so for him to already qualify to show in the night class on Saturday is really wonderful,” she said.

The Green Hunter 3’9”, presented by Equine Tack and Nutritionals, wrapped up late Thursday morning. Champion went to Maria Rasmussen and SKF On My Own, a eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Santa Caterina) owned by the Bailiwick Group. Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze, a eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Darco x Everlychin De La Pomme) owned by Cheryl Olsten, took Reserve Champion.

“He gives it his all every single time he goes out there,” said Rasmussen of her partner SKF On My Own. “He knew it was our trip of the day, and he jumped amazing. He gave me everything he had, it was awesome. We’ve really only had him a month or so, and he’s been perfect from day one. We’re very excited, and [her win today] is a huge goal accomplished.”

Tiffany Morrissey and Sebastian, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Cancara x Luna XVII) owned by Stacey Werner, were the Section A Champions in the Performance Hunter 3’3” Stake, presented by FarmVet. “I had a great day. He won all three yesterday and then today he got a 92. He really went amazing,” commented Morrissey about Sebastian. “I don’t think he could’ve done it better. He’s a very special horse. He does an amateur job as well with his owner Stacey, and then I’m lucky enough to do him big weeks like this and some derbies. He’s just a special horse, everything about him is special, he moves, he jumps, he’s beautiful, he’s got it all.”

Section B Champion was Courtney Lenkart and Lightful, a seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Los Angeles x Go-Go Girl) owned by La Primera Hacienda L.P. “We’ve had him for about a year and a half now. We got him as a five year old and brought him along. He’s perfect, never put a foot out of place, and he was just really really consistent here today,” said Lenkart about her partner Lightful. “He’s the kindest, sweetest horse that never spooks and never does anything wrong. He also shows with his mom in the adult hunters.”

Victoria Colvin concluded her day by piloting Koala, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Carmargue x Falma Hastak) owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, LLC., to Section A Champion in the Performance Hunter 3’6” Stake, presented by Equitan. Colvin also took Section B Champion with Private Practice, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding (x Lordanos) owned by Brad Wolf.

“I’ve been riding them [Koala and Private Practice] for a couple years now,” said Colvin. “Private Practice is special because he’s so easy and he’s so game to just jump around and do everything, and Koala is actually the same now. Both their owners show them in the amateurs as well. For Private Practice, we’re going to do the derby the last week and then probably do derby finals as well, and the amateurs with Koala.”

Hunter competition returns to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Friday, February 15 as junior and amateur competition heads into the weekend. For a full list of results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Ibrahim Barazi and Omnia Incipit Take $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6, Professional Hunter Champions Crowned at 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival

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