Moloney and Alsvid Race to Victory in $34,000 Equiline 1.45m Speed Classic
Richie Moloney (IRL) and Alsvid made a dash up the leaderboard in the $34,000 Equiline 1.45m Speed Classic at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) today, as FEI competition resumed at the venue for the Holiday & Horses CSI 4*. Moloney and Alsvid rose to the occasion, crossing through the timers in 62.28 seconds to capture the win. Ali Wolff (USA) and Artemis followed in second with a time of 62.90 seconds while Kent Farrington (USA) and Blue Angel, winners of the $34,000 Equiline Holiday & Horses Opener Grand Prix held this past Wednesday, finished in 63.51 seconds for third place.
Competition continues at PBIEC tomorrow with the highly anticipated $212,000 Holiday & Horses Grand Prix presented by Palm Beach Sports Commission and Discover the Palm Beaches beginning at 6:30pm. The night will also host the Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s Winterfest and showcase the first round of drawings for the 2016 Great Charity Challenge (GCC), presented by Fidelity Investments®.
Moloney and Alsvid entered the International Ring in the middle of the 40-horse order of go, several rounds after reigning class leader Farrington posted the quickest double clean trip aboard Blue Angel. Maintaining a bold pace throughout the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) designed course, Moloney made the most of his round aboard the 2001 Hanoverian gelding (Escudo I x Adonca) owned by Equinimity LLC.”It was a full 1.45m class, and the first four jumps really made you open up. That’s where you could make up some of the time, which is where I think we did,” said Moloney. “I took a bit of a chance to the last two fences on course and did probably one less than most people, and I think that is what earned us the win.”
Alsvid is Moloney’s top FEI Speed horse, and the pair has produced several major international victories this season. The win this afternoon marked the duo’s fifth FEI win this year and third FEI Speed class victory. Moloney will return to FEI competition on Sunday for the $34,000 1.45m Consolation Classic before beginning a period of rest for Alsvid with the remainder of Moloney’s string before the beginning of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) circuit in mid-January.
“He’s very good in these types of classes and has proven to be very consistent this season placing in the top three at least five times since the beginning of the summer. It was a strong class today, and I felt very good about his performance,” he noted.
The seasoned gelding has proven throughout his career with Moloney that he excels and enjoys difficult speed classes, which allows Moloney to take major risks that are rewarded when faced against some of the world’s best combinations. He explained, “He really enjoys these speed classes because he naturally wants to go forward so you just let him go and steady him a bit at the jumps, but try not get in the way.”
“It’s nice to start off the season here with a win. We’ll look for another good result in the 1.45m class on Sunday and then bring him back in February for some of the big FEI classes during circuit.”
Final Results $34,000 Equiline 1.45m Speed Classic
1. ALSVID, 2001 Hanoverian gelding by Escudo I x Adonca
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/62.28
2. ARTEMIS, 2005 Anglo European Sporthorse by Chamerlain Z x Odette
ALI WOLFF (USA), John Wolff: 0/62.90
3. 2002 Anglo European Sporthorse by Luidam x Astrid
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Robin Parsky: 0/63.51
4. CITA, 2006 Holsteiner mare by Casall x Vorr.
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Susan & Ariel Grange: 0/63.85
5. FAMOSO D IVE Z, 2007 Beglian Warmblood gelding by For Pleasure x Radetzky
SHARN WORDLEY (NZL), Ashland Stables & Sky Group: 0/63.96
6. COUSCOUS VAN ORT, 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Nabab de Reve x Vroni van Orti SAMUEL PAROT (CHI), Samuel Parot: 0/64.31
7. WAUW, 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Quick Star x Chicke
MARK BLUMAN (COL), Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc: 0/64.59
8. ANDRETTI S, 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Corland x Tabelle S
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Stars and Stripes: 0/65.15
9. GENTILLE VAN SPIEVELD, 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Heartbreaker x Tequila van Spieveld
LESLIE BURR-HOWARD (USA), GJ Stables & Peter Howard: 0/65.34
10. NOKIA DE BREKKA, 2001 Selle Francais gelding by Quick Star x Hermine de Brekka
EMANUEL ANDRADE (VEN), Emanuel Andrade: 0/65.77
11. ZIDANE, 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Sam R x Samantha
ALEXANDER ZETTERMAN (SWE), Springfield Showjumpers AB: 0/67.68
12. PROVIDENCE, 2007 Zangersheide mare by Air Jordan Z x Vagiggy
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms LLC: 0/68.94
Source: press release
