For Immediate Release
Summer Grace and Amanda Picciotto Feitosa for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL – February 23, 2022 – International jumper and national hunter, jumper, and equitation competition debuted Wednesday for the start of the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) week 7, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds. The seventh week features FEI-rated five-star and two-star competition and will highlight the $406,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5* during “Saturday Night Lights” on February 26. On Wednesday, February 23, the highlight class was the $37,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI5*. Speed class specialists McLain Ward (USA) and Catoki claimed the victory in the class.
Anthony D’Ambrosio’s (USA) track had 57 combinations contest the two-phase course. Representatives from 15 different countries made up the field during one of the series’ top weeks. By the halfway mark of the class, Ward and Catoki resided in the top position having cleared both phases clean with a blazing time of 32.26 seconds.
Ward and the 13-year-old Westphalian gelding (Catoki x Caretello B), owned by Marilla Van Beuren, Bob Russell, and McLain Ward, are no strangers to a victory gallop at WEF having had top placings already this season including a win in the $75,000 Rosenbaum PLLC Grand Prix during WEF 1.
“This is really Catoki’s job and what he excels at is these five-star speed and ranking classes,” explained Ward. “He is naturally so fast that you don’t have to do anything extreme which automatically gives you better odds.”
“I thought the course was friendly today,” continued Ward. “It was a bit short, which is never a bad thing for my horse. You can see these classes are super competitive right now, and the level of quality competition here is very high. You have to do everything you can and hope you come out on top.”
The speedy combination of Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and Dirka de Blondel fell just short of Ward’s leading time but put in a valiant effort with a time of 32.34 seconds. He and the Poden Farms’s nine-year-old Selle Francais mare (Very Berlin de Castel x Lautterbach) took the second-place position ahead of Australia’s Katie Laurie. Laurie and Eadaoin Collin’s 14-year-old Australian Warmblood Cera Caruso (Casall x Capone) were the third and final combination to stop the clock under 33 seconds but added just a touch more time on the clock in 32.52 seconds.
Earlier in the day, Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Oakland Ventures LLC Gouvernante VDL captured the win in the $1,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m CSI5* out of 47 entries.
Final Results: $37,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI5*
1. CATOKI: 2009 Westphalian gelding by Catoki x Caretello B
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Marilla Van Beuren, Bob Russell, and McLain Ward: 0/0/32.26
2. DIRKA DE BLONDEL: 2013 Selle Francais mare by Very Berlin de Castel x Lautterbach
LORENZO DE LUCA (ITA), Poden Farms: 0/0/32.34
3. CERA CARUSO: 2008 Australian Warmblood horse by Casall x Capone
KATIE LAURIE (AUS), Eadaoin Collins: 0/0/32.52
4. HOCUS POCUS VAN DE LUCASHOEVE: 2007 BWP gelding by Chin Chin x Acord II
ABDEL SAID (BEL), Abdel Said: 0/0/33.40
5. BALLYOSKILL BIG BUCKS: 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Royal Concorde
JORDAN COYLE (IRL), Elan Farm: 0/0/33.79
6. BOSTON ASK: 2008 Hannoverian gelding by Berlin x Quidam de Revel
JORDAN COYLE (IRL), Elan Farm: 0/0/34.06
7. NITHARD VAN DE PEERDENHOEVE: 2013 BWP gelding by Zirocco blue VDL x Corland
PETRONELLA ANDERSSON (SWE), Stephex Stables: 0/0/34.97
8. MYLORD MARLEY: 2012 Holsteiner gelding by Mylord Carthago*hn x Clarimo
EOIN MCMAHON (IRL), Beerbaum Stables: 0/0/35.11
9. NESPRESSO VAN’T LAEKHOF: 2013 BWP gelding by Cicero Z x Grandeur
NATALIE DEAN (USA), Marigold Sporthorses, LLC: 0/0/35.34
10. SEXY BEAST: 2013 OS mare by Cabachon x Stakkato
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Eye Candy Jumpers: 0/0/35.45
11. QUILIMBO: 2009 Holsteiner stallion by Quidam de Revel x Limbus
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), E2 Show Jumpers: 0/0/36.69
12. NANINI VAN D’ABELDREEF: 2013 BWP mare by Kannan x Heartbreaker
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Ilan Ferder and Esperanza Imports LLC: 0/0/37.12
John Perez and Gigi-Carmen Lead From Start to Finish in $6,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic 1.40m CSI2*
International show jumping was hot from the beginning on Wednesday’s opening day of competition for week 7 of WEF, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds. John Perez (COL) was the first in the ring with Gigi-Carmen for the power-and-speed format $6,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic 1.40m CSI2* class designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA). They forced the rest of the field to unsuccessfully chase their blazing time of 30.13 seconds to ultimately run away with the win.
Perez and Gigi-Carmen were actually 30th on the original start list but requested to move up to the first position in the order. It was a plan that was particularly important since it was the mare’s first time competing in the International Arena after having only jumped classes in the DeNemethy Arena and the Mogavero Arena.
“I try to always go first in the ring, because she’s a little bit nervous in the warm-up. If the stewards allow me to go first, that’s always the best for her,” explained Perez. “For her to see this ring for the first time, I didn’t know what was going to happen, but she was really relaxed. I can trust her a lot better now, and every time more and more.”
Perez was able to utilize Gigi-Carmen’s natural way of going to execute their speedy clear effort.
“She’s quick anyway and normally goes best in that pace, so whatever turns I ask her to do, she does very fast. It went well today,” he said.
Gigi-Carmen, an 11-year-old KWPN mare by Bacardi VDL x Oklund owned by Antonio Chedraui, is a fairly new partner for Perez, who just picked up the ride about three months ago. From their short time together, Perez is already thrilled.
When asked what is most impressive about his new mount he expressed, “The quality! The quality is not normal. It’s unbelievable. Unbelievable! For her to touch a rail is almost impossible, so I’m very excited about the horse.”
Perez is looking ahead with Gigi-Carmen to the $37,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix Qualifier CSI2* on Friday, February 25, in hopes of contesting the $50,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix CSI2* on Sunday, February 27. After that, they will see what their schedule develops into.
“For sure I think she can jump whatever I ask. I think she is a top, top horse. I just have to take my time and get to know her a little better,” concluded Perez.
Competition continues tomorrow with the $6,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic 1.45m CSI2* speed class, followed by the $75,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Round 7 CSI5*. In the Rost Arena, the TRM Green Hunter 3’ division concludes with the awarding of the championship title.
Final Results: $6,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic 1.40m CSI2*
1. GIGI-CARMEN: 2011 KWPN mare by Bacardi VDL x Oklund
JOHN PEREZ (COL), Antonio Chedraui: 0/0/30.13
2. GABROVO: 2012 Hanoverian gelding by Grey Top x Graf Sponeck
ROBERTO TERAN TAFUR (COL), Susan van Lammers: 0/0/30.16
3. VALENTINO V Z: 2009 Zangersheide stallion by Verdi TN x Converter
MARIA COSTA (USA), Maria Costa: 0/0/31.13
4. NICKEL DE LA ROQUE: 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Elvis ter Putte x Kannan*GFE
MARIE HECART (FRA), Normandie Connection: 0/0/31.40
5. MA POMME DE TAMERVILLE: 2012 Belgian Warmblood mare by Deauville van T L x Contendro II
ANNA WILKS (CAN), IN Showjumpers: 0/0/32.03
6. DAWSONS FLEX: 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Flex A Bill x Kildalton Gold
MATIAS LAROCCA (ARG), Matias Larocca: 0/0/32.20
7. MISS MILLY MANOU: 2012 Oldenburg mare by Mylord Carthango*HN x Alexis Z
ANNA DRYDEN (USA), Double Meadows Farm LLC: 0/0/32.39
8. ARIANA: 2011 KWPN mare by Cantos x Tolan R
LORCAN GALLAGHER (IRL), HKC Collection LLC: 0/0/33.33
9. BACCARAT DU TERTRE: 2011 Selle Français mare by Putch des Isles x Indoctro
KAREN POLLE (JPN), Karen Polle: 0/0/33.42
10. CHATOU 7: 2009 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco-Blue x Toulon
NICOLETTE HIRT (USA), Iron Horse Equestrian: 0/0/33.50
11. SANTA ROSA YALTA: 2012 Mexican Sport Horse mare
DANIEL PEDRAZA LITTLEWOOD (MEX), Daniel Pedraza Littlewood: 0/0/34.09
12. NAZARINE VD AXELHOEVE: 2013 Belgian Warmblood mare by Emerald van ‘t Ruytershof x Chellano Z
SABINE COOPER (USA), Sabine Cooper: 0/0/34.44