Andrew Ramsay and Welfare. Photo (c) Sportfot.
Andrew Ramsay (USA) and Shalanno Farms LLC's Welfare got their win on Friday after several top finishes in the FEI world ranking classes at the 2015 WEF. The pair placed second in back-to-back FEI 1.45m classes in week seven's CSI 5* competition, then settled for third place in Wednesday's international 1.45m to begin this week's CSI 5*-W. Friday afternoon, the pair proudly took the lap of honor for the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class against an impressive roster of worldwide competitors.
Sixty-nine entries showed over Alan Wade's (IRL) 1.45m track Friday afternoon with 13 clear rounds. Sixth in the order, Ramsay and Welfare set the winning time at 62.71 seconds. With a clear round aboard Spruce Meadows' Quiz, Darragh Kenny (IRL) jumped into second in 63.15 seconds. Meagan Nusz (USA) and Amalaya Investments' Vesuvius earned the third place prize with their time of 64.47 seconds.
"We have been really close," Ramsay said of his hard-earned victory. "This horse has been amazing. We jumped him two weeks ago, and he was second in both the speed classes. I felt like we were close; we were just missing something. Then he was third earlier in the week, so I really wanted to make up for that third and try to get him there, and he was great today. He really fought for me in the ring, and he was a good boy."
Ramsay has had Welfare, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Pacific x Zortin), for two years.
"In the last year, he has really come together, jumping higher level 1.45m and 1.50m classes," Ramsay detailed. "He has been a great horse, and I think having a system here with this nice, long tour has helped him. This is my first time in Wellington for the whole season. Last year I did a bit in California and then came out here, but this year, to be in one place the whole time and really work and train and be able to improve is really nice."
Commenting on his winning round, Ramsay explained, "We saw some people do eight strides from one to two and we planned nine. He (Welfare) has a nice, normal stride; not necessarily a big stride, but he is naturally a fast horse. He makes up time just turning back to the fences. I think that in general we just had a pretty good pace. We were tidy, but we took time where we wanted to. We set him up so that we would hopefully come in clear and still be fast enough. There were very fast rides and some faster times, but it all worked out for us this time. We can finally take a long blue ribbon home, which is really nice."
Ramsay also won the $8,000 1.45m jump-off class on Thursday with his mount Adamo van't Steenputje. With a great season underway, the rider will continue to compete through the end of the WEF circuit before heading back to his farm in Holland for the summer. From California, Ramsay rode as a junior and took time off from the sport while he attended college. He is now developing his riding to the top level and hopes to return to Wellington again next winter.
Also showing in the International Arena on Friday, the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge was held in a California Split with a one-two-three finish in Section A for Laura Chapot (USA). Chapot won the class aboard her own Bradberry and finished second and third respectively with Mary Chapot's Zealous and Umberto. Daniel Zetterman (SWE) topped Section B with Gyllebo Farm LLC's Chellana, with Wilton Porter (USA) and Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Delinquent JX in second, and Heather Caristo Williams (USA) aboard Alexander LLC's Wistful in third.
Final Results: $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m
1. WELFARE: 2003 KWPN gelding by Pacific x Zortin
ANDREW RAMSAY (USA), Shalanno Farms LLC: 0/62.71
2. QUIZ: 2004 Selle Francais gelding by For Pleasure x Laudanum
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Spruce Meadows: 0/63.15
3. VESUVIUS: 2002 KWPN gelding by Numero Uno x Expert
MEAGAN NUSZ (USA), Amalaya Investments: 0/64.47
4. BELLE: 2006 KWPN mare by Numero Uno x Voltaire
PARIS SELLON (USA), Paris Sellon: 0/64.88
5. RECONNAISSANCE: 2005 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Camaro M x Irco Mena
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Laura & Meredith Mateo: 0/64.91
6. HH LET'S FLY: 1999 Hanoverian gelding by Lordanos x Forrest
RODRIGO PESSOA (BRA), Rodrigo Pessoa: 0/66.36
7. G&C CLOSE UP: 2007 KWPN gelding by Eurocommerce Washington x Cobra
LUIS LARRAZABAL (VEN), San Francisco Stables LLC: 0/66.51
8. SAMSON II: 2004 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento x Bellini
KIRSTEN COE (USA), Lovsta Stuteri: 0/69.79
9. CASSINJA S: 2006 Zweibrücker mare by Carinjo x Cassini I
CHARLIE JACOBS (USA), CMJ Sporthorse LLC: 0/70.50
10. CHAVENTYNO: 2006 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco-Blue x Aventyno
BEN MAHER (GBR), Legacy Stables LLC: 0/71.51
11. ATLODETTO FZ: 2006 SI gelding by Acodetto x Come On
LUIS LARRAZABAL (VEN), Guillermo & Carolina Pacanins & San Francisco Stables LLC: 0/71.64
12. LUKE SKYWALKER 46: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Lord Pezi x Sandro Song
PAIGE JOHNSON (USA), Salamander Farm: 0/72.09
Source: Press release from Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.