For Immediate Release
Kate Pettersen and Sabrina Brashares for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
January 21, 2021 – Wellington, FL – Sydney Shulman (ISR) turned 26 years old in style with a win aboard Azilis Du Mesnil on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Thursday, January 21, as CSI3* competition gets underway at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
International jumper competition continues throughout the week on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and is highlighted by the $37,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Friday, Saturday’s $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Jumper Classic and $10,000 Hermès U25 Welcome, and a thrilling Sunday of competition featuring the $137,000 Restylane Grand Prix CSI3* followed by the $25,000 Hermès U25 Grand Prix. Don’t miss a minute of the action with feature classes available to watch for free on the livestream.
Shulman and the 11-year-old Selle Francais mare owned by Jill Shulman put forth a clear effort in the two-phase competition stopping the clock in 30.76 seconds. The dynamic duo are no strangers to the success on the grass after regularly campaigning last season in the Hermès U25 series, capturing the overall title for 2020.
“This is definitely one of the better birthdays. You can’t do better than this, first class of the day, winning, on your birthday,” she said with a big smile. “I absolutely love jumping on the grass and this field. The course was great especially for my horse. She has a massive stride, especially off the left lead, and the two places to leave out were off the left so I was thrilled with it. She jumped beautifully.”
Like many riders competing in the first few weeks of WEF, Shulman gave her horse some time off leading up to the opening of the winter circuit. The break was a decision based on a successful but heavy competition schedule last year and the plan has paid off thus far.
“She feels better than ever before,” said Shulman. “She’s a great horse – really simple, brave, really competitive, and super game. I can’t speak more highly about her. I’m thrilled with how she performed, and the course worked out in our favor today.”
Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and Cadans Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Starlight Farms 1, LLC, found themselves in podium position taking home second place honors in a time of 30.80 seconds. U.S. Olympic team gold medalist Laura Kraut and St. Bride’s Farm’s 12-year-old Selle Francais mare Fleurette rounded out the top three placings in a time of 31.23 seconds.
Coming off a stellar third place finish in the $137,000 Wellington Regional Medical Center Grand Prix CSI3* on Saturday night, Shulman was forced to rest, without riding her horses, leading up to Thursday’s competition.
“I have to say thank you to my team at Back Country Farm because I have an injury, and I haven’t ridden since Saturday night,” she said. “They have been riding my horses every day. It really goes to show that it’s a team effort. They prepared her, they’ve been riding her all week, they brought her to the ring, and I’m really grateful for them.”
Shulman hopes she won’t have to miss any time from competition moving forward.
Wrapping up the day at Equestrian Village with a victory was Abdel Said (EGY) aboard Bandit Savoie, owned by Abdel Said and AS Sport Horses, who topped a field of 71 combinations to take home the win in the $1,000 FEI Bainbridge 1.40m Jumpers.
$6,000 Douglas Elliman FEI 1.45m Jumpers
1. AZILIS DU MESNIL: 2010 Selle Français mare by Tinka’s boy x Jarnac
SYDNEY SHULMAN (ISR), Jill Shulman: 0/0/30.76
2. CADANS Z: 2009 Zangersheide mare by Carosso VDL x Navarone
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms 1, LLC: 0/0/39.80
3. FLEURETTE: 2009 Selle Français mare by Verdi TN x Kiss Me Not De Breve
LAURA KRAUT (USA), St. Bride’s Farm: 0/0/31.23
4. EXCELLENT: 2009 KWPN gelding by Cicero Z van Paemel x Ahorn
PETER LUTZ (USA), Bosch Sport Horses: 0/0/32.85
5. Verdi O’Merveilles: 2009 Selle Français gelding by Verdi x O’my Star
FABIO LEIVAS DA COSTA (BRA), Bonne Chance Farm, LLC: 0/0/33.21
6. HUNTERS CONLYPSO II: 2008 Hanoverian gelding by Contendro I x Calypso II
LORCAN GALLAGHER (IRL), Dacantos Group: 0/0/33.26
7. CHUCK 27: 2007 Hanoverian gelding by Cassus 2 x Ravenna
HILARY MCNERNEY (USA), Hilary McNerney: 0/0/33.50
8. CHRISTOS: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Cristo 5 x Linaro
BLISS HEERS (CAN), Bridgeside Farms LLC: 0/0/33.61
9. BIJZONDER: 2006 KWPN gelding by Acodetto I x Quite Easy I
LACEY GILBERTSON (USA), Seabrook, LLC: 0/0/33.72
10. HERA DE LANDETTE II: 2012 KWPN mare by Bustique x Coco De Landetta
CARLY ANTHONY (USA), Portfolio Horses, LLC: 0/0/35.17
11. BARDOLINA 2: 2009 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Landos
MARIO DESLAURIERS (CAN), Wishing Well Farm, LLC: 0/0/37.50
12. MR. EUROPE: 2009 KWPN gelding by Mr. Blue x Z-Liva Rv
KARRIE RUFER (USA), Morning Star Sporthorses, LLC: 0/0/37.85
Scott Stewart and Love Note Receive Top Honors in the Green Hunter 3’9”, Stewart and Catch Me Score 100 in High Performance Hunter Stake
On Thursday, 12 horse-and-rider combinations competed for the tricolor ribbon in the Green Hunter 3’9”, sponsored by Equine Tack & Nutritionals. After two competitive days of showing, Scott Stewart and Richard Prant’s Love Note earned the championship title. The duo received a first, two seconds, third, and fourth place ribbons.
Stewart, of Wellington, FL, has had the ride on Love Note for three years. The pair has shown twice this season and has taken home a championship ribbon both times.
“I showed him as a first year horse pretty regularly, and last year we showed a couple times and he was very good,” Stewart explained. “He primarily does the Amateur-Owner Hunters with his owner, Nancy Hooker.”
Stewart and Love Note consistently placed at the top of the class both days of competition in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. The pair’s rhythmic pace earned them a score of 85 on the second day to win an over fences class.
“He was great. He got to gallop around nicely,” Stewart said of the eight-year-old Westphalian gelding by Kalaska De Semilly. “I know him very well, and I can trust him because he is so brave.”
While Stewart is gearing up for World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week 6, Love Note will mainly be focused on showing with Hooker and staying consistent in the Green Hunter 3’9”. “Since he is so competitive in this division, we will continue to show him in it and hopefully qualify for Devon,” commented Stewart.
Penny Lombardo, of Loxahatchee, FL, rode Charismo to reserve champion. Lombardo and Joyce L. Kutcher’s Charismo earned a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth places in the Green Hunter 3’9” division.
Stewart’s successful day did not stop with Love Note. The rider then piloted Gochman Sport Horses LLC’s Catch Me to a perfect score of 100 and the championship ribbon in the High Performance Hunters, sponsored by Antarès Sellier France.
“That horse has really come close to getting a 100 a lot of times. We have gotten a lot of high 90s before,” recalled Stewart. “I think today’s course really suited him and suited the possibility to get that score. Getting a 100 was always in the back of my mind with him. Certainly that was on my mind today after he went really well in the first class. He is just so nice. He can go around with a loop in the rein and let you gallop around the course.”
The duo has always been a combination to watch, having earned many top ribbons, including winning the $100,000 WCHR/USHJA Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular in both 2016 and 2017 at WEF. The 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Casiro I was also named USEF’s National Horse of the Year in 2016.
“I’ve had a lot of really nice rounds, and lots of nice rounds on him that I thought maybe could have been close,” said Stewart. “Certainly when I left the ring I thought maybe it could happen, but I was in shock when it actually happened! I think that horse really deserves it. He tries 100% every time he goes in.”
Only a handful of hunter riders have received a score of 100 before, and Stewart is thrilled to join the list.
“I’ve always dreamed of being able to do it, and I was a little nervous that I was running out of time on this particular horse, especially because I don’t show him too much anymore since he is primarily Becky Gochman’s amateur horse,” explained Stewart. “There’s not too many horses like him that can get that score so I feel lucky to be able to ride that type of horse. It doesn’t come around very often. When he goes like that, he does everything pretty much on his own. It’s a great feeling.”
Friday will see more jumper competition at the Derby Field with the $37,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 2. Hunter and equitation competition will continue with the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2* in Ring 6.