Wellington, Florida – March 03, 2019 – Samuel Parot (CHI) and Atlantis won the $209,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSIO 4* yesterday afternoon during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) CSIO 4* at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

A total of forty-three out of the forty-four combinations scheduled to compete entered the International Arena to face the course designed by Steve Stephens (USA).

The track proved to be very challenging from the beginning as the first competitors Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and Toulago (Toulon x Carthago Z) retired, a fate that nine other pairs would experience too.

The obstacles were set high and riders had to answer “questions” in regards to the numbers of strides as early as the fourth fence, facing several options all the way to the final stretch. The level of difficulty took a toll on the first sixteen combinations, with most of them having at least two poles down while several others retired.

Eve Jobs (USA) and Venue d’Fees des Hazalles

Eve Jobs (USA) and Venue d’Fees des Hazalles (President x Alcatraz) did the honors, being the first ones to leave all the rails up and cross the finish line without registering any penalties.

Samuel Parot (CHI) & Atlantis

There was tension in the air as to whether any other competitor would manage to replicate the rising star’s brilliant feat. Fortunately, Samuel Parot (CHI) and Atlantis (Andiamo x Royal Bravour L) made the wishes of those cheering for a jump-off come true, securing an unsual tiebreaker with only two riders.

Eve Jobs (USA) & Venue d’Fees des Hazalles 

Knowing the high-level of difficulty and the disadvantage of going first, Eve opted to go for a clear round hoping that Parot would make a mistake while attempting to go faster. Unfortunately, the young phenom and her 14-year-old chestnut Belgian Sport Horse mare had the last rail down for a score of four penalty-points and three additional time penalties due to their time of 48.844 seconds.

Samuel Parot (CHI) & Atlantis

The door was left wide open for the always “fast and furious” Parot. The Chilean had one rail down early but was able to ride his 16-year-old bay Zangersheide gelding masterfully throughout the rest of the track until the end, registering four penalty-points in 43.371 seconds for the victory.

Juan Manuel Gallego (COL) and Coulash van de Broy Z

Juan Manuel Gallego (COL) and Coulash van de Broy Z (Gelutt x Lys De Darmen) showed brilliance once again, recovering from an early pole down to complete the course with only four penalty-points, securing third place as the fastest four-faulters due to their time of 77.46 seconds in the first round.

Juan Manuel Gallego (COL), Eve Jobs (USA) and Samuel Parot (CHI)

Samuel Parot
Winning is winning, here, it is more difficult. I have had this horse for 4 years.

Atlantis is a horse that has given me much satisfaction, he is a very fast horse. It’s the second competition that he’s done this year, he jumped the three-star and won a class, he’s a very competitive horse.

“You had many options. All the lines were very tricky in regards to determining the number of strides. [There were] a lot of half strides. It was big, wide, and high.”

Eve Jobs
She’s just a really phenomenal animal, she’s so sweet, and she tries. She really fights for you. She really has helped me in my career, especially being a young rider with not that much experience – not like these guys who are always wonderful! I make a lot of mistakes, and she’s very forgiving. She’s taught me an immense amount about the top level of the sport. I’m really lucky to have her.”

I have competed against Samuel for Samuel and he’s always extremely fast,. “You can always count on him to try his hardest and go as fast as he can. So I knew there was almost no way I was going to beat him on foot speed, so I was trying to leave all the jumps up. Unfortunately, I had the last rail. I pushed a little bit too hard. But, as always, he was very fast and very deserving of this win. I’m lucky to be in this company.”

“This is the best finish I’ve had,” she confirmed. “That’s really exciting for me and my whole team. My family actually was here today which was really fun. It was the first time in a while, so I was really happy that they got to see the horses going so well.”

Juan Manuel Gallego 
“Being here in Wellingtion is always important, qualifying here is hard, and each position that we earn means a lot. We are going all out here for a position and the horse have had a fantastic season. Two weeks ago, I finished third with him (Coulash van de Broy Z) at the Deeridge and last night the mare went very well in the Nations Cup too.”

Winner’s Circle

Final Results: $209,000 Lugano Grand Prix CSI 4*

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

1) Samuel Parot (CHI) & Atlantis (Andiamo Z x Royal Bravour L) – 0 / 4 – 43.37

2) Eve Jobs (USA) & Venue d’Fees des Hazalles (President x Alcatraz) – 0 / 7 – 48.84

3) Juan Manuel Gallego (COL) & Coulash van de Broy Z (Gelutt x Lys De Darmen) – 4 – 77.46

4) Lucy Deslauriers (USA) & Hester (Wandor van de Mispelaere x Palestro vd Begijnakker) – 4 – 77.55

5) Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) & H5 Sunshine (Diamant de Semilly x Hardi) – 4 -77.97

6) Rodrigo Lambre (BRA) & Chacciama (Chacco Blue x Andiamo) – 4 – 78.78

7) Zoe Conter (BEL) & Davidoff de Lassus (Ugano Sitte x Ksar-Sitte) – 4 – 79.44

8) Brian Moggre (USA) & MTM Vivre Le Reve (Ustinov x Chello II) – 8 – 76.63

9) Erynn Ballard (CAN) & Fellini S (Vermont x Rash R) – 8 – 77.23

10 Catherine Tyree (USA) & Catungee (Contact Me x Liatos) – 8 – 77.51

11) Shane Sweetnam (IRL) & Alejandro (Acorado’s Ass x Continue) – 8 – 77.64

12) Beezie Madden (USA) & Coach (Con Air x Corofino I) – 8 – 78.28

For full results, please click here.

Text: Lo-Ami Souza

Photos: © ESP / Liza Goodlett