Wellington, FL – March 11, 2022 – A full day of elite international competition was slated for the International Arena on Friday, March 11, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). During WEF 9, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, the $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m CSI5* saw an impressive 68 horse-and-rider combinations contending against the clock but they couldn’t best one of the fastest combinations in the world, Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward (USA) and Catoki.
Sixteen nations were represented in the starting field of the single-round speed class designed by Alan Wade (IRL). Wade set a time of 72 seconds allowed, and most entries navigated the time easily. Wednesday’s five-star class winner, Darragh Kenny (IRL), looked set to add another victory to his name for the week, until Bertram Allen (IRL) and his own 10-year-old BE/SEIS mare Emmylou (Billy Mexico x Lupin Z) took to the course. Kenny’s previous leading time of 59.19 seconds with Oakland Ventures LLC’s 11-year-old KWPN mare Gouvernante VDL (Bacardi VDL x Stakkato) lasted until Allen shaved almost two whole seconds off the clock to jump ahead with a time of 57.69 seconds.
The victory looked in the bag for Allen, but nothing was certain with Ward and his speedy mount Catoki as the third from final entry to compete. Upon crossing the timers, the duo once again proved unsurpassable, taking the lead in 57.15 seconds. The duo duplicated their victory in the same class of the same week from the 2021 WEF.
“He has been unbelievable this season, and I think he’s won something almost every time we’ve brought him out,” stated Ward. “Here in Wellington, we are really seeing the maximum of five-star show jumping because of the level of competition. We have had this funneling of the best riders in the world because America is open and people can compete, and it has raised the standards considerably. I thought Alan [Wade] did a great job with today’s course, and I just tried to go fast but take a moment where I needed to and trust his footspeed.”
With several five-star speed class wins and success in the $75,000 Rosenbaum PLLC Grand Prix already added to their title in the 2022 season, the pair has proved to be a force to reckon with.
“I had known Catoki when he was with a rider from New Jersey, and we thought he could be really competitive,” explained Ward of the 13-year-old Westphalian gelding (Catoki x Caretello B) he co-owns with Marilla Van Beuren and Bob Russell. “We have had to learn about him a bit because he is certainly a different type of horse, but once we did, he has basically been a winning machine. He turns out every day, but we never ride him except for when he is about to go in the show ring, and that seems to be what works best for him. He is a pure adrenaline junkie.”
Allen’s performance stuck in the second-place position, and fellow countryman Kenny rounded out the class’s final lap of honor.
Final Results: $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m CSI5*
1. CATOKI: 2009 Westphalian gelding by Catoki x Caretello B
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Marilla Van Beuren, Bob Russell, and McLain Ward: 0/57.15
2. EMMYLOU: 2012 BE/SIES mare by Billy Mexico x Lupin Z
BERTRAM ALLEN (IRL), Bertram Allen: 0/57.69
3. GOUVERNANTE VDL: 2011 KWPN mare by Bacardi VDL x Stakkato
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Oakland Ventures LLC: 0/59.19
4. GIJS: 2011 KWPN stallion by Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Numero Uno
NICOLA PHILIPPAERTS (BEL), Nicola Philippaerts: 0/59.24
5. CARAMBA 92: 2011 Westphalian gelding by Comme Il Faut 5 x Baloubet Du Rouet
RICHARD VOGEL (GER), Horse Management GMBH: 0/59.36
6. IVORY TCS: 2013 KWPN mare by Falaise De Muze x Ukato
DANIEL COYLE (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0/59.47
7. HELLCAT: 2011 BWP mare by Cassander Van Het Bremhof x Conan Z
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Eye Candy Jumpers: 0/60.50
8. FTS KILLOSSERY KONFUSION: 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding by SIEC Livello x Cruising
JOS VERLOOY (BEL), Eurohorse BVBA: 0/60.67
9. CELTIC HERO BZ: 2012 Zangersheide stallion by Calikot Hero x Nissan Caretano Z
HEATHER CARISTO-WILLIAMS (USA), Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Caristo: 0/60.89
10. CECILE 30: 2013 OS mare by Conthargos x Carthago Z
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Ilan Ferder: 0/61.14
11. DONATELLO 141: 2011 Westphalian gelding by Diarado x Lamoureux I
ASHLEE BOND (ISR), Ashlee Bond Showjumping: 0/61.57
12. KALINKA VAN’T ZORGVLIET: 2010 BWP mare by Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x Flipper d’Elle
KARL COOK (USA), Helen Signe Ostby: 0/62.14
Maria Costa and Iceman B SFN Freeze Out the Competition in $6,000 Corro 1.45m CSI2*
The $6,000 Corro 1.45m CSI2* wrapped up international competition for the day. Just under 30 entries put forth their efforts over Wade’s single-round speed track. The class concluded with a win for the USA as Maria Costa piloted Iceman B SFN to the winning time of 63.40 seconds.
Only six of the opening field managed to come out of Wade’s test fault-free; a single rider had two time faults on the clock while an additional eight entries took down one obstacle. Costa put forward the best effort with her nine-year-old KWPN gelding (Mylord Carthago*hn x Corland) and bested the next closest contender by almost two seconds.
“He is very sweet and will pretty much do whatever you ask,” said Costa. “We did seven strides instead of eight down the final line, and I think that is really what separated us from the rest. I didn’t find the exact spot I wanted landing over the second to last fence, but I rode for the seven anyways because that was my plan. He is pretty great in the way that if I ask for it, he will usually do it.”
The gelding is a newer mount for Costa who only acquired him a year ago and has had to take a bit of time to learn his way of going.
“He is a different ride for me as most of my horses in the past have always been hotter, more forward rides,” finished Costa. “He is very laid back which has been an adjustment; the goal today was to work on going faster so as not to have time penalties, and we were successful with that, so I am thrilled.”
Bruno Passaro (ARG) produced the runner-up time with his second mount in the class, Alejandro Martin Del Campo’s 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding Splendide Kannan (Kannan x Quidam De Revel). As one of the six to finish without fault, they landed with a time of 65.70 seconds. Beth Underhill put Canada into the victory gallop as she and Casino Calvin galloped into third place. Underhill navigated the track in 66.61 seconds with the Rein Family LLC’s and Torrey Pines’s nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding Casino Calvin (Casino Berlin Old x Calvin) to round out the top three.
Final Results: $6,000 Corro 1.45m CSI2*
1. ICEMAN B SFN: 2013 KWPN gelding by Mylord Carthago*hn x Corland
MARIA COSTA (USA), Maria Costa: 0/63.40
2. SPLENDIDE KANNAN: 2010 Selle Francais gelding by Kannan x Quidam De Revel
BRUNO PASSARO (ARG), Alejandro Martin Del Campo: 0/65.70
3. CASINO CALVIN: 2013 OS gelding by Casino Berlin Old x Calvin
BETH UNDERHILL (CAN), Rein Family LLC and Torrey Pines: 0/66.61
4. AMIGO W Z: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Andiamo Z x Contendro I
FABIO LEIVAS DA COSTA (BRA), Bonne Chance Farm LLC: 0/69.96
5. DORETTE: 2009 Oldenburg mare by Dollar Du Murier x Fighting Alpha 3
MAX WACHMAN (IRL), Coolmore Show Jumping: 0/70.83
6. MELARO OLD: 2013 OS gelding by Messenger x Calvaro F.C.
BRUNO PASSARO (ARG), Alejandro Martin Del Campo: 0/72.00
7. KONAK: 2010 BWP gelding by Nabab De Reve x Cash
CHANDLER MEADOWS (USA), Chandler Meadows: 2/73.76
8. COLDPLAY 31: 2009 Westphalian gelding by Cassini II x Phantom
CAELINN LEAHY (USA), Steve Schaefer: 4/61.53
9. LUCY IN THE SKY: 2009 Swedish Warmblood mare by Tornesch x Quantum
ASHLEY VOGEL (USA), Ashley Vogel: 4/61.97
10. NIXON VAN D’ABELENDREEF: 2013 BWP gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Toulon
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE (GBR), Pine Hollow Farm: 4/63.55
11. FIFTY SHADES: 2008 Westphalian gelding by Call Me Number One x Sion
ANDREA TORRES GUERREIRO (COL), Andrea Torres Guerreiro: 4/63.74
12. BYZANCE MAIL: 2011 Selle Francais mare by Iowa 960 x Carthago
LACEY GILBERTSON (USA), Seabrook LLC: 4/65.57
Consistency Key for Ava Barnes and Rico Suave’ in $5,000 USHJA Pony Derby
The grass Derby Field was the location for the $5,000 USHJA Pony Derby, which had 59 entries of varying sizes.
Of the pony-rider pairs there were 15 smalls, 22 mediums, and 22 larges that took to the course, and the top 12 scores overall returned for a handy round.
The handy round began with the small ponies, and returning third in her group was Ava Barnes with Ponies & Palms Show Stables LLC’s Rico Suave’, a 22-year old Welsh Pony gelding. The pair posted what would ultimately be the second-round high score of an 88 to give them a combined total of 171 for the top spot.
“Going in for the second round I knew there were inside turns and the trot jump where we could be handy,” said Barnes. “I really was just hoping to go out and at least place well and have a nice course all the way around.”
Barnes and the chestnut gelding have ridden on the grass before and were excited to return.
“This is my second time doing this class on this pony,” said Barnes. “We were in the top ten last time, and I really like it out here just because the grass is more fun, for the horses and the riders. This is something we look forward to!”
Consistency was key for the pair, who were one of only two teams to post scores of 80 or higher in both rounds, and Barnes noted gratitude for the pony and her trainers.
“He has the best personality,” she said of the successful pony. “He’s just so sweet. And I’m so thankful for my trainers Chris Payne and David Belford for all they do.”
Joining Ava Barnes for the top three finishes were Capri Truesdale, of Greenwich, CT, and Lily Epstein, of Coral Gables, FL, in second and third respectively.
Truesdale rode Daventry’s Davinci owned by Bonnie Way Equestrian with a first round score of 87 and a handy round score of 83 finishing on 170 points, only one point behind Barnes.
Epstein piloted Duncans Mill Mac Dougal owned by GC Ponies with a first round (derby high) score of 89, a handy round of 79, and a 168 total.
Weekend competition will kick off on Saturday, March 12, with classes in the International Arena culminating in the highly-anticipated $406,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI5* during “Saturday Night Lights.”
Final Results: $5,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby
Pony, Rider, Owner R1 |Handy |Total
1. Rico Suave’, Ava Barnes, Ponies & Palms Show Stables LLC 83 | 88 | 171
2. Daventry’s Davinci, Capri Truesdale, Jill Shulman 87 | 83 | 170
3. Duncans Mill Mac Dougal, Lily Epstein, Hanae Leeman 89 | 79 | 168
4. Private Message, Ella Endzweig, Kyla Makhloghi 88 | 78 | 166
5. Secret Crush, Ella Endzweig, Kyla Makhloghi 84.5| 74 | 158.5
6. Rolex, Emma Brody, Eleanor Kunsman 82.5 |75 | 157.5
7. Fortnite, Carsyn Korotkin, Alan Korotkin 80 | 76 | 156
8. Dreamworks, Marielle Walrath, Pamela Polk 82 | 63 | 145
9. Astro Boy, Sienna Rossano, Madeline Meyers 86 | 51 | 137
10. Farnley Rock Around, Faith Schuttemeyer, Melissa Burns 84 | 50 | 134
11. Almost Midnight, Amelia Burnside, Kristina Muse 81 | 52 | 133
12. Good Reason, Brooke Duffy, Sloane Coles 85 | 45 | 130