Wellington, FL – February 4, 2010 – Pablo Barrios (VEN) aboard G&C Quick Star 11 owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal produced a blazing time to win the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round Four. Louis Jacobs (USA) and Kachina were just behind in second place, while Richard Spooner (USA) on Quirino 3 took third place.
The fourth week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Adequan and runs through Sunday, February 7. 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.
Michel Vaillancourt of Canada designed the course in the Denemethy Arena with 13 numbered obstacles in the first round, which included an open water jump to a careful vertical, and a triple combination nearing the end of the course. The time allowed in the first round was 78 seconds. A total of 32 competitors came out to compete from nine different countries, but only nine managed to produce a clean first round and advance to the short course.
The jump-off consisted of seven obstacles with inside turn options and opportunities to leave out strides. The time allowed was 42 seconds, and the first competitor to produce a faultless round and set the pace was Beezie Madden (USA) up on her mount Danny Boy, owned by Abigail Wexner. The pair displayed all the inside turn options and stopped the clock at 41.90 seconds.
The next competitor to enter the ring was Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) on his mount Let’s Fly, owned by Double H Farm. The pair blazed around the course shaving a second off of Madden’s time and stopped the clock at 40.37 seconds. Pessoa’s lead prevailed until Louis Jacobs (USA) up on Deeridge Farm’s Kachina entered the ring making very tidy turns and producing a flawless course in a time of 38.64 seconds.
Shortly after, Pablo Barrios entered on his ride G&C Quick Star owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal. The duo dominated the course and quickly claimed the top spot with a time of 38.06 seconds. Richard Spooner and his mount Quirino 3 were the last of the competitors to show. The pair made a bold effort, but fell a little short of taking over the lead in a time of 38.79 seconds, and Barrios was able to triumph.
Barrios was very proud of his horse today, who was second in last week’s WEF Challenge Cup. He attributes his success to the fact that he and his horse match perfectly together and said, “She likes the way I ride her, and I like the way she jumps for me.”
Last week’s WEF Challenge Cup had a very fast jump-off. Coming off of that class, Barrios knew he could produce the time to win today. He spoke of his jump-off strategy, “I saw a good amount of riders doing the eight (strides) in the first line, but I decided to do nine so that I could make a very fast turn.”
Barrios is very appreciative of Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal who own G&C Quick Star 11 and a string of very nice horses that Barrios competes. He stated, “I have some very nice horses and a great opportunity to ride for G&C Farm.” He continued, “With good horses, you can start to ride better, and right now I am learning and understanding how to win.”
Tomorrow’s jumper action will continue with the Spy Coast 1.40 Speed Challenge in the International Arena, and the hunters continue on their championship course. The DeNemethy Ring will host the $25,000 1.50m Suncast Classic on Saturday. The $75,000 Adequan CSI 2* Grand Prix will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the International Arena.
Final Results: $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round Four
1. G&C QUICK STAR, PABLO BARRIOS, GUSTAVO & CAROLINA MIRABAL: 0/0/38.060
2. KACHINA, LOUIS JACOBS, DEERIDGE FARM: 0/0/38.640
3. QUIRINO 3, RICHARD SPOONER, OSCANY INC: 0/0/38.790
4. LET’S FLY, RODRIGO PESSOA, DOUBLE H FARM: 0/0/40.370
5. DANNY BOY, BEEZIE MADDEN, ABIGAIL WEXNER: 0/0/41.900
6. ARAGON ROUET, ANDRE THIEME, STAL HENDRIX: 0/1/43.560
7. TOSCA 290, MARGIE ENGLE, HIDDEN CREEK FARM: 0/4/37.690
8. RONALDO, ERIC LAMAZE, ASHLAND STABLES: 0/4/39.500
9. STREET OF DIAMONDS, GEORGINA BLOOMBERG, GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES: 0/12/56.150
10. NAVALO DE POHETON, SCHUYLER RILEY, WOLFSTONE STABLES: 1/81.280
11. VIA VOLO, ALISON ROBITAILLE, M/M BERTRAM FIRESTONE: 1/81.780
12. STAKKADOR, LJUBOV KOCHETOVA, LJUBOV KOCHETOVA: 2/84.480
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.