For Immediate Release
Jennifer Wood, Summer Grace, and Deirdre Sullivan for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – February 15, 2019 – The highlight jumper class of week 6 at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival, the $134,000 CabanaCoast Grand Prix CSI 3*, was held at Equestrian Village at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Friday, February 15. Taking the top spot of the night was Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) and Akuna Mattata, owned by Silver Raven Farms. Over on the main grounds of PBIEC, junior and amateur hunters shined during World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) week in the International Arena for their championships.

Nicole Shahinian Simpson and Akuna Mattata. Photo © Sportfot.

Highlight classes of the week include 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, and the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix on Sunday, February 17, at 9 a.m. as well as the $25,000 CP Grand Prix at 1 p.m. on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village. WEF continues through Sunday, March 31, with 12 weeks of top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition.

Competing in the Global International Arena at Equestrian Village, 44 entries competed in the first round over a course set by Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris of Mexico. With five retirements in the first 11 trips, a clear round was looking difficult to tackle, but riding out of the 21st spot in the order, Shahinian-Simpson and Akuna Mattata made the crowd cheer as the first clear round of the night.

Shahinian-Simpson noted, “I just stuck to my plan. I thought to myself, ‘I’m just going to ride it like a speed class – like a timed first round – and stick to the numbers.’ Truly that’s really how she goes the best anyhow, so I just tried to keep it as simple as possible out there.”

Three trips later, Spencer Smith (USA) and Quality FZ, owned by Gut Einhaus LLC, guaranteed a jump-off. As the fastest four-fault round of 10 in the class, Laura Chapot (USA) and Mary Chapot’s Chandon Blue took the third spot on the podium in a first-round time of 67.22 seconds.

Spencer Smith and Quality FZ. Photo © Sportfot.

“The grand prix here is always much more difficult than it walks,” said Chapot, who was also named the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Jumper Rider, in memory of Dale Lawler. “The lights, the difficulty of the smaller ring, the new venue – it always seems like you walk it and it doesn’t seem too bad and then the rails down come from everywhere. [Catsy is] very clever in the way she sets the course that way. It wasn’t one specific problem. For sure [fences] three to four was a difficult choice, but you had to make your choice and make it happen. She did a good job that way.”

Chapot and Chandon Blue were second in Thursday’s $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6, and Chapot said the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Chacco-Blue has “been jumping very consistently.”

Laura Chapot and Chandon Blue. Photo © Sportfot.

She added, “We did the first couple weeks and then gave him a few weeks off aiming for this show here. For a lot of horses, it’s a bit refreshing to come over here. It’s a new venue for them, and it perks them up a bit. He’s been jumping fantastic all circuit and gotten better and better. This week he was over the top.”

Shahinian-Simpson made it clear as she cantered into the ring that she was going for it in the jump-off. She sped around clear in 37.08 seconds, which would give her the win. Smith and Quality FZ were slower in 38.71 seconds after they pulled a rail for four faults.

Smith took over the ride on Quality FZ, a 10-year-old SI gelding by Quintender, in November of 2018, but they have not had a lot of experience in the show ring together.

“I’ve never done a jump-off with him,” Smith acknowledged. “I think the horse is a quality horse like his name. I trust him a bit now, and we started to have a little common ground. He’s so scopey, and you can use the scope to get out of any trouble that a course like that could bring.”

As a student of Lamaze’s, an Olympic individual gold medalist, 22-year-old Smith is learning and taking the experience to further his young career.

“For me, it’s been the biggest change in my career and my life to have him choose me to ride some of these horses and to get me to this level,” said Smith. “Along with my parents, we have such a big team. I just feel really lucky that he’s taken me under his wing. He’s an amazing guy, an amazing rider – we all know that – but as a person, he’s a super guy. He’s like family to me, so it’s really nice.”

It was a satisfying win for Shahinian-Simpson, who has known Akuna Mattata since birth. She rode Akuna Mattata’s dam, SRF Dragonfly, to the top of the sport in 2008 and represented the United States on Nations Cup teams. Akuna Mattata, also known as “Nahla” in the barn, is one of three mares born the same year out of SRF Dragonfly and by Quinar that Shahinian-Simpson has brought along in the jumper ring. The 11-year-old Holsteiner mare has come into her own in the past year.

“It’s been really a very meaningful journey with the three of them,” she expressed. “We brought them up through the young horse classes, and it’s just been a really cool journey. They are very competitive, sassy, and really confident mares, and I’ve just always let them do it their way and stay out of their way. Nahla was a little behind the others for some different reasons – she had a hormone issue – and then grew out of that and suddenly came on strong. It’s been a very cool 11 years.

“This one has had the most experience,” she continued. “Every test that’s been asked, she just keeps producing. She’s growing up. It’s a lot of fun to jump these courses with these caliber riders and horses, and it was about rising to the challenge, so it means a lot.”

Spencer Smith, Nicole Shahinian Simpson, and Laura Chapot with Claire Wen and Sam Walker of CabanaCoast as well as Ringmaster Steve Rector. Photo © Sportfot.

Final Results: $134,000 CabanaCoast Grand Prix CSI 3*

1 AKUNA MATTATA: 2008 Holsteiner mare by Quinar x Landwind II
NICOLE SHAHINIAN-SIMPSON (USA), Silver Raven Farms: 0/0/37.08

2 QUALITY FZ: 2009 SI gelding by Quintender x Eurocommerce Berlin
SPENCER SMITH (USA), Gut Einhaus LLC: 0/4/38.71

3 CHANDON BLUE: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco Blue x Landcapitol
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Mary Chapot: 4/67.22

4 TOSCA DE L’ESQUE: 2007 Selle Francais mare by Cardento x Apache d’Adriers FABIO LEIVAS DA COSTA (BRA), Bonne Chance Farm LLC: 4/68.70

5 D CAROLUS: 2008 KWPN gelding by Tjungske x Calando I
JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 4/69.32

6 EMMERTON: 2009 KWPN gelding by Silvio I
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Kent Farrington: 4/69.93

7 CHICA BZ: 2009 Zangersheide Mare by Canturano Berlin
MARTIN FUCHS (SUI), Juri Adolfo: 4/70.23

8 CASALL: 2005 Holsteiner gelding by Casall ASK x Capitol I
ALI WOLFF (USA), Blacklick Bend Farm: 4/70.47

9 RMF ECHO: 2004 BWP gelding by Virus de Laubry x Feo
WILLIAM WHITAKER (GBR), Rushy Marsh Farm LLC: 4/70.53

10 CATINKA 25: 2009 Oldenburg mare by Catoki x Luxano
VANESSA MANNIX (CAN), Vanessa Mannix: 4/70.64

11 DALI DE VY: 2009 SBS mare by Ugano Sitte x Fidji du Fleury
CHRISTINE MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables: 4/70.92

12 DINGEMAN: 2008 KWPN gelding by Nintender x Darnels
SANTIAGO LAMBRE (MEX), Santiago Lambre: 4/71.12

Junior and Amateur Hunter Competitors Take Over the International Arena During WCHR Hunter Week

Competition in the International Arena on Friday at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival featured top junior and amateur hunter riders contesting to make a name for themselves during the season’s biggest week for hunters. The weekend will continue to host hunter competition in the International Arena and will highlight the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Saturday night.

The Junior Hunter 3’3” 15 & Under division was held in a california split format as 33 horse-and-rider combinations tested the final track for the division. The section A championship went to Ella Bikoff and Cabrio, while Hannah Hoch and Clear Sailing were named the section B champions.

Ella Bikoff and Cabrio were champions in the Junior Hunter 3’3″ 15 & Under. Photo © Sportfot.

Bikoff rides the just six-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Carrico x Shakira IV) for the ownership of Bikoff Equestrian LLC. While the two were only paired this summer, she’s very optimistic for her future with the gelding. “He really tries his heart out,” she commented.

Hoch and the Hannah Hoch LLC’s 12-year-old Warmblood mare have had a longer partnership, and while the mare has “been around the block” according to Hoch, she credits her success in the show ring to their relationship and Clear Sailing’s outward personality.

Hannah Hoch and Clear Sailing champions of the Junior Hunter 3’3″ 15 & Under. Photo © Sportfot.

“We just click, and I think that’s really special because it can be hard to find a horse you click just right with,” she said. “I think because she is a mare and she has a little more spice, the judges can see that in the show ring; she really enjoys her job. Sailing’s expression is what makes her stand out because her ears are always forward and she jumps tight.”

The Junior Hunter 3’3” 16-17 division followed the 15 & Under in the International Arena and again saw a california split with over 30 combinations. Taryn Fall and Ridgeway Stables LLC’s Capitaano Z were the first pair to claim a champion ribbon for the division. The victory was special for Fall as she has been able to see a huge amount of progress in the gelding since they formed their partnership a year ago. “Before I got him, he was supposed to be a grand prix horse in the making so I never would’ve thought a year ago that he would’ve come out and won a huge hunter division during Hunter Week,” she said of the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding.

Taryn Hall and Capitaano Z also champion in the Junior Hunter 3’3″ 16-17. Photo © Sportfot.

The second champion ribbon was awarded to Alexander Goet and his own five-year-old Westphalian gelding, Calvanos. “He was only imported from Germany in November and this is his second time showing in hunters,” Goet explained. “So to be able to come together and pull off a victory that quickly, I never thought it would happen.”

Alexander Goet and Calvanos were section B champions in the Junior Hunter 3’3″ 16-17. Photo © Sportfot.

Martha Ingram and Airport 48 took the champion title in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3”, presented by Adequan. “Day one was good, he was first and second,” Ingram said of her 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “We’ve had him for about six years because he was my dad’s amateur horse. I took over the reins on him at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.”

Martha Ingram and Airport were champion in the Palm Beach Equine Clinic Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ 18-35 Photo © Sportfot.

“I definitely want to make it to indoors, and to continue doing well and keeping him fit for the rest of the year,” continued Ingram about her goals. “He is the sweetest horse ever, and he would crawl in your lap if he could. He loves his treats, especially bananas, and we’re really appreciative of him.”

Lori Matthews and Alisto rode to the championship title in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Over 35, presented by the Palm Beach Equine Clinic. “I showed him yesterday and had two nice trips with just one little mistake in each trip,” commented Matthews on her rides with her nine-year-old Warmblood gelding (Converter x Levana).

Champion Lori Matthews and Alisto in the Palm Beach Equine Clinic Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ 36+. Photo © Sportfot.

“It’s a bit of a new partnership so we’re just getting everything together. I’d like to get a good solid year in the 3’3” height and then move up to the 3’6” next year,” continued Matthews. “He’s just really reliable and really calm; he’s just a really good guy.”

Saturday, February 16 will once again feature top amateur and junior competition in the International Arena and will lead up to the main event of the evening, the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Weatherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.