The $72,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI 4* was featured on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Friday, February 1, with a win for Martin Fuchs (SUI) on Chica BZ. The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continues with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition through March 31, 2019.

The fourth week of competition at WEF, sponsored by Marshall & Sterling Insurance/Great American, features the $209,000 Marshall & Sterling Insurance/Great American Grand Prix CSI 4* on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Saturday, February 2 at 10 a.m (moved up from original start time of 11 a.m. due to anticipated inclement weather). On Saturday night, competition returns to the International Arena at PBIEC for the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments® beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Six horses from a starting field of 45 advanced to the 1.50m jump-off track set by Anderson Lima (BRA). Fuchs led off and stopped the clock clear at 38.85 seconds aboard the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare Chica BZ (Canturano x Berlin) with five to return behind him.

“I thought I would try to go fast, but not doing anything crazy,” said Fuchs of his plan for the jump-off. “There was an option to leave out [a stride] into the last double that I didn’t want to take because it was the most difficult jump of the whole course, so I added there and hoped the others would be slower.”

Fuchs’ plan paid off and he held onto the lead over second-place finisher Kelli Cruciotti (USA), who broke the timers in 40.83 seconds riding Cicero’s Electric (Cicero Z x Mistral) for owner Aram Ampagoumian, LLC. Ireland’s Richie Moloney finished third in 49.44 seconds aboard Freestyle de Muze (Lord Z x Cento), owned by Equinimity, LLC, while Todd Minikus (USA) settled for fourth with the fastest four-fault jump-off round in 37.24 seconds riding Amex Z (Andiamo Z x Landaris) for Bit By Bit Group. Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) returned last over the short course and finished in fifth with Cornwall H (Con Air x Cambridge), owned by Gochman Sport Horses.

Fuchs spared no time leaving his mark on WEF and has pocketed a win after only arriving in Florida ten days prior to begin his first season competing at PBIEC.

“Winning a four-star class is a great way to start!” said the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 (WEG) individual silver medalist. “You never know how it’s going to work out bringing your own horses to a new show, but it’s a wonderful place and my horses enjoy being here.” Fuchs will aim his WEG partner Clooney 51 in the five-star competition at WEF.

Chica BZ, owned by Juri Adolfo, has been a part of Fuchs’ string for several years, but is just starting to step up. “She didn’t do much as young horse and was fairly green when got her and still is for 10 [years old],” he said.

“She’s very good jumper and there are a lot of big classes we can jump here, so for a horse that does not have that much experience, it’s a great place to show them how it’s done,” concluded Fuchs.