Alexander Zetterman and Cafino Win
$34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
For Immediate Release
Laura Cardon and Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL – February 15, 2014 – World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition peaked on Saturday evening under the lights of the International Arena at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. The country’s top professional, amateur, and junior hunter riders went head-to-head to earn top call in the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular.
Hunter horses and riders have been showcased throughout week six of the FTI WEF in WCHR competition. Riders qualified for the class during competition for their respective divisions throughout the week.
Sixteen-year-old Victoria Colvin topped the class for the third year in a row with champion mount Ovation, who she rode to the 2013 title as well. Ovation, a 14-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, won the class with a score of 89.66 with Colvin in the irons. Not only did Colvin clinch her third title in the Hunter Spectacular, she took the top two spots. She rode Way Cool (the 2012 WCHR Hunter Spectacular winner), a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding also owned by Dr. Parker, to second place with a score of 89.16.
Victoria Colvin and Ovation
Kelley Farmer and Certainty, owned by Glefke & Kensel LLC, were next best, taking third place with an 87.50. Peter Pletcher and Empire, owned by David Gochman, rounded out the top four after also finishing with an 87.50.
Colvin had the disadvantage of going first out of the 29 entries for the class and did her best to lay down a round with a score that would hold up. She was happy with an 89, but she admitted she never thought it would stick. “I thought the first [round], [the judges] wouldn’t give too high of a score. I thought 89 is a good score, but it’s also very beatable,” Colvin acknowledged.
Colvin returned mid-way through the order with her second mount Way Cool, the gelding she rode to victory in the 2012 Hunter Spectacular that can have a penchant for untimely misbehavior. She admitted she was unsure how either mount would act under the lights of the International Arena, but went into the ring determined to best her score with Ovation.
“I picked horses that are unpredictable, and I didn’t really know how they were going to go when they walked in, but I was very happy with how both of them went. Way Cool, I wasn’t sure when I trotted in what he was going to do, but he went right around. He was a little freaked out at the people, but he went right around,” Colvin remarked.
Victoria Colvin and Way Cool
She explained, “They’re both a bit spooky, but they’re old souls in a way. The night, the people, it’s just a big class for both of those horses to do.”
With two “byes” for the class thanks to previous wins, Colvin could have had her pick of horses to take in the ring for the class, but she settled on Ovation and Way Cool based on their good behavior earlier in the day during the Junior Hunter divisions. Dr. Parker admitted that she didn’t want either of the horses to go in the class, but was ultimately happy that Colvin remained the voice of reason.
“I kind of love the way our team works because we have a lot of back and forth between us, (trainer) Scott (Stewart) and I, and Tori and her mother. Nobody seems to have the primary voice. And tonight I really didn’t want Tori to ride either of those horses, and I’m so glad the team didn’t listen to me!” Dr. Parker laughed.
Victoria Colvin and Ovation in their winning presentation.
While many successful riders her age are all too eager to leave the hunter divisions behind for the thrills of the jumper ring, Colvin still campaigns multiple hunter mounts. Colvin admitted that with horses like Dr. Parker’s, she’s in no rush to transition out of the hunter divisions. “I do really like the jumpers and the jumpers are really fun, but I have so many nice hunters, and these classes I love, so I think that I will continue to do these classes,” Colvin expressed.
Colvin’s piece of the $100,000 prize will be donated to Danny & Ron’s Rescue, a cause that is near and dear to Dr. Parker’s philanthropist heart. With the prize money doubled this year for the Hunter Spectacular, Parker was especially thrilled to be able to share the wealth, especially after having doubts whether Colvin could pick up a third victory.
“I was really excited tonight to win the Hunter Spectacular for the [third] time because first of all, I told my team members, I don’t believe lightning strikes [three] times in the same spot, so I was wrong. I was thrilled to be wrong tonight!” Dr. Parker smiled. “It’s important to find a good cause to get behind and bring it forward, like Danny and Ron have been brought forward. I was really thrilled for that.”
Like Colvin, Farmer also had her pick of a barn packed with talent. She ultimately chose one of her greener mounts; Certainty hasn’t even turned six yet. The Oldenburg gelding has been brave and scopey ever since Farmer first swung her leg over him last summer, so she had no doubts he would rise to the occasion on Saturday evening.
Kelley Farmer and Certainty
“From the first day we got him, he has been just as brave as can be,” Farmer beamed. “I was pretty confident with him. With one that young and that green anything can go wrong, but I knew that he wasn’t going to come in here and have a meltdown. He was great this week both days. He’s got that mentality; he thinks he’s too good. The only thing we did wrong was let Tori show up!”
Pletcher was happy to be mounted on a more experienced horse. Empire, an 11-year-old Warmblood stallion, is regularly seen in the Amateur-Owner Hunters with owner Becky Gochman and Pletcher contested the Hunter Spectacular with him in 2013.
“There’s nothing better to ride than a good amateur horse. You take away a lot of the pressure to know that horse is going to go around like he’s going to go around. He went super, I couldn’t be any happier with the way he went. I thought that was as good as he’s gonna be, so I was very happy,” Pletcher commented.
Peter Pletcher and Empire
Pletcher was also pleased with how the course rode, feeling that course designer Steve Stephens produced a very fair course for Saturday night’s field of horses and riders. With junior and amateur riders and horses with a wide range of experience, Stephens had to build a course that everyone could handle, yet was also still a challenge.
“I thought it was a good course. It wasn’t really hard in any aspect one way or the other. Steve is a very good course designer for sure, and he knew the group of horses that were coming into this class, and he did the course perfectly for it,” Pletcher described.
Full Results $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular
Horse Rider Owner J1 J2 J3 Final
1 OVATION VICTORIA COLVIN DR. BETSEE PARKER 91.00 89.00 89.00 89.66
2 WAY COOL VICTORIA COLVIN DR. BETSEE PARKER 92.00 92.00 83.55 89.18
3 CERTAINTY KELLEY FARMER GLEFKE & KENSEL LLC 88.00 86.50 88.00 87.50
4 EMPIRE PETER PLETCHER DAVID GOCHMAN 86.50 87.50 88.50 87.50
5 WALK THIS WAY CHRISTOPHER PAYNE SUSAN MORICONI 87.00 88.00 86.50 87.16
6 KENNZO MOLLY ASHE-CAWLEY KRISTEN ABBATIELLO-NEFF 86.75 86.25 88.25 87.08
7 LUCKY TIMES MEREDITH DARST OLD WILLOW FARMS LLC 85.00 87.00 87.00 86.33
8 GRAYON LILLIE KEENAN JAY GOULDING 85.50 86.00 84.00 85.16
9 TIFFANI LILLI HYMOWITZ ROSE HILL FARM 84.00 85.00 85.00 84.66
10 SOULJA BOY LILLIE KEENAN STONE HORSE FARM LLC 82.00 82.00 83.00 82.33
11 COME MONDAY TARA METZNER DAVLYN FARMS INC 86.00 78.00 82.00 82.00
12 FONTEYN HAYLEY BARNHILL JOHN & STEPHANIE INGRAM LLC 80.00 80.00 84.50 81.50
Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” Divisions Award Top Honors Saturday Morning
The Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” division champions had the shortest turn-around to Saturday night’s competition after only qualifying earlier in the day. First to take on the International Arena on Saturday morning was the Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division, presented by Greenspoon Marder Law. Tiffani and owner-rider Lilli Hymowitz took home the tricolor honors for the division. The pair won two over fences rounds before finishing third in the final jumping class to clinch the title. Reserve champion went to Imagine, owned and ridden by Jake Wasson. Wasson piloted Imagine to seventh under saddle and fourth, second, and first over fences.
Lilli Hymowitz and Tiffani
The Equestrian Sotheby’s Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division was topped by Akinda and owner-rider Victoria Press. Akinda was first under saddle and eighth, second, and first over fences with Press in the irons. The reserve champion for the division was Crystal Clear, owned and ridden by Coco Fath. Fath piloted Crystal Clear to sixth under saddle and sixth, first, and second over fences.
Victoria Press and Akinda
Next to award championship honors was the Bainbridge Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 division. Lexi Maounis and her own Sienna conquered the division after placing second, first, and first over fences. The reserve champion for the division was Zoom, owned and ridden by Laura Sexton. The pair were first and second over fences and third under saddle.
Lexi Maounis and Sienna
Lyn Pedersen and Silhouette were champions of the Hunt Ltd Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 division. Silhouette and Pederson were first, fourth, and third over fences and eighth under saddle. Behind Silhouette by only one point was Amarillo, who was ultimately reserve champion with Katie Jacobs-Robinson. Jacobs-Robinson rode Amarillo to fifth under saddle and first and third over fences.
Lyn Pedersen and Silhouette
It was a battle of the sport’s top teen superstars for the Antarés Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division. Lillie Keenan edged out Colvin for the division championship. Keenan piloted Grayon to top call for the division after placing fifth, third, and third over fences and second under saddle. The pair were presented with the Toad Hall Perpetual Trophy, donated by Missy Apmann, for their victory. Colvin and long-time partner Way Cool were reserve champions for the division, winning two over fences classes.
Lillie Keenan and Grayon
Colvin didn’t stay out of the winner’s circle for long; she was champion and reserve champion of the EnTrust Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division. Colvin topped the division with Canadian Blue. The pair won two over fences classes and placed second in another to earn the championship title. Colvin and Canadian Blue were presented with the Awesome Perpetual Trophy, donated by Patricia Tanner, for their winning effort and were also crowned Grand Junior Hunter Champion for the weekend. Colvin piloted Ovation to the blue ribbon under saddle and finished third in two over fences classes.
Victoria Colvin and Canadian Blue
Alexander Zetterman and Cafino Win $34,000 Suncast ®1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
Saturday’s competition at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) featured a $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, held on the beautiful derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), with a win for 24-year-old Alexander Zetterman (SWE) aboard Cafino. Twenty-eight entries showed over the Richard Jeffery (GBR) designed course with five clear rounds to jump-off. Zetterman and Cafino were first to go in the jump-off and set an unbeatable pace with their double clear round in 46.34 seconds.
Alexander Zetterman and Cafino
Kevin Babington (IRL) and Mark Q were the only other pair to clear the short course without fault and finished second in 48.27 seconds. Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) was clear over the course, but incurred two time faults in 51.14 seconds aboard Mike Collins’ Zoe II, to place third. Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and S&L Slingback had four faults in 49.65 seconds to finish fourth, while Abigail McArdle guided David McArdle’s Cade de Guldenboom to fifth place honors with four faults in 49.85 seconds.
Cafino, a 2003 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Cardento 933 x Roderik 856), is still a relatively new mount for Zetterman since the partnership first formed in September. The duo won the $25,000 Equestrian Sport Productions Holiday I Grand Prix in one of their first classes together in December and has since earned many top placings in the first half of FTI WEF competition.
The pair finished fourth in week two’s $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2*, placed fifth in week three’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 Section B, and also placed fifth in week three’s $125,000 Fidelity investments® Grand Prix CSI 3*.
“Obviously the partnership has developed more and more,” Zetterman stated after his win on Saturday. “It has taken a bit of time, but when you really want to get to know them at the top level, you have to work on all of the small details and those parts are falling into place more and more.
“I still have had a lot of success,” Zetterman noted. “He had his first fence down in a very long time last night, but I think my rounds are smoother now. I feel better with him. Even if I have had success, I still feel that I can ride him even smoother, and he has been jumping even better.”
Saturday was Cafino’s first time jumping on the grass field at The Stadium, and Zetterman said that he felt great.
“I think he likes it,” the rider noted. “He is spooky; probably in a good way, but he does look at everything a little bit. He jumps some very funny jumps sometimes when he looks down at the water or something, but he knows exactly what he is doing.”
The extra spook played to Zetterman’s advantage with Cafino in the jump-off, since he knew his horse was being extra careful over the jumps. “You can really trust his carefulness,” Zetterman detailed. “I know I have a really fast horse, so I knew that if I could just keep going on stride and just try not to add too many strides, I would probably have a hard time to catch.”
While working on the smoothness and small details of his ride with Cafino this winter, Zetterman has been working with trainer Michelle Grubb, and explained that her expertise has been very helpful. “She has been a very good complement to our team,” he acknowledged. “She knows the set up here in the USA and we have a great dialogue about not only riding, but about everything from flatting and jumping, to the care of the horses and management. That has been great.”
As the FTI WEF circuit continues to amp up week by week, Zetterman has his sights set on week twelve’s $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*. With his many top finishes, the rider is in a good position to qualify moving forward, and noted that competing at the different venue this week has been great for the horses and riders heading into the remaining six weeks of competition.
“I think it is good to get this week here to do something different, to jump in the dressage arena, and today on the grass,” Zetterman said. “It was a good, fresh breath before the last few weeks now; it is going to be very tough.”
One more class will be featured at The Stadium this weekend as week six of FTI WEF competition concludes on Sunday. The $50,000 Equestrian Sotheby’s Jumper Derby is set to begin at 2 p.m. on the derby field. For full show results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Final Results: $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
1. CAFINO: 2003 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento 933 x Roderik 856
ALEXANDER ZETTERMAN (SWE), Alexander Zetterman: 0/0/46.34
2. MARK Q: 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Obos Quality 004 x Positively
KEVIN BABINGTON (IRL), Kevin Babington: 0/0/48.27
3. ZOE II: 2004 AES mare by Kannan x Goes Without Saying
LORENZO DE LUCA (ITA), Mike Collins: 0/2/51.14
4. S&L SLINGBACK: 2002 KWPN gelding by Hors La Loi x Ekstein
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Adrienne Sternlicht: 0/4/49.65
5. CADE DE GULDENBOOM: 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Heartbreaker x Darco
ABIGAIL MCARDLE (USA), David McArdle: 0/4/49.85
6. HARLEY 86: 2002 KWPN mare by Hors La Loi II x Calvados
BENJAMIN MEREDITH (AUS), River Farm Sporthorses: 4/78.38
7. OREADE DES DAMES: 2002 Selle Francais mare by Kannan x Hurlevent
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Adrienne Sternlicht: 4/78.48
8. BÖCKMANNS LAZIO: 2000 Westphalian stallion by Lancer II x Cor de la Bryere
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Karina Rotenberg: 4/79.85
9. DIKTATOR VAN DE BOSLANDHOEVE: 2003 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Capital
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Spy Coast Farm LLC: 4/80.49
10. QUATTRO QUEEN: 2004 Oldenburg mare by Quattro B x Landcapitol
JUDY GAROFALO TORRES (USA), Juan Torres: 4/83.01
11. AZIBANTOS: 2005 KWPN gelding by Chin Chin x Cantos
GEOFFREY CASE (USA), Group C LLC: 5/84.83
12. KAVANAGH IV: 2002 AES gelding by Kannan x Carousel
BEN MAHER (GBR), John Renick & Ben Maher: 8/79.07
>Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, An Official Photographer of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, us.sportfot.com. This photo may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.