Wellington, FL – April 3, 2010 – The final Suncast 1.50m Classic was held this afternoon in the International Arena. With $20,000 in prize money, a strong field came out to contest. The fastest in the jump-off for the win was Shane Sweetnam (IRL) on Little Emir, owned by Spy Coast Farms LLC. Schuyler Riley (USA) and Navalo de Poheton, owned by Wolfstone Stables, finished second, while Georgina Bloomberg and Gotham Enterprizes’ Metropolitan were third. Over at The Stadium, two classes were held on the grass field for the Modified Adult Amateur Jumpers and the Masters Jumpers.

The twelfth week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Lifestyle Lift® and runs through Sunday, April 4, 2010. 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.

Anthony D’Ambrosio designed today’s course for the 1.50m Classic for a field of 34 starters. There were 13 clear to advance to the jump-off, which provided an ever-quickening pace.

I think it was a nice course, built to 1.50m and straightforward enough. I think that’s the right thing. By the end of the circuit, it’s the right thing to do to give some people a chance to step up with their horses,” Sweetnam explained. “There are some people gone now, so that people can go into a class like this, be competitive, and teach their horses something. I thought it was built just right. In the second round, you needed a good bit of rideability with the turn back to the wall and the combination. I think it was an ideal first round. Anthony is a clever guy. He’ll build it nice so you can step up.”

The course provided just that, with experienced horses on young or new horses, and less experienced riders moving up into the jump-off class, like junior rider Nellie Foosaner, who finished double clear with Iveena S to finish fifth.

The early leader in the jump-off was Sarah Segal on Holiday, who set the pace with a clear round in 44.219 seconds. Schuyler Riley took over the lead on Navalo de Poheton when she streaked around the course and down the last line to stop the timers in 43.490 seconds with a clear round.

Sweetnam and Little Emir were efficient through the course, made great turns throughout and able to finish the course three seconds faster for the win in 40.371 seconds. Going last in the class, Georgina Bloomberg and Metropolitan were clear in 44.209 seconds for third place.

It was a very good win. He’s been good all circuit,” Sweetnam said. “I know him very well. I’ve had him for four years and he’s always been a real tryer. You can always depend on him. He just felt great today. He was super in the first round and even better in the jump-off.”

Of Little Emir’s unique form, Sweetnam noted, “He’s got a different style; he doesn’t have a classical style. He doesn’t break through his neck in the air. But, he gets his legs out of the way. He wants to jump clear, and he’s got a good bit of scope. I’ve World Cups, and Nations Cups, and Sundays and gotten ribbons with him. He’s very dependable. That’s his style, but he wants to jump. That’s the most important thing.”

Out on the derby field at The Stadium today, two jumper divisions had the opportunity to show in a different venue. D’Ambrosio also designed the courses for the classes on the field. The Modified Adult Jumpers went first with their speed round on the grass field. Riding fastest with a clear round was Madeline Cox on Kix, who finished in 67.569 for first place. Sarah Becker and B&B Saddlery’s Church Road were second in 67.994 seconds, while Alicia Gamboa and Kyu, owned by WCEC LLC, were third in 69.953 seconds.

Cox, of Pennington, NJ, has owned Kix, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding, for four years. They usually show in the Medium and High Amateur Jumpers, but after a fall six weeks ago, Cox is just getting back into the show ring. It was a pleasant surprise that she was able to compete on the grass field at The Stadium in the Modified Adult Jumpers.

Going out on field was awesome. It was really fun,” she remarked. “My horse was a little rambunctious because he hasn’t been jumping a lot. He had a ball and it was fun to feel him listening to me and turning well. It was a good change of scenery for the horses and awesome to get a chance to show out there.”

Cox said of the course, “I thought the course was good. A lot of the lines were off your eye and you had to hold them together through the turns in a galloping pace. It was a little technical, having to go inside the brush and around the water.”

It was a satisfying for Cox to come back to competition and do well. She said, “Coming from the fall that I had, I just wanted to go around, but my horse was so game. It was a good group of competitors out there. I was very thrilled to win.”

In the $1,500 Masters Jumper Time First Round class, 11 competitors came out to show on the field. Going around fastest on the course was Elizabeth Clark Lamotte on her horse Katherine. They were clear in 67.582 seconds for the win. John Tredennick rode Trueman’s Affair to second place in 67.834 seconds, while Marcelo Suarez and Forever Lola were third in 71.332 seconds.

Lamotte, from West Grove, PA, trains with Kevin Babington, who found Katherine, a seven-year-old mare, from Germany. This is their second season showing together, but Lamotte was not worried about showing out on the field. “We do a lot of cross country where we live, so something like this she’s very at home. I ride on grass all the time, and she showed once in Lake Placid on the grass,” Lamotte explained.

She’s young and we’re bringing her along. I always want to go higher, but my trainer would like me not to,” she laughed. “I’m hoping she’ll move up to the Low Amateurs at some time.”

Lamotte was excited about the possibilities that the Masters division can do for the sport at the FTI WEF. “I’ve been working with the Masters riders. We’re working to try and start something called the Masters Grant, which is for Young Riders who have Olympic potential. We’re trying to put a grant together that they will apply for, to give them a boost. Whether it’s showing in Europe, or whatever their needs are,” she said. “It will give them a helping hand for when riders are done with the Young Riders and don’t have any program to go into. We want to give back to them. This was a bit of a test run to see how we would do out here, and to see if we can do a fundraiser here next year.”

She said of the course, “It was a lovely course. It was very fair, and maybe next year we can do natural obstacles. It was a very special day.”

Tomorrow’s schedule features the $20,000 WEF Young Jumper Finals for Five Year Olds, Six Year Olds, and Seven/Eight Year Olds will take place in the International Arena. The competition wraps up the 12 week circuit for the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

Final Results: $20,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic
1. LITTLE EMIR, SHANE SWEETNAM, SPY COAST FARM LLC: 0/0/40.471
2. NAVALO DE POHETON, SCHUYLER RILEY, WOLFSTONE STABLES: 0/0/43.490
3. METROPOLITAN, GEORGINA BLOOMBERG, GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES: 0/0/44.209
4. HOLIDAY, SARAH SEGAL, ROBERT SEGAL: 0/0/44.219
5. IVEENA S, NELLIE FOOSANER, NELLIE FOOSANER: 0/0/47.044
6. CORAL REEF VIA VOLO, BEEZIE MADDEN, CORAL REEF FARM: 0/4/41.461
7. URBI FRAVENCA, LAURA BELMONT, CHARLES DE GUNZBERG: 0/4/42.395
8. DRYDEN, IAN MILLAR, ARIEL AND SUSAN GRANGE: 0/4/42.404
9. MADEMOISELLE, BEEZIE MADDEN, ABIGAIL WEXNER: 0/4/42.602
10. LISONA, DARRAGH KERINS, KEVIN BABINGTON: 0/4/47.287
11. CALDAM D’ OR, TIFFANY CORNACCHIO-MORRISSEY, SCNC INVESTMENTS: 0/4/49.436
12. KASOAR D’UXELLES, LAURA TEODORI, L&M VENTURES LLC: 0/8/44.079

Final Results: $1,500 Modified Adult Amateur Jumper Time First Round
1. KIX, MADELINE COX, MADELINE COX: 0/67.569
2. CHURCH ROAD, SARAH BECKER, SARAH BECKER & B & B SADDLERY: 0/67.994 3. KYU, ALICIA GAMBOA, WCEC LLC: 0/69.953
4. DIAMOND ROCK, JILL PAMICAS, SANDRA HERMAN: 0/73.450
5. PURPLE RAIN, MAGGIE FIORE, BILLINGTON LLC: 0/74.908
6. VAPANITA, ANNA BLUMENFELD, ANNA B FARMS: 0/78.396
7. ORVAL DU HOUSSOIT, LISA MC GUIGAN, LISA MC GUIGAN: 4/67.092
8. BREITLING, LISA MC GUIGAN, BLYTHE MASTERS: 4/70.237
9. KAHLUA, SARAH BECKER, SARAH BECKER: 4/70.556
10. CAMIRO Z, HALLIE BUTTENWIESER, JIMMY TORANO: 4/71.722
11. CARNITO, HERB SAMBOL, HERB SAMBOL: 4/73.060
12. SHADWELL, KATIE DELAPORTE, KATIE DELAPORTE: 4/75.486

Final Results: $1,500 Masters Jumper Time First Round
1. KATHARINE, ELIZABETH CLARK LAMOTTE, ELIZABETH CLARK LAMOTTE: 0/67.582 2. TRUEMAN’S AFFAIR, JOHN TREDENNICK, M/M JOHN TREDENNICK & WOOD RUN FARM: 0/67.834
3. FOREVER LOLA, MARCELO SUAREZ, MARCELO SUAREZ: 0/71.332
4. VAINQUER, LUCY MITCHELL-INNES, MONTOGA INC.: 0/72.758
5. ISLAND COWBOY, JULIE GARRISON, JULIE GARRISON: 0/74.580
6. LORDICA, LEA ALLEN, LEA ALLEN: 0/75.892
7. BRAVEHEART, ELIZABETH CLARK LAMOTTE, ELIZABETH CLARK LAMOTTE: 4/70.666
8. NATHAN, NATALIE NICODEMA, JACQUELYN VENTORINO: 4/81.576
9. PIM, GEOFFREY SUTTON, GEOFFREY SUTTON: 4/85.490
10. PREGO, LUCY MITCHELL-INNES, COMFORTSIDE FARM: 8/71.672
11. MR. NIGHTIME, DONALD LITTLE, DONALD LITTLE: 20/97.828

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.