Wellington, Florida, USA – February 17, 2019 – The sixth week of the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded on Sunday, February 17, with jumper competition on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida.

In the $25,000 CP National Grand Prix, Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Cristo led the victory gallop, taking advantage of an opportunity to show on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village, the individual silver medalist at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 was able to speed to the lead of the class. Martin Fuchs (SUI) rode Jacques Bodenmuller’s Cristo to a blazing time of 33.733 seconds to win the class, the closing event of the WEF 6.

Twenty-four entries went to task on the first round, and five went clear to contest the jump-off. Fuchs went first on Cristo, setting an unbeatable time.

Martin Fuchs (SUI) & Cristo in their winning presentation with Laura Fetterman of Champion Equine Insurance, who presented Cristo with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award, and ringmaster Steve Rector.

“I didn’t really like that I was first to go with him,” said Fuchs. “I would have preferred that my inexperienced horse was first to go so I could do a normal round with him, and then do a quick round with Cristo, to see how fast I had to go. Since I honestly really didn’t know the other riders in the jump-off, I just thought I didn’t want to be second, so I took the forward option, which was good, but now I ended up being quite a lot faster.”

Coming closest was Caelinn Leahy (IRL) on Steve Schaefer’s Dymendy. They finished in 36.206 seconds. Third place went to Hector Florentino (DOM) riding Venus, owned by Raylyn Farms Inc., in 37.330 seconds.

Knowing that Cristo would have the next two weeks off, Fuchs wanted the chance to show him, and the CP Grand Prix on the “amazing grass ring” was just the sort of class that fit into the schedule.

Final Results: $25,000 CP Grand Prix

Place / Riders / Country & Horse  (Sire x Dam Sire) – R1 Penalties / Jump-off Penalties – Time

1) Martin Fuchs (SUI) & Cristo (Cristo x Stakkato) – 0 / 0 – 33.733

2) Caelinn Leahy (IRL) & Dymendy (Quasimodo van den Molendreef x Julio Mariner) – 0 / 0 -36.206

3) Hector Florentino (DOM) & Venus (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Julius) – 0 / 0 – 37.330

4) Carlos Quiñones (ARG) & Satoyama – 0 / 0 – 38.758

5) Martin Fuchs (SUI) & Faberlys (Cornet Obolensky – Beverlys) – 0 / 12 – 38.252

6) Pablo Mejia (COL) & El Pacho (Cardento 933 x Goodtimes) – 2 – 82.481

7) Laura Chapot (USA) & Out of Ireland (Lougherne Connaught x Amiro M) – 4 – 73.142

8) Paige Jardine (AUS) & A Toute Vitesse (Arthos R x Lancelot) – 4 – 74.547

9) Mary Manfredi (USA) & Magnus Oreo (Magnus Orestus x Carjdor Z) – 4 – 77.309

10) Juan Manuel Bolaños Barrios (ESA) & Zambia Mystic Rose – 4 – 77.5421

11) Shannon Clifford (CHI) & Ilusionist II – (Toulon x Skippy II) – 4 – 79.439

12) Diego Perez Bilbao (ESP) & Orso Del Terriccio (Indoctro x Can Can Del Terriccio) – 4 – 80.400

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press relase by Jennifer Wood and Summer Grace / Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. for PBIEC – Palm Beach International Equestrian Center / ESP – Equestrian Sports Productions

Photos: © Sportfot