Wellington, FL – March 28, 2010 – McLain Ward (USA) on his own Oh’ D Eole made it a hat trick this week with his victory in today’s $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic. Ward also won the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 on Thursday with Rothchild and the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* with Sapphire last night. It was a great week of victories for the double Olympic gold medalist from Brewster, NY.
The second place honors went to Will Simpson (USA) on Archie Bunker, owned by Linda Smith. The third place victory was awarded to Federico Sztyrle (ARG) and Asgard 17 owned by The Estate of Christian Wolffer.
The eleventh week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by FTI and concluded today. 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.
Conrad Homfeld of Wellington, FL, designed the course in the International Arena with 13 numbered obstacles in the first round. The track included many technical lines, a careful gate vertical, a solid wall obstacle, and a triple combination at the very end of the course. The time allowed in the first round was 80 seconds. A field of 45 competitors came out to compete on this Sunday, but 11 horse and rider pairs successfully navigated the technical first round course and advanced to the short course.
The jump-off consisted of seven obstacles and the time allowed was 48 seconds. There were opportunities to make up time on turns and leave out strides in lines. The first of the competitors to return to the short course and set the early pace was Alexander Hufenstuhl (GER) up on Lacapo 4, owned by Sabina Illbruck. The pair whisked through the timers in 42.459 seconds. This round would assume the automatic lead, but the pair would finish in the fourth place position after honors were awarded.
It wasn’t long before the lead changed hands when Will Simpson entered the ring on Archie Bunker. The duo posted a very fast time in 41.446 seconds. This would be the new time to beat, but the two would finish up in a very respectable second place position.
McLain Ward followed on his own Oh’ D Eole. The pair flawlessly dominated the short course and jumped straight into the lead after blazing through the timers in 40.214 seconds. Despite going early in the jump-off, this would be the victorious round in today’s class after all of the challengers competed.
Federico Sztyrle and his horse Asgard 17, owned by the estate of Christian Wolffer, were the next of the competitors to post a clean round. After passing through the timers in 42.335 seconds, the pair would be awarded the third place victory.
The very last horse and rider combination was Holger Hetzel (GER) up on his very own Lanzarote. After a faultless round and a time of 43.125 seconds, the round was not quite fast enough to claim the top spot. Hetzel and his mount finished up in the fifth place spot.
Ward was delighted with his horse today. “She is an eight-year-old mare that we have owned in partnership with a Belgian gentleman for just under a year. We purchased her right around this time last year,” he said. “We have been bringing her around slowly. She has done very well in the 1.45m classes and this is her first 1.50 class.”
Ward spoke of his efficient round in the short course, “The mare doesn’t have a ton of experience going fast, but she is an incredibly talented horse. She has a nice big stride and she responded beautifully to everything.”
Ward was quick to thank the group behind him for his incredible week. “It’s been a great week; I wish they were always like this. We always have a plan and I have a great team of people around me,” he expressed. “Everyone does 110% and we have great horses and great owners, which makes my job much easier. We had a plan through the circuit and sometimes you get lucky and it all comes together.”
The final week of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival will run from March 31-April 4, 2010. For full results and more information, please visit www.shownet.biz or www.equestriansport.com.
Final Results: $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic
1.OH’ D EOLE, MCLAIN WARD, MCLAIN WARD: 0/0/40.214
2. ARCHIE BUNKER, WILLIAM SIMPSON, LINDA SMITH: 0/0/41.446
3. ASGARD 17, FEDERICO SZTYRLE, ESTATE OF CHRISTIAN WOLFFER: 0/0/42.335
4. LACAPO 4, ALEXANDER HUFENSTUHL, SABINA ILLBRUCK: 0/0/42.459
5. LANZAROTE, HOLGER HETZEL, HOLGER HETZEL: 0/0/43.125
6. CIM CHRISTO, GEORGINA BLOOMBER, GOTHAM ENTERPRISES: 0/1/47.344
7. G&C NAPOLEAN, PABLO BARRIOS, GUSTAVO & CAROLINA MIRABAL: 0/4/39.569
8. URBI FRAVENCA, LAURA BELMONT, CHARLES DE GUNZBURG: 0/4/42.622
9. CANECKO Z, ALISE OKEN, HI HOPES FARM LLC: 0/4/43.231
10. CALVIE, LUCIANA DINIZ, EDOUARD DE ROTHSCHILD: 0/4/43.773
11. LIRVING DU VOLSIN, KATE LEVY, KATE LEVY LLC & CHRISTIAN WOSCHENKO: 0/12/37.587
12. VDL AL CANTINO, EMILIE MARTINSEN, EMILIE MARTINSEN: 1/80.739
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.