Press release from Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. by Summer Grace, Juliana Chapman, and Sabrina Brashares
In Saturday’s 1.50m class held on the picturesque Derby Field at Equestrian Village, a talented group of 43 top horse-and-rider pairs took on the challenge with only six advancing to the jump-off. The length and scope of obstacles including a triple in the middle of the course, set by Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris (MEX), proved to be a big test for many.
In the jump-off, Petronella Andersson of Sweden aboard 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Davarusa (Zavall VDL x Zavarusa H) clinched the win with a fault-free round and a time of 38.44 seconds for Stephex Stables. She edged out Ireland’s Paul O’Shea on Skara Glen’s 7 Pillars (Spartacus x Whisky), who came in second with a time of 39.52 seconds. In third place was Lacey Gilbertson (USA) aboard Bijzonder (Acodettol x Quite Easy), owned by Seabrook LLC, in 39.89 seconds. Fourth place went to Andrea Torres Guerreiro (COL) on Fifty Shades (Call Me Number One x Sheltana), owned by Santa Catalina Farm, with four faults and a time of 37.61 seconds, followed by Bliss Heers (USA) and Goodbye (Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Rivella Light), owned by Bridgeside Farms LLC, with four faults in 37.66 seconds.
“On the field, if your horse doesn’t have much experience, they can be spooky and they don’t know how to react out there,” said Andersson. “However, I’m happy with my horse. She did a great job and is a new horse for me; I have only ridden her in two shows before coming here. She has a great personality, is very straightforward and careful, and has a great mind.”
Andersson, 28, is based in Belgium and works for Stephex Stables, home to four riders competing at WEF, including Lorenzo De Luca and Zoe and Emilie Conter.
This is Andersson’s third season riding at WEF, the only show she rides at in the United States. “I’m lucky because I get the best of both worlds. I just came from showing in Spain with six horses and here I have three horses,” she said. “Riding at WEF is very competitive, and the courses are fast and big enough with impressive jumps. I find the horses really like to get out on the field and the footing is amazing.”
Andersson’s plan is to continue showing for 5 weeks at WEF, including the CSI5* next week.
Also winning on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village, Sydney Shulman (ISR) won the $10,000 Hermès Under 25 Welcome riding Ardente Printaniere, owned by Jill Shulman.
Final Results: $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic
1 DAVARUSA: 2008 KWPN mare by Zavall VDL x Zavarusa H
PETRONELLA ANDERSSON (SWE), Stephex Stables: 0/0/38.44
2 SKARA GLEN’S 7 PILLARS: 2010 KWPN gelding by Spartacus x Whisky
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Skara Glen Stables, LLC: 0/0/39.52
3 BIJZONDER: 2006 KWPN gelding by Acodettol x Quite Easy
LACEY GILDERTSON (USA), Seabrook LLC: 0/0/39.89
4 FIFY SHADES: 2008 WEST gelding by Call Me Number One x Sheltana
ANDREA TORRES GUERREIRO (COL), Santa Catalina Farm: 0/4/37.61
5 GOODBYE: 2011 KWPN mare by Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Rivella Light
BLISS HEERS (USA), Bridgeside Farms LLC: 0/4/37.66
6 CATWALK HENRY: 2009 ISH gelding by Verdi TN x Bens Star
LORENZO DE LUCA (ITA), Stephex Stables: 0/11/50.68
7 CENTRIKO VOLO: 2012 OLD gelding by Centadel x Dolcetta
JORDAN COYLE (IRL), Celtic Park LLC: 4/69.10
8 CALVALOU: 2007 OLD gelding by Calvaro x Grand Lulu
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Todd Minikus Ltd: 4/70.03
9 SHANGRI-LA: 2011 KWPN mare by Cardento x Lugana
ALISE OKEN (USA) , Hi Hopes Farm LLC: 4/70.13
10 DONTEZ: 2008 KWPN gelding by Verdi x Jenie
FREDDIE VAZQUEZ (PUR), G6 Holdings & Freddie Vazquez: 4/71.53
11 CIRDANO VD VIJVERHOEVE Z: 2010 KWPN stallion by Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x Sipora
MARK BLUMAN (COL), Over the Top Stables LLC: 4/71.84
12 DESTINY VAN SCHORE: 2009 SBS mare by Ugano Sitte x Quintine Du Houssoit
JORGE MATTE CAPDEVILA (CHI), Jorge Matte: 4/72.07