Wellington, Florida, USA – March 15, 2019 – Santiago Lambre (MEX) and Charatinus outpaced a field of 70 entries to win the $36,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Classic CSI 3* on Friday, March 15, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Florida, USA.

Jumper, hunter, and equitation competition continues at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) through March 31, 2019, with the 12-week WEF circuit offering more than $9 million in prize money. Week 10, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, runs through Sunday, March 17, with highlight events including the $134,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, and the $36,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI 3* on Sunday, March 17.

Speed was the name of the game for competitors contesting Michel Vaillancourt’s (CAN) course in Friday’s one-round $36,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Classic CSI 3*. Brazil’s Rodrigo Lambre set a quick time to beat from the get-go, stopping the clock in a clear 60.64 seconds aboard Chapilot as the fourth entry in the class. It was not until 19 trips later that Rodrigo Lambre’s time was toppled by fellow countryman Fabio Leivas da Costa (BRA) who set the new leading time at 59.35 seconds aboard Randon Pleasure.

That was the time that  Santiago Lambre (MEX) had to beat when he entered the ring aboard Charatinus, owned by Paul Schockemöhle, and the pair narrowly did, crossing the finish line less than a tenth of a second faster than Fabio Leivas da Costa (BRA) to ultimately secure the win with a time of 59.26 seconds.

Leivas de Costa’s time with Randon Pleasure, owned by Bonne Chance Farm, would hold up for second place, while Conor Swail (IRL) – the only rider in the final third of the class able to come close to the top-two finishers – would slide into third with a time of 60.29 seconds aboard Captain, owned by BB Gingras Equestrian Ltd. Rodrigo Lambre’s early time to beat would hold up for fourth place for him and Chapilot, owned by Mario Onate, while fifth place with a time of 60.77 seconds went to Andrew Kocher (USA) riding Fashion V for owner Eye Candy Jumpers.

“It was a very nice speed class because it had a lot of options, very tight turns, and we didn’t have to open the horse up too much,” said Santiago Lambre, who has had the ride on Charatinus for only five weeks. “In the beginning of the class, number three and number four, I was really fast and tight. Then I tried to ride fast, but the course was quite delicate, so I didn’t go crazy.”

While the partnership with the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by ChaccoBlue x Grannus is brand-new for Santiago Lambre, the pair meshed quickly, claiming a second-place finish in the $36,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI 3* during WEF 6 and, on Friday, Santiago Lambre’s first win with the horse that he aims to sell for owner Schockemöhle.

“The horse has enough experience and is a very fast horse, so it was not so difficult to be competitive,” said Santiago Lambre of the pair’s success out of the gate. “He turns fast, and he’s very brave, so I can trust him.”

Results: $36,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Classic CSI 3*

Place / Rider / Country / Horse / Sire x Dam Sire / Penalty-points / Time

1) Santiago Lambre (MEX) & Charatinus (Chacco Blue x Grannus) – 0 – 59.26

2) Fabio Leivas da Costa (BRA) & Randon Pleasure (For Pleasure x Quidam de Revel) – 0 – 59.35

3) Conor Swail (IRL) & Captain (Verdi x Ahorn) – 0 – 60.29

4) Rodrigo Lambre (BRA) & Chapilot (Chacco Blue x Pilot) – 0 – 60.64

5) Andrew Kocher (USA) & Fashion V (Rusedski x Unknown) – 0 – 60.77

6) Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) & La Caramba (Carambole x Caretino 2) – 0 – 61.81

7) Andrew Kocher (USA) & La Luciole (Pardis Latin x Diamant de Semilly) – 0 – 61.85

8) Olivia Chowdry (USA) & Chuck Berry 8 (Chacco Blue x Watzmann) – 0 – 63.65

9) Zoe Conter (BEL) & Dolitaire Chavannaise (Cicero Z x Voltaire) – 0 – 63.70

10) Gavin Moylan (CAN) & Balous Diamond (Balous Bellini x Polydor) – 0 – 65.91

11) William Whitaker (GBR) & RMF Charly – 0 – 65.94

12) Rodrigo Sampaio Peixoto (POR) & Billy Blue Bell  (Billy Congo x Jazz) – 0 – 66.99

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release by Summer Grace and Emily Riden / Jennifer Wood Media for PBIEC – Palm Beach International Equestrian Center / ESP – Equestrian Sports Productions

Photos: © Sportfot