Press release from Equestrian Sport Productions
On Sunday, February 13, the final day of the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival’s (WEF) fifth week, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, featured the $75,000CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship CSI5*. The class saw Kent Farrington (USA) and his newest partner, Easy Girl, fly to the top of the leaderboard.
The day was met with wet conditions as the skies opened up on the final day’s exhibitors. Despite the downpour, the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s (PBIEC) footing remained solid and international competition continued on without issue.
Featuring 56 horse-and-rider combinations, Kelvin Bywater’s (GBR) last five-star challenge defeated 16 entries with a single rail, but allowed for 17 pairs to advance forward to the short track. Ireland, Great Britain, United States, Italy, Egypt, and Belgium were well-represented by the returning field. Of the 17 to come back, only four managed to produce double-clear efforts. It was a win for the home team as Farrington did what he does best and sped to the top with Kent Farrington LLC’s 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Easy Girl (Conthargos x Nintender) with the unbeatable time of 37.27 seconds.
“She is a great horse, and she was winning classes before I got her,” stated Farrington. “To be able to get on her and pick up on producing successful rounds with her immediately is I think a testament to what a nice horse she is. She is very fast, brave, and careful, which is a perfect example of what a modern show jumper should be.”
The mare’s last big victory was under the guidance of Santiago Lambre, who won the $217,000 BFL Canada Major League Show Jumping Grand Prix CSI5* with her. Farrington only just acquired the mare at the beginning of the circuit and is optimistic about her future after such success only several weeks into their start as a new team.
“She has turned out to be quite rideable, and as I get to know her we are only forming a stronger partnership class by class,” detailed Farrington. “My plan today for the jump-off was just to go at cruise speed, but she is so naturally quick that even just her neat round is plenty fast. I am excited to see where she takes me, and no matter what she does I think she’s a great addition to the stable.”
Margie Engle (USA) and Storm Ridge Show Horses, Garber, and Gladewind’s entry Dicas raced into the runner-up position. She and the 13-year-old Rheinlander gelding (Diarado x Cassini I) closed in on the leading pair but finished roughly a second behind with a clear time of 38.24 seconds. Great Britain got the remaining podium position as Matthew Sampson and his gelding Geneve R clocked in another clear effort with a finish on 38.24 seconds.
Final Results: $75,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship CSI5*
1. EASY GIRL: 2011 OS mare by Conthargos x Nintender
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Kent Farrington LLC: 0/0/37.27
2. DICAS: 2009 Rheinläender gelding by Diarado x Cassini I
MARGIE GOLDSTEIN-ENGLE (USA), Storm Ridge Show Horses, Garber & Gladewinds: 0/0/38.24
3. GENEVE R: 2011 KWPN gelding by Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Berlin
MATTHEW SAMPSON (GBR), Matthew Sampson: 0/0/39.6
4. DACANTOS: 2013 KWPN stallion by Dallas x Cantos
LORENZO DE LUCA (ITA), Poden Farms: 0/0/44
5. HH AZUR: 2006 SBS mare by Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Sir Lui vd Zuuthoeve
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Double H Farm: 0/4/34.84
6. SEA TOPBLUE: 2011 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Chacco Blue ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Andrew Bourns Sport Horses Inc.: 0/4/36.72
7. DARQUITO: 2011 Hannoverian gelding by D’Inzeo 6 x Contefino 2
ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Andrew Bourns Sport Horses Inc.: 0/4/36.76
8. AGANA VAN HET GERENDAL Z: 2011 Zangersheide stallion by Aganix Du Seigneur x Topas
LILLIE KEENAN (USA), Chansonette Farm LLC:
9. MOYA VD BISSCHOP: 2012 BWP mare by Darco x Utrillo Van De Heffinck
NICOLA PHILIPPAERTS (BEL), Nicola Philippaerts: 0/4/36.94
10. HOLLIEWOOD: 2012 KWPN mare by Nabab De Reve
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Triple S Group: 0/4/37.4
11. GAMBLE: 2011 KWPN gelding by Vingino x Indoctro
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Asta Torokvei: 0/4/37.44
12. OAK GROVE’S CARLYLE: 2008 Holsteiner gelding by Casall x San Patrignano Corrado
DANIEL COYLE (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0/4/38.57