For Immediate Release
Kate Pettersen for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL – March 11, 2021 – As week nine of the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) rolls on, Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Sligo Balou Boy, owned by Michael Kearins, jumped into the winner’s circle in the $73,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 CSI5* on Thursday, March 11, in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).
WEF 9 features CSI5* competition, along with a concurrent CSI2*, in the International Arena at PBIEC until March 14 sponsored by Fidelity Investments®. Friday’s schedule is highlighted by the $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m Classic CSI5*. Saturday features the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI2* and the $401,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI5* as part of “Saturday Night Lights,” with a special opening ceremonies which includes the induction ceremony for Olympic gold and silver medalist Leslie Howard and Olympic judge and long-time FEI Steward General David Distler into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame. The week concludes with the $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI5* on Sunday. Feature classes are available free live and on-demand on the livestream.
Acting as a qualifier for the $401,000 Fidelity Investments® Grand Prix CSI5* on Saturday night, 53 entries were challenged over a course designed by Alan Wade (IRL). Kenny, ranked ninth in the world, was 47th to go in the starting order, piloting the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Balou Du Rouet x Catiana to a clear effort in the opening round.
A total of 14 entries cleared the course with 10 electing to return for the second round. Kenny was last to return and put forth the fastest jump-off time, with a double-clear effort in 33.75 seconds.
“I just knew that I had to go fast and try to leave the jumps up,” said Kenny of his plan going into the jump-off. “I think the ‘nothing to lose’ part is nice when you go last in the order. You just go in thinking that if you want to try to win, you just have to leave it all out there and if it comes off, it comes off, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
It was quite a day for the Irish contingent in the International Arena as the country that took second place in the WEF 8 CSIO4* Nations Cup, presented by Premier Equestrian continued to showcase their depth of talent in the Thursday afternoon class. Michael Duffy (IRL) and Jeff Ten Halven, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Toulon x Cassis Z owned by HMF Equestrian, finished the day double clear in 34.90 seconds.
Rounding out the podium was Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Skara Glen’s Chancelloress, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Chacco Blue x Balou du Rouet owned by Skara Glen Stables. They finished in third, stopping the clock at 35.40 seconds.
The Irish didn’t stop there as Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cian O’Connor (IRL) rounded out the top five finishers. Sweetnam landed in fourth with a time of 35.87 seconds aboard the 12-year-old Rheinländer gelding Alejandro (Acorado’s Ass x Contanga), owned by Seabrook, SpyCoast Farm and Sweet Oak Farm. First to go in the jump-off, O’Connor piloted Kilkenny, a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse Gelding (Cardento x Mhs Pembrook Lady) owned by Ronnoco Jump Ltd, to a fifth-place finish in 36.24 seconds.
Kenny, the top ranked Irishman in the world at number nine, produced his winning round on a horse he does not know well. He only acquired the talented gelding two weeks ago and continues to make adjustments as they move up.
“I rode him week seven and did two 1.40m classes and then this week, I jumped the ranking class Wednesday,” said Kenny. “It wasn’t even the plan to jump him today, and then the plan changed a little bit. I didn’t really know what he was going to do, but he’s an incredible horse. [He is] really, really careful and really scopey. He’s an amazing horse.”
Kenny has punched his ticket to jump in the week nine grand prix but remains undecided as to which horse he will take into the ring.
“I’m not sure right now,” said Kenny regarding whether or not he’ll give the new gelding a shot under the lights on Saturday night. “He didn’t start jumping until he was seven so he’s still green even though he’s 12. I don’t know if I’m going to jump him on Saturday night or not but every day, he’s gotten better, more comfortable, and more confident. I really like the horse.”
Full Results: $73,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 9
1. SLIGO BALOU BOY: 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Balou Du Rouet x Catiana
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Michael Kearins: 0/0/33.75
2. JEFF TEN HALVEN: 2009 BWP gelding by Toulon x Cassis Z
MICHAEL DUFFY (IRL), HMF Equestrian: 0/0/34.90
3. SKARA GLEN’S CHANCELLORESS: 2009 KWPN mare by Chacco Blue x Balou du Rouet
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Skara Glen Stables: 0/0/35.40
4. ALEJANDRO: 2009 Rheinländer gelding by Acorado’s Ass x Contanga
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Seabrook, SpyCoast Farm and Sweet Oak Farm: 0/0/35.87
5. KILKENNY: 2012 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Cardento x Mhs Pembrook Lady
CIAN O’CONNOR (IRL), Ronnoco Jump Ltd: 0/0/36.24
6. BALOU DU REVENTON: 2006 Oldenburg stallion by Cornet Obolensky x Continue
BRIAN MOGGRE (USA), Ann C. Thompson: 0/0/37.05
7. IBELLE ASK: 2008 BWP mare by Verdi x Robin Des Bruyeres
YURI MANSUR (BRA), Stutteri Ask A/S: 0/4/35.98
8. BLUEBERRY: 2011 Selle Francais mare by Conrad x Creve Coeur
NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO (USA), The Blueberry Group LLC: 0/4/39.42
9. BULL RUN’S PRINCE OF PEACE: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Cardenio x Contender
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC: 0/28/68.46
10.= WINNING GOOD: 2009 NRPS gelding by Winningmood van de Arenberg x Sir Corland
EMILY MOFFITT (GBR), Poden Farms: 0/WD
10.= AYADE HERO Z: 2011 Zangersheide mare by Aganix Du Seigneur x C.heroine De Thieusies
SPENCER SMITH (USA), Ransome Rombauer: 0/WD
10.= CHACNA: 2007 Hanoverian mare by Chacco-Blue x Narew XX
ENRIQUE GONZALEZ (MEX), Enrique Gonzalez: 0/WD
10.= ANTIDOTE DE MARS: 2010 Selle Français stallion by Diamant de Semilly x Jarnac
BLISS HEERS (USA), Bridgeside Farms, LLC: 0/WD
10.= CHAKARIA: 2010 DSP mare by Chap 47 x Askari 173
ANDRE THIEME (GER), Pferdemanagement & Marketing: 0/WD
Mendoza Makes Her Mark on $37,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty 1.45m CSI2*
Jessica Mendoza (GBR) topped the day’s $37,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty 1.45m CSI2* with Dublin, a 2007 German Sport Horse gelding (Cobra x Calido) owned by Windsor Farms. The pair rode to victory in the class of 73 entries, after 20 horse-and-rider combinations returned to contest the Michel Vaillancourt (CAN)-designed fast track.
Medoza and Dublin cleared the second course in a quick 31.07 seconds. “I knew that there were a lot of horses coming back for the jump-off,” began Mendoza, “so I knew that it was going to be a quick one. I had to get going from the beginning and try to leave little to no room for anyone else to sneak in there.”
She continued, “Dublin was very good. At fence number two I turned a little tight and then went a little deep, and he was a good boy with that so I’m very happy with him. He’s probably the most careful horse I’ve ever sat on; he just doesn’t want to touch a fence. You’re either clear or you’ll do something scary when it comes to him. He’s amazing; he’s very intelligent and knows where his legs are.”
The 24-year-old is currently developing her string of horses and is utilizing her veteran mounts while the youngsters move up the ranks. She explained, “This season I haven’t really got a grand prix horse ready to go. I’ve got two nine-year-olds that I’m producing, so I’m just using Dublin and Casanova as I wait for those horses to come up and become grand prix horses.”
With all that is happening with the global pandemic and now the EVH-1 outbreaks across Europe, Mendoza expressed her final thoughts as gratitude for the WEF organizers for putting on a safe, competitive show. “It’s incredible to get to show here,” she concluded. “There’s such a safe feeling at this venue. The management does a great job paying attention to the social distancing and biosecurity. We are all just very thankful to be here.”
Celso Ariani (MEX) rode to second place aboard Ukulman De La Nutrina, Ricardo Romero’s 2008 Selle Francais gelding by Quick Star, after completing the jump-off in 32.50 seconds. Third went to Laura Chapot on Mary Chapot’s 2005 Oldenburg gelding (Chacco Blue x Landcapitol), Chandon Blue, finishing in 32.50 seconds.
Final Results: $37,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty 1.45m CSI2*
1. DUBLIN: 2007 Deusches Reitpferd gelding by Cobra x Calido
JESSICA MENDOZA (GBR), Windsor Farms: 0/0/31.07
2. UKULMAN DE LA NUTRIA: 2008 Selle Francais gelding by Quick Star
CELSO ARIANI (MEX), Ricardo Romero: 0/0/32.50
3. CHANDON BLUE: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco Blue x Landcapitol
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Mary Chapot: 0/0/32.505
4. VALENTINO V Z: 2009 Zangersheide stallion by Verdi x Converter
MARIA COSTA (USA), Ravello Farms, LLC: 0/0/32.71
5. MENDINI DR: 2012 BWP mare by Hunters Scendix x Cleopatra Van Spalbeek
CONOR O’REGAN (IRL), Dynomite Ranch, LLC: 0/0/34.38
6. SCATO VAN DE MOLENBRUG Z: 2010 Zangersheide stallion by Scendix x Cleopatra
JENNIFER WAXMAN (USA), The Scato Group, LLC: 0/0/34.83
7. DAVIDSON: 2008 KWPN gelding by Harley VDL x Chin Chin
Alex Matz (USA), Five Star Partners: 0/0/34.85
8. CHADES OF BLUE: 2008 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco-Blue x Zamite M
ALEXANDRA THORNTON (GBR), Dunwalke LLC: 0/0/36.84
9. TANAEL DES BONNES: 2007 Selle Français gelding by Watch me van’t Zorgvliet x Don Pierre
BRIANNE GOUTAL-MARTEAU (USA), Gerald Ford: 0/4/32.50
10. UN DIAMANT DES FORETS: 2008 Selle Francais stallion by Diamant De Semilly x Grace Des Forets
JIM IFKO (CAN), Eventyre Farms:0/4/33.02
11. HORTENSIA VAN DE LEEUWERK: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Corland x Danora Van De Leeuwek
MANUEL GONZALEZ DUFRANE (MEX), Manuel Gonzalez Dufrane: 0/4/33.24
12. VDL STELLA: 2012 Brazilian Sport Horse by Cardento x Capitu Da Santa Helena
CARLY ANTHONY (USA), Portfolio Horses, LLC: 0/4/33.26
Tamara Provost and Independent Top the ESP Open Hunter 3’3” Division
Competition began in Ring 11 on Thursday morning with the ESP Open Hunter 3’3” division sponsored by Gold Coast Feed & Nutrition. After earning three firsts and two second place ribbons, Tamara Provost and Beth Bailey’s Independent took home the championship title.
Independent is a catch ride for Provost, who is keeping the gelding in the show ring for his owner, Beth Bailey. Provost, of Westfield, IN, has only shown Independent a few times and always enjoys the opportunity to compete with him.
“I love him. He is really nice to ride,” said Provost of the coming 11-year-old Holsteiner by Ibisca. “He is a good jumper, good mover, and each time you walk into the ring you feel like you have a great shot on him.”
The duo bested a field of nine competitors to win the under saddle as well as both over fences classes on Thursday.
“He had two great rounds today,” explained Provost. “He is so comfortable and soft to ride. He is a horse that you get on and you like to ride. He is beautiful to jump, beautiful to flat; he is just all of it.”
Provost is excited for the remaining four weeks of WEF with Independent as well as her other horses. The rider also has a busy spring and summer horse show schedule to look forward to this year.
“I love the weather here at WEF,” commented Provost. “The rings and jumps are beautiful, and the overall atmosphere is fantastic.”
Ed Copeland, of Monmouth Beach, NJ, and Mary Mitsch’s Lavender earned two blue ribbons on Wednesday to end as reserve champion in the division.
Jumper competition on Friday will feature the $37,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Classic CSI5* as well as the $6,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty 1.45m CSI2* in the International Arena. The $5,000 USHJA Pony Derby will take place on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village.