Wellington, Florida, USA – March 31, 2021 – On the opening day of the final week of the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival WEF, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five, LLC, flew to a winning finish in the $10,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m Jumper Classic CSI4* on Wednesday, March 31, in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).
In the concluding class on Wednesday, 50 horse-and-rider combinations attempted the 1.45m two-phase course set by Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER), a qualifier for Friday’s $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic Series Final. The track featured fences numbered one through seven in the first phase, with eight through 12 representing the jump-off.
Just ninth in the starting order, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and the 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion (Berlin x Darco) flew around the second phase, leaving all the jumps up in a time of 21.92 seconds, fast enough to hold the lead until the end.
“My plan was actually not to try and win,” she said. “He felt like winning today. He jumped the first half really nice, and he likes to go fast so I figured I would let him have it. I definitely changed my plan midway through. It went from a nice schooling round to a ‘let’s have some fun.”
Canada’s Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Brighton, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Contender II x Quick Star), owned by Artisan Farms, LLC, finished in second place with a clear effort in 23.46 seconds. It was also a podium finish for Israel as Daniel Bluman (ISR) guided Colestina H, an 11-year-old German Sport Horse mare (Colestus x Cardenio 2), for Blue Star Investments and Kim Douglas to a third-place finish in a time of 24.30 seconds.
Vanderveen and her talented partner known as “Frosty” in the barn will jump the $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic Series Final, one they’re both looking forward to.
“He’s been my long-time partner for now for five years,” she said. “He’s been really unique for me as he won a CSI 5*, he’s won a few CSI4* classes, but he’s also won so many speed classes. Now, I mostly use him as a speed horse. This is his specialty.”
Vanderveen will also campaign Bull Run’s Risen during WEF 12, jumping Thursday’s $50,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 in hopes of qualifying for the grand prix. While the 12-week circuit is coming to a close, the 31-year-old rider feels she’s in top form to keep on rolling into a busy spring of competitions in Wellington, Florida.
“I broke up my 2021 WEF really nicely so I still feel very fresh,” she said. “I try to plan our winter circuit smart, so no one gets too drained. We’re actually excited for the CSI3* spring shows that were added, and we’re ready to keep rocking.”
To open the day, Kevin Mealiff (IRL) and Bel Star, owned by Whiterock Farm, Ltd, captured the blue ribbon in the $6,000 1.40m Jumpers CSI2*. Mealiff and the 10-year-old Selle Français gelding by Untouchable M completed the jump-off portion of the two-phase course with a clear effort in 25.12 seconds.
Following that, fellow Irishman Jordan Coyle piloted Warnike, an 11-year-old Dutch Sport Horse mare by Eldorado Vd Zeshoek x Vingino owned by Elan Farm, won the $1,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m CSI4* with a double clear effort in 26.40 seconds.
The twelfth week of WEF, sponsored by Wellington Agricultural Services, begins on Wednesday, March 31, with CSI4* competition along with a concurrent CSI2* running through Sunday, April 4, the final day of the 2021 WEF. Thursday’s schedule is highlighted by the $50,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 followed by a busy Friday featuring the $37,000 1.45m CSI2* and the $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic Series Final. An exciting weekend of show jumping begins with the $214,000 Wellington Agricultural Services Grand Prix CSI 4* and WEF Circuit Champion Parade on Saturday and concludes with the $50,000 1.45m Grand Prix CSI2* on Sunday.
Final Results – $10,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate CSI 4*
1) Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili – 0 / 0 – 21.927
2) Tiffany Foster (CAN) & Brighton – 0 / 0 – 23.462
3) Daniel Bluman (ISR) & Colestina H – 0 / 0 – 24.305
Source: Press release by Kate Pettersen / Jennifer Wood Media Inc. for ESP – Equestrian Sports Productions / PBIEC – Palm Beach International Equestrian Center
Photos: © Sportfot
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Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News USA, Wellington International
