Wellington, FL – February 21, 2010 – Charles Jacobs (USA) of Boston, MA, captured the top prize in the $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby on Quidditch II, owned by Deeridge Farm of Wellington, FL. They sped to the win over Shane Sweetnam (IRL) on Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Little Emir and Brianne Goutal (USA) on Nice de Prissey, owned by Cloverleaf Farm.
The $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby was the highlight jumper event of week six, the Bainbridge AHJF/WCHR Hunter Spectacular week, of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
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.
The beautiful derby field course was at The Stadium, part of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The course was built and designed by Richard Jeffrey of England. It had 20 numbered obstacles and 25 jumping efforts over the rolling track, and it proved to be a tough, but exciting, challenge for the show jumpers. There were 41 entries in the class, and it was run in a faults converted format.
Michael Stone, President of Equestrian Sport Productions, stated, “The $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby was a great success. We had nice weather, a fantastic turnout of more than 3,000 spectators, and a huge turnout of top riders for the class. We’re pleased to be able to offer this alternative for exhibitors and spectators alike, and this was a great day.”
Although this was a faults converted class, the times between the top 12 finishers were very tight. The first clear round of the day who went straight to the top of the leaderboard was Clementine Goutal on Wintina Deux. They finished with a time of 141.20 seconds, which would hold up for fourth place.
Six trips later, Beezie Madden and Prima were very fast in 134.47 seconds, but an unfortunate two rails increased their time up to 142.47 seconds, placing them in fifth at the end of the class.
Another seven horses would pass before Jacobs and Quidditch II, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare, would speed around the course to take the lead from Clementine Goutal. They made a fantastic rollback from fences five to six, and the little chestnut mare stayed careful and quick throughout. They finished with a clear round in a time of 138.17 seconds.
Jacobs described, “I sliced right at (fence) five. I had really good confidence that she would jump that, so I hit it at an angle. I pointed her at it and she jumped straight up in the air, and we twirled right back around over the ditch (oxer). That was quick. She’s a little horse; she can get around like that. She’s very nimble and quick.”
“I felt I went pretty hard at it,” Jacobs said afterwards. “There’s always a chance someone is going to get you. Shane was faster, but had an early rail. He almost made up the time, which is pretty remarkable.”
No one would be able to catch Jacobs’ time without adding faults to finish down the standings. Sweetnam and Little Emir had an early rail at fence 3a, the first of a double of liverpools that came down 16 times during the day. But after that rail, Sweetnam and Little Emir turned on the gas and sped to finish in a time of 139.15 with the four faults added to their time.
Going second to last, Brianne Goutal and Nice de Prissey, a nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding, had a very quick course going. The handy bay stayed careful and just had a rail at jump 17a. Their time at the end of 139.89 seconds would put them into third.
Jacobs has only owned Quidditch II for a few months. “She’s a hot girl, but if you just get in a rhythm, she really expresses herself. I can’t describe it- she’s really explosive,” he said. They placed first and second in the Cavalor SJHOF High Amateur Owner Jumper Classics before this week, but Jacobs said the opportunity to practice over the different natural jumps offered in a derby were what helped him feel prepared for today’s class.
Jacobs was very happy with his win today and counted it among his top finishes. “This is right up there. I had a great win last summer in Lake Placid,” he recalled. “I don’t show much. Coming down here is like home for us, so it’s really big to have a nice class here.”
Sweetnam felt that his experience in other derby competitions were what gave he and Little Emir, a 12-year-old German gelding, the edge today as well. “This was my first derby with him last year; I had three rails with him, and I learned from those. I didn’t have any of those today. I did La Baule, (France), and he was very good and placed, and then he placed in the derby at Spruce Meadows. He’s had plenty of experience that way, and this was his sort of class. I was hoping he could deliver today, which he did,” Sweetnam remarked.
By leaving strides out in two lines and keeping a fast rhythm, Sweetnam was able to stay at the top of the list. “I knew for me to be able to win the class, I had to really go for it. The horse was really jumping today, so the more I went, the higher he jumped. I was very happy with him,” he said.
Sweetnam said of the course, ” It was a very good class. It was tough. I think it rode tougher this year than last year. Richard has been building superb. I was out of breath when I was finished!”
For Brianne Goutal, showing her new horse in the derby was an exciting experience. They purchased Nice de Prissey in December, and this was his third week of competition. They moved up from the 1.30m to 1.50m to today’s class. “He was amazing. I wasn’t worried, but the first time you jump a derby like this, even on one that you know is seasoned, you’re a little bit expecting the worst,” she laughed. “I didn’t realize how fast I was going. I just kept building and building and he just kept jumping and jumping. He stayed super careful throughout. He was really brave and is a lot of fun to ride.I didn’t think I was going to do that well. He was really impressive.”
Goutal also praised the class and venue, “I think the horse show staff has done an amazing job with this field. The jumps look incredible and the footing is really, really good. It’s a great change of scenery. It falls perfectly in the middle. You start to get a little burnt out from the WEF scene and then you come here and it’s like a great breath of fresh air!”
Today wrapped up the sixth week of competition for the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. The seventh week, the Fidelity Investments CSI 2*, runs from February 24-28 and has a full schedule of events including: the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round Seven on Thursday, February 25, at 1p.m.; the $40,000 USEF World Equestrian Games (WEG) Show Jumping Trial Class 1 on Thursday, February 25, at 7 p.m.; and the $75,000 Fidelity Grand Prix, CSI 2*/USEF WEG Show Jumping Trial Class 2 on Saturday, February 27, at 7 p.m.
For full results and more information, please visit www.shownet.biz and www.equestriansport.com.
Final Results: $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby
1. Quidditch II, Charlie Jacobs, Deeridge Farm: 138.17
2. Little Emir, Shane Sweetnam, Spy Coast Farm: 139.15
3. Nice de Prissey, Brianne Goutal, Cloverleaf Farm: 139.89
4. Wintina Deux, Clementine Goutal, Cloverleaf Farm: 141.20
5. Prima, Beezie Madden, Jenny Sutton and Neapolitan Holdings LLC: 142.47
6. Miss Liberty 7, McLain Ward, Overlook Farm LLC: 142.55
7. Murka’s Pall Mall, Peter Charles, Sandra Cordiner: 144.94
8. Olinda, Todd Minikus, Houlihan Lawrence: 145.78
9. H&M Necoll, Ali Wolff, Blacklick Bend Farm: 145.95
10. Cazino, Rodrigo Pessoa, Pessoa Stables LLC: 147.51
11. Creme Brule, Lauren Tisbo, Tequestrian Farms LLC: 148.12
12. Maarten, Norman Dello Joio, Newsprint Farm: 148.22
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.