Week three of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued on Friday with a win for Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class in Wellington, FL. The day’s events also featured a championship win for Hope Smith and Candyland in the Forré Fine Art Low Adult Hunter 2’6″ Section A, and Christy Powell and Savion in the Forré Fine Art Low Hunter 2’6″ Section B.
Sponsored by Adequan®, WEF 3 runs at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) through Sunday, January 25. The week features the $127,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday, January 24. The 12-week circuit continues through March 29, awarding over $8.2 million in prize money.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) set the speed track for Friday’s 1.45m competition with 57 entries and 19 clear rounds. Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083 were the winners in 60.69 seconds, just over Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm’s Davendy S in 60.91 seconds.
Spencer Smith (USA) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Nevada stopped the clock in 61.70 seconds to place third. Meagan Nusz (USA) and Amalaya Investments’ Leoville 2 finished fourth in 63.53 seconds.
Sweetnam and the 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion (Cardento x Cortus) are no strangers to the winner’s circle, especially in Wellington. The pair inked five FEI wins last year at WEF alone and went on to a great summer.
“After circuit last year he had a good season. He won at Spruce Meadows and had a couple of good results in the Hamptons,” Sweetnam detailed. “Every show he goes to, he is good. Last year he didn’t travel as much, but he has been great. I did a small show the first week in January, just two smaller classes, and this is his first major class back and today was great.”
Wednesday’s 1.45m winners, Conor Swail (IRL) and Simba de la Roque, were last to go in Friday’s class and were definitely out to defend their title. Swail was well on the way to his second win of the week with the fastest round of the day in 59.17 seconds, but dropped a rail at the second to last fence to hand the win to his fellow Irishman. Sweetnam stood at the in gate and watched their every step.
“I knew Conor would be fast. He has a very fast horse, and he was really taking risks with him,” Sweetnam noted. “The first day when he won, I think he was two seconds faster than everybody. I had done my best; I don’t think I could have done much more. I was hoping that I would still win, but I thought he had a chance of catching me.”
Earlier in the class, Sweetnam had also watched the round of Jessica Springsteen and Davendy S, which led the way through many rounds until he came along with Cyklon.
“Jessie had a lovely, neat round,” Sweetnam said. “That is a very fast horse naturally. It is quick in the air and really covers the ground. I had an idea of the numbers I had to do to be in contention, and I did those numbers. I regretted pulling an extra stride to the wall the other day, so today my plan was to do one less stride there. I didn’t take any pull, and I got a little lucky. He (Cyklon) made it happen, which he does. If I had taken a pull there and added another stride, I would have been too slow, so it worked out.”
Sweetnam praised the course set by Leopoldo Palacios on Friday, noting that the class was great for the spectators right down to the finish.
“He did a great job with the course today. I think it was entertaining for everybody. It was maybe a little bit bigger than Wednesday, but there were still options, tight turns, and the double of verticals. He definitely gave you places to be fast, and then at the end there was a bit of a gallop, so it was exciting for the crowd and for the horses,” Sweetnam concluded.
Also showing on Friday, the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge was held in a California Split with 104 entries total. Darragh Kenny (IRL) was the fastest overall to top Section A aboard Eva Castegren’s Cicomein VDL with Georgina Bloomberg (USA) and Gotham Enterprizes’ Washington Square in second. Nicolas Pizarro (MEX) and Jacobo Zaga’s Calvaretto topped Section B with Daniel Zetterman (SWE) and Gyllebo Farm’s Acapulco Z in second.
Hope Smith and Candyland Earn Championship Honors in the Forré Fine Art Low Adult Hunter 2’6″ Section A© Sportfo
Over two days of competition, Hope Smith rode her own Candyland to the Forré Fine Art Low Adult Hunter 2’6″ Section A championship. The duo won three of the four over fences classes and placed third in the under saddle to finish a top the field of 32 competitors.
Christy Powell and her own Savion finished the day as the Forré Fine Art Low Adult Hunter 2’6″ Section B champions. The pair won both over fences classes today along with a second in the under saddle.
Reserve championship honors in section A were awarded to Shade, ridden and owned by Mimi Herbert. Shade was consistent over both days, winning two of the over fences classes along with a fourth in the under saddle. Lindsay Maxwell guided Emily Weeks’ horse, Jackson, to a first and third over fences to finish the day as reserve champion of the Forré Fine Arts Low Adult Hunter 2’6′ Section B.
After a light competition schedule this past summer, Smith was happy to return to the show ring. “This is a great way to start!” Smith exclaimed after receiving her championship prize.
Before Smith purchased Candyland, an 11 year-old mare, she spent most of her time in the jumper ring. Smith explained, “I came from the jumpers originally, this is only my second season in the hunters.”
With a year of experience behind them, Candyland and Smith are in winning form. “She’s [Candyland] a great horse, and she’s so sweet,” Smith smiled describing her mare.
Smith looks forward to using this week’s success as a springboard for upcoming weeks at WEF. “Since I hadn’t been showing for a while I started in here [Low Adult Hunters] and I’m going to move up to the 3′ [hunters] and eventually the 3’3″ Amateur-Owners,” Smith said about her future plans.
Primarily based in New York, Smith enjoys spending most of the winter months in Palm Beach. When Smith is not competing with her two horses she runs a family office in New York.
Week three of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival continues on Saturday featuring the $127,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 3* in the International Arena at 7 p.m. The Charleigh’s Cookies Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under will award championship honors in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring in the morning. For full results and more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Results of Friday, 23.01.2015
Spy Coast Farm Prize
Int. jumping competition against the clock (1.45m)
1. CYKLON 1083 – Sweetnam Shane (IRL) 0 60.69
2. DAVENDY S – Springsteen Jessica (USA) 0 60.91
3. NEVADA – Smith Spencer (USA) 0 61.70
4. LEOVILLE 2 – Nusz Megan (USA) 0 63.53
5. FLECU – Zetterman Alexander (SWE) 0 64.20
6. TEMASCALTEPEC – Pizarro Nicolas (MEX) 0 64.70
7. ADARE – Hough Lauren (USA)0 64.87
8. ATHENA – Reid Chloe (USA) 0 65.10
9. ZAZOU – Gulliksen Victoria (NOR) 0 65.65
10. WITH WINGS – Polle Karen (JPN) 0 65.85
11. COCO BONGO – Lamaze Eric (CAN) 0 67.14
12. BARLA – Selleck Hannah (USA) 0 68.23
Full result
Source: Press release
