Two FEI ranking classes were held on Friday, February 23, during the seventh week of the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili were the winners of the $35,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Jumpers CSI 5*.
WEF 7 continues through Sunday, February 25 with CSI 5* competition sponsored by Lugano Diamonds and featuring the $384,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, February 24. WEF runs until April 1 and offers more than $9 million in prize money.
In the $35,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Jumpers CSI 5*, 64 entries in the class competed over a speed course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. There were 12 clear rounds, and the fastest of those was Vanderveen on Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion by Berlin x Darco owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC, in 63.88 seconds.
Second place went to fellow American rider Andrew Kocher and Kahlua, owned by Top Line Sporthorse International LLC. They stopped the clock in 64.48 seconds. Finishing in 66.88 seconds, Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and Caruschka 2 placed third.
Vanderveen and her impressive grey stallion have now won ten FEI ranking classes since last year’s Winter Equestrian Festival.
Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili
“He has been really consistent, especially as my speed horse – which you wouldn’t guess because of how big he is,” she said. “He really likes to have fun, so I find that in the speed classes, he doesn’t fight with me. He’s really game on. He’s looking for the next jump, and it keeps it new and interesting and exciting for him.”
Full Results
Source: Press Release by Jennifer Wood Media Inc. for ESP / WEF
Photos: © Sportfot
Categories: CSI 5*, Wellington International
