Wellington, FL, March 6, 2013- Week nine of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies, began on Wednesday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) with a win for Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Mouse in the highlight $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m, a Longines FEI world ranking class.
Week nine of FTI WEF competition, sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies, runs March 6-10, 2013. The week will feature the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 and $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix Team Event on Thursday, the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Friday, the $300,000 FEI World Cup CSIW- 5* presented by The Bainbridge Companies on Saturday evening, and the $82,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9-March 31, 2013, and will be awarding almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.
Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL, is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week nine. In Wednesday’s $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m, 59 entries competed in a one round speed class with 15 clear rounds. The winning track belonged to Daniel Deusser and Mouse in a time of 55.69 seconds.
Daniel Deusser and Mouse. Photo © Sportfot.
Mouse, a fifteen-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Limbus x Grundyman, is owned by Stephex Stables. Commenting on the ride, Deusser noted, “Mouse is already fifteen years old. He has a lot of experience with a lot of riders and I took over last year when I came to Stephex. There is not too much to tell really. Mouse is a speed horse. He knows what to do in the ring, so I just have to steer and show him the fences and then normally he tries to do everything right.”
Detailing his plan for the course, Deusser explained, “I know the horse is really quick over the fence, in the turns, everywhere, so I didn’t really go full speed. I tried to get a good turn from one to two; I think there I was already faster than most of the other ones. Also the rollback turn after the double to the Liverpool, I had a really good turn there. For the rest I think I did the same strides as everyone else. My advantage is that the horse is really quick naturally, so even if I have the same distance as all the other ones I am normally a little bit faster.”
Behind Deusser and Mouse, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Solerina, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, cleared the course in 56.63 seconds. Coming in third, Brianne Goutal (USA) and Remarkable Farms’ Onira stopped the clock in 58.07 seconds. Germany’s Johannes Ehning and Cayenne 162, owned by Winley Farm LLC, finished in 58.25 seconds to place fourth. Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Simon were fifth with their time of 58.60 seconds. 
Daniel Deusser in his winning presentation with ringmaster Cliff Haines and Shane Sweetnam representing Spy Coast Farm. Photo © Sportfot.
Earlier in the day, Deusser also won the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class riding Stephex Stables’ Domingo. The pair also won last week’s $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class.
Deusser is enjoying his time in Wellington and will continue to show through week nine. He then plans to go home for a week off and return for the end of the circuit.
“Of course I am enjoying it here,” he smiled. “It is totally different from Europe this time of year. You cannot ride outside there, it’s impossible. The ring is really big here and everything is really nice for the horses. I expected it a little bit warmer to be honest, it is quite cold now, but overall I have had a really good experience so far. The horses feel really good. They are fresh and they have jumped well. I think it is also really good preparation for the outdoor season for our horses.”
Also showing on Wednesday, Laura Kraut (USA) and the Evita Group’s Nouvelle were the best out of 120 competitors in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class.
Week nine of the FTI WEF will continue on Thursday with the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 and $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix Team Event featured in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Final Results: $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m
1. MOUSE: 1998 Holsteiner gelding by Limbus x Grundyman
DANIEL DEUSSER (GER), Stephex Stables: 0/55.69
2. SOLERINA: 1999 Irish Sport Horse mare by Cruising x Diamond Lad
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Sweet Oak Farm: 0/56.63
3. ONIRA: 1996 KWPN gelding by Nimmerdor x Ramiro
BRIANNE GOUTAL (USA), Remarkable Farms LP: 0/58.07
4. CAYENNE 162: 2003 Westphalian mare by Cornet Obolensky x Gonfaron
JOHANNES EHNING (GER), Winley Farm LLC: 0/58.25
5. SIMON: 1999 KWPN gelding by Mr. Blue x Polydox
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/58.60
6. CAPALL ZIDANE: 2004 KWPN gelding by Concorde x Baloubet du Rouet
RONAN MCGUIGAN (IRL), Ronan McGuigan: 0/58.61
7. ZERLY: 2004 KPWN mare by Querlybet Hero x Carthago
CHRISTINE MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 0/58.91
8. UNEX OMEGA STAR: 2002 Irish Sport Horse stallion by Quick Star x Quatoubet du Rouet
TIM GREDLEY (GBR), Unex Competition Yard: 0/58.94
9. VESUVIUS: 2002 KWPN gelding by Numero Uno x Expert
MEAGAN NUSZ (USA), Amalaya Investments: 0/59.40
10. BELMONT: 2001 Canadian Warmblood gelding by Ahorn OT x Landfriese II
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Beverly Widdowson: 0/60.28
11. VDL DOGAN: 2003 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Chin Chin x Darco
CANDICE KING (USA), Bellissimo, LLC: 0/60.47
12. CHANEL: 2004 KWPN mare by Chin Chin x Damiro
DANIEL BLUMAN (COL), Blue Star Investments: 0/61.07
Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, An Official Photographer of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, us.sportfot.com. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.