Wellington, FL- February 20, 2010- Laura Kraut (USA) up on Tortola owned by Beverly Widdowson was victorious in today’s $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic. The second place honors went to Peter Charles (GBR) on his mount Murka’s Pom D’Ami, owned by Olga White. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Rebozo, owned by Double H Farm, took third place.
The sixth week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Bainbridge and runs through Sunday, February 21, 2010. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL, designed the course in the DeNemethy Ring with 13 numbered obstacles in the first round. The course included a triple combination that was the first line, a three-stride line to a careful vertical, and a very careful plank that was jump number 12. The time allowed in the first round was 84 seconds. A field of 25 competitors came out to compete on this very sunny day, but only two horse and rider pairs successfully navigated the technical first round course and advanced to the short course.
Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Rebozo came the closest out of all the four faulters to advance to the jump-off. However, with a disappointing four faults, Pessoa wasn’t able to advance, but still managed to finish in the third spot in today’s class. Tim Hendrix (NED) and his horse Tenessee, owned by Stal Hendrix, also produced a great first round, but finished the course with four faults, which would put the pair in a respectable fourth place finish.
The first to enter the ring for the short course was Laura Kraut on Tortola. The jump-off consisted of 8 obstacles and the time allowed was 50 seconds. Kraut was navigating the course without faults, but made a very tight turn to a very careful skinny vertical, which provided for a disappointing four faults. The pair still whisked through the timers in a very fast time of 42.390 seconds.
Peter Charles entered the ring after Kraut on his horse Murka’s Pom D’Ami. The pair just needed to produce a fault-free round to win the class.
Unfortunately, Charles underestimated the time allowed and acquired five time faults after stopping the timers at 54.378 seconds. This would put the pair into the second place position.
Both Laura Kraut and Peter Charles were very pleased with their horse’s performance in today’s class. Kraut spoke of Tortola, “The horse is an eight years old and this his third 1.50m class.” She continued, “I think the horse is absolutely sensational and my plan is to show him next season in the Sunday Grand Prix classes.”
After finishing in the second place position on Murka’s Pom D’Ami and the sixth place position on Murka’s Nevada VI, also owned by Olga White, Charles said that he was delighted with both of his horses today. Charles said of his horse who finished in second, “He is my best horse and it is completely my fault we didn’t win today.”
Kraut deviated from her plan to just have a nice double clear round in the jump-off after her horse turned very fast in the beginning of the course. Kraut contended, “I know Peter (Charles) is very fast, but I made a ridiculous turn to the one vertical and after I had one down I figured I would be in second, which I was very happy with.”
The disappointed but jovial Charles said, “I wish Laura (Kraut) had cleared the fence so that I would have been a bit more competitive going in the ring after her.” He described his jump-off, “I got a bit carried away and completely misjudged the time allowed, but to get second and sixth today, I will take that any day of the week!” He continued, “Even though my plan to be nice to the horse didn’t pay off today, maybe it will pay off in the long run.”
Tomorrow’s jumper action concludes with the highlight event of the week, the $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Stadium, located on the corner of South Shore Blvd. and Pierson Rd.
Final Results: $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic
1. TORTOLA, LAURA KRAUT, BEVERLY WIDDOWSON: 0/4/42.390
2. MURKA’S POM D’AMI, PETER CHARLES, OLGA WHITE: 0/5/54.378
3. HH REBOZO, RODRIGO PESSOA, DOUBLE H FARM: 4/79.429
4. TENESSEE, TIM HENDRIX, STAL HENDRIX: 4/79.485
5. AMOROSO, MCLAIN WARD, GRANT ROAD PARTNERS: 4/79.634
6. MURKA’S NEVADA VI, PETER CHARLES, OLGA WHITE: 4/81.390
7. NADYLEEN, ALEXA LOWE, WINDSOR FARM SALES: 4/82.971
8. OXYGENE, REBECCA JOHANSON-HOFMANN, BLUE HILL FARM LLC: 5/84.704
9. RMW NEW DAY, TODD MINIKUS, ROCKY MOUNTAIN WARMBLOODS: 8/78.744
10. LARKANARO, ANDRES RODRIGUEZ, ANDRES RODRIGUEZ: 8/80.988
11. KANNAN’S GIRL Z, QUENTIN JUDGE, DOUBLE H FARM: 10/85.324
12. LISONA, DARRAGH KERINS, KEVIN BABINGTON: 11/86.045
The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 13 through April 4. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $5.5 million in prize money will be awarded.
WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. exists to help companies and their stakeholders protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex economic, legal and regulatory environment. FTI is the trusted advisor entrenched in many of the game-changing events that make headlines, move markets and create business history. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.
During the 12 weeks of WEF, “Saturday Night Lights” headlines the entertainment each Saturday night where spectators not only enjoy the Grand Prix class, but a street carnival, live music, and numerous dining options with box seats, sports bars, and the famed Tiki Hut for front row fun.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.