Wellington, FL – April 7, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions LLC (ESP) wrapped up its first week of spring competition this weekend at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with an exciting victory for 14-year-old Giavanna Rinaldi and her mount G.P.S. Brilliant Disguise in the $25,000 Equiline Spring 1 Grand Prix. In the first grand prix victory of her young career, Rinaldi beat out many top riders in a ten-horse jump-off, and immediately headed to Disney World with her family to celebrate.
The week’s jumper courses in the International Arena were designed by Ken Krome (USA). In Sunday’s grand prix, 52 entries contested the course with ten qualifying for the jump-off. Four of the jump-off competitors jumped double clear rounds, and Giavanna Rinaldi and G.P.S. Brilliant Disguise were last to go, and won it in 39.56 seconds.
Cara Rather and Trelawny Farm LLC’s Lyonell finished second in 39.83 seconds. Quentin Judge and Double H Farm’s HH Calvano finished third in 43.45 seconds, and Susan Horn and Kingsfield Farm’s Lillyfee placed fourth in 44.82 seconds.
Giavanna Rinaldi and G.P.S. Brilliant Disguise
The class was Rinaldi’s second time ever competing in a grand prix. She was still riding ponies and competing in the children’s divisions just last year and recently moved up to the juniors. Trained by the Jayne Family out of Our Day Farm, Rinaldi started out in the Low Junior Jumpers this winter and moved up to the high classes throughout the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival circuit.
“This is really amazing,” Rinaldi smiled after her big win. “I was so happy. I whispered in his ear before we went in. I told him I would give him a million carrots if he won; carrots are his favorite.
To win against so many good riders was just so exciting.”
“This is my second grand prix,” Rinaldi explained. “I did one over the summer at Lamplight in Illinois and we got fifth in that one, we just had one rail. I started riding when I was four and started out in ponies and slowly moved my way up to jumpers.”
Rinaldi’s horse, G.P.S. Brilliant Disguise, is a ten-year-old gelding that she bought one year ago. “We bought him as a Junior Jumper and then he was nicer than we thought, so now he does some grand prix classes,” Rinaldi noted. “He is really funny. At the barn he is always begging for carrots. He is always making me laugh. When I ride him he gets really excited at the ring. At the barn he is nice and calm and when he goes to show he gets really excited. He just wants to go and he jumps up and down. It’s really funny.”
Speaking about her plan in the jump-off, Rinaldi detailed, “I did the eight strides originally in the last line of the first round, so I knew the eight was going to be nice and easy. Then the second jump, I knew that it was a vertical on a slice, so I made sure that I stood him up better for that. Then the oxer was really good. The rollback into the next oxer I wanted to stay out in the turn so I didn’t have the back rail. Then the seven was nice and easy and the last jump was good.”
Also on hand for Rinaldi’s win on Sunday, Equiline representative Kelly Molinari was happy to see a first time win for the young rider and a great class to kick off the spring circuit.
“It is very exciting because we are just so impressed that these riders are out here working so hard every day to form the foundation of the sport,” Molinari stated. “Competition is the foundation, so if we can support and help that to grow in any small way, it is our way to give back to the riders. Right down to the last ride, the last minute, it was very, very exciting. It is thrilling to see a junior like that take the lead over the pros, and it just gives you a lot of hope for the future.”
Giavanna Rinaldi and G.P.S. Brilliant Disguise in their winning presentation
Rinaldi was excited to take a few days off after her win to spend time with her family in Disney World until Tuesday. She then plans to compete in the next two weeks of spring competition and will show in the grand prix classes each week.
Final Results: $25,000 Equiline Spring 1 Grand Prix
1. G.P.S. BRILLIANT DISGUISE GIAVANNA RINALDI GIAVANNA RINALDI: 0/0/39.565
2. LYONELL CARA RAETHER TRELAWNY FARMS LLC: 0/0/39.831
3. HH CALVANO QUENTIN JUDGE DOUBLE H FARM: 0/0/43.450
4. LILLYFEE SUSAN HORN KINGSFIELD FARM LLC: 0/0/44.820
5. VDL WIZARD CALLAN SOLEM HORSESHOE TRAIL FARM FLORIDA LLC: 0/4/40.803
6. WIEMINKA B WESLEY NEWLANDS WESLANDS FARMS: 0/4/40.813
7. RIVER DANCE SEMILLY PAUL O’SHEA GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES LLC: 0/4/41.054
8. ADLANTEUR HENRIK GUNDERSEN HENRIK GUNDERSEN: 0/4/42.478
9. BARANUS IAN MILLAR THE BARANUS GROUP: 0/4/43.063
10. HOOLIE HOO IAN MILLAR C.F. FARMS: 0/8/49.357
11. UNTOUCHABLE ALMA BJORKLUND ALMA BJORKLUND: 1/85.059
12. WASHINGTON SQUARE GEORGINA BLOOMBERG GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES LLC: 1/85.172
Jumper Highlights
ESP’s spring circuit kicked off its jumper competition with a $10,000 Open Jumper Stake Class with a win for Chris Ewanouski and Carlos 455. The class saw 51 entries with 24 advancing to the jump-off and 14 double clear rounds. Ewanouski and Rosiano Farm’s Carlos 455 had the fastest time of 34.06 seconds for the win. Emanuel Andrade and Hollow Creek Farm’s Casino finished second in 34.17 seconds. Diego Javier Vivero Viteri and Arturo Roman’s Bandurria Hulmen placed third in 34.35 seconds.
A special FEI Group IV Caribbean Challenge was also held, hosting three competitions over the weekend with a speed class, classic, and final championship. In Saturday’s final, Victoria Craig and Bellalina were the winners, with Erika Jakobson and Barn Rat LLC’s Chocolatier in second, and Tanner Korotkin and Rocketman in third.
Victoria Craig and Bellalina
Hayley Iannotti and Carriage Hill Farm’s Quasa Granda won Thursday’s Classic over Thea Millward and Fernando Prado’s Partner in Crime in second, and Marissa Tomassetti and Equus Show Horse’s Conquistador II in third.
Victoria Craig and Bellalina also won Wednesday’s warm-up speed competition. Sara Misir and Bruce Eckert’s Yucatan finished second, and Emma Whillans placed third with Whillan’s Equine Inc.’s Delfine 3.
Victoria Craig and Bellalina in their winning presentation
FEI Group IV Caribbean Challenge Top 12
Also showing at PBIEC this week, Blythe Masters and SR Doctro won the $1,500 Tackeria NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic with Diego Morales and Golden Creek Farm LLC’s Valentino in second and Britta Lippert and Velazquez Z in third.
In the $2,500 Gold Coast Feed High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Bowers Cone and VIP Quality Royale came out on top, with Sarah Bagworth and Apple in second, and Robert Jornayvaz IV and Like a Dream in third.
In the $2,500 Equiline NAL Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, Harrison Shure and Count on Me 5 were the winners, with Gustavo Amorim and Zafarin in second, and Richard Neal with Wipala in third.
In the $1,500 Low Children’s Jumper Classic, Annabella Sanchez and Katherine Strauss LLC’s Caretino topped the class, with Anderson F. Wagner and Thunderball in second, and Alexandra Peilet and Back Country Farm’s Justice League in third.
The $1,500 2kGrey M&S Children’s Jumper Classic was also held with a win for Katherine Johnson and Olivia d’Errico’s Belle. Madison Walder and Blue Moon finished second. Bobby Kraut and the Freedom Group’s Calimero XXVI placed third.
In the $1,500 2kGrey M&S Adult Jumper Classic, Velazquez Z and Britta Lippert topped the class with Equine Couture’s Stainless and Laurie Sharma in second, and Angelique and Sophie Sacagiu in third. The $1,500 Low Adult Jumper Classic saw a win for Gareth Evans and Oakland Ventures LLC’s Stoerlee.
Hunters and Equitation
The hunters and equitation were still in full swing during the first week of ESP Spring competition, and featured a fantastic line-up of competitors throughout the week. In the Adult Amateur Working Hunters, Jacob Pope rode Zorroco to the division championship with Kelly Bauernschmidt and Lochmooor Stables’ Spyglass in reserve.
In the Equine Conditioning Center Amateur-Owner 3’3 and 3’6” division, Lisa Foster and Born Free Farm’s Castleguard took the championship with Cindy Cruciotti and Nicole Lyvere’s Promo in reserve.
Michael Zukerman dominated the First Year Green/High Performance Working Hunter division, taking the championship with Patricia Adikes-Hill’s Denmark and earning reserve honors with Nicole Privitera’s Koala.
In the Junior Hunter 3’3” division, Hayley Iannotti swept the division with a championship win aboard Pumpkin’s Patch Farm LLCi’s Vermeer, and taking reserve honors with Palm Ponies LLC’s KK. The #1 Education Place Junior Hunter 3’6” division was won by Martha Ingram with John and Stephanie Ingram LLC’s Cayero, with Piper Benjamin and Corvine in reserve.
In the Large Pony Hunters, Emma Kurtz and Lauren Watts’ Ante Up earned the championship with
Alexandra Pielet and Back Country Farm’s Love and Logic in reserve. In the Medium Pony Hunters, Zayna Rizvi and Peacock Ridge LLC’s Roxbury took championship honors with Kurtz and Lonesome Dove’s Good Hearted Woman in reserve. The Small Pony Hunter championship had a tie between Mia Green’s GF Forget Me Not with Alexandra Pielet and Francesca Calamari with Sophia Calamari’s Empire’s Paris. Kate Taylor and Quicksilver Butterfly finished in reserve.
In the $500 Charles Moorcroft Inc. Small Pony Hunter Classic, GF Forget Me Not and Alexandra Pielet were the winners with Kate Taylor and Quicksilver Butterfly in second. The $500 Charles Moorcroft Inc. Medium/Large Pony Hunter Classic saw a win for Bernadette Louise Chungunco and Kimberly Stewart’s Topeka King. Chungunco also finished second with Samantha Kasowitz’s Storyteller. Zayna Rizvi and Roxbury placed third.
In the equitation, Emma Kurtz and Scott Stewart’s VIP Z won the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal, sponsored by Randolph College, Hayley Iannotti and Carriage Hill Farm’s Quasa Granda were the winners of the ASPCA Maclay class, and Vivian Yowan and Saddleridge LLC’s Crackerjack topped the WIHS Equitation Classic Overall. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Photo Credit: Photos © Mancini Photos, www.manciniphotos.com. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.