Beginning competition in the International Arena at PBIEC on Thursday, Chile's Samuel Parot jumped to victory in the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m speed class riding his 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding Quick du Pottier (Hurlevent De Breka x Cuba). 

Fifty-two entries started over Olaf Petersen, Jr.'s first-round course and 15 cleared the track without fault. Parot and Quick du Pottier went fifth in the order, setting an uncatchable time of 59.14 seconds for the win.

Lisa Goldman (USA) and Barbara Disko's Sovereign finished second in 62.60 seconds. Conor Swail (IRL) crossed the timers in 62.82 seconds to place third riding Vanessa Mannix's Rubens LS La Silla. Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Everlong LLC's Diamond D took fourth place in 63.64 seconds.

Speaking of his winning round, Parot stated, "Yesterday I went really fast and I had one down, so today I did not want to go as fast because the course was very careful. I went in the first five, and I thought I went fast, but not that fast. I thought somebody would catch me, but the course was very careful and it caught people.

"This horse is very fast," Parot continued. "I thought I would maybe be in the top three with this time, but I was lucky that I ended up winning it."

Parot has had great success throughout the 2017 circuit, winning week four's $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m riding Dazzle White, topping the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup in week six with Atlantis, winning week seven's $86,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic aboard Quick du Pottier, and also taking week eleven's $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m riding Couscous van Orti.

Remarking on his winter, Parot smiled, "It has been a really fantastic season. I think this is the best circuit I have had here. I had a really good summer and then the horses came in to the winter really good. They have stayed really sound and they are all in great shape. This horse is done for the circuit. He was really good all winter and it is nice for him to go out with a win. He and the others will all have a nice vacation until we go to Tryon in May."

1. QUICK DU POTTIER: 2004 Selle Francais gelding by Hurlevent De Breka x Cuba
SAMUEL PAROT (CHI), Samuel Parot: 0/59.14

2. SOVEREIGN: 2006 Selle Francais stallion by Frontal x Galoubet A
LISA GOLDMAN (USA), Barbara Disko: 0/62.60

3. RUBENS LS LA SILLA: 2006 SLS stallion by Rebozo LS La Silla x Cash
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Vanessa Mannix: 0/62.82

4. DIAMOND D: 2009 Selle Luxembourg Gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Cassini I
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Everlong LLC: 0/63.64

5. CON TAGGIO: 2009 Oldenburg gelding by Contagio x Golliath Life
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/64.28

6. CONTIKI: 2006 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Contendro I x Calido I
NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO (USA), Coker Farm Inc: 0/64.73

7. CONSTANCE: 2007 KWPN mare by Indoctro x Animo
JESSICA MENDOZA (GBR), Milena Pappas: 0/65.98

8. CARIMBA B: 2008 Hanoverian mare by Contendro I x For Pleasure
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Looking Back Farm: 0/67.10

9. CLIFF Z: 2008 Zangersheide gelding by Canturano x Quasimodo Z
GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/67.38

10. GENTILLE VAN SPIEVELD: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Heartbreaker x Capital
LESLIE HOWARD (USA), GJ Stable: 0/68.40

11. SAMURAI 501: 2008 Westphalian stallion by Stalypso x For Keeps
MARKUS BEERBAUM (GER), Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC: 0/68.55

12. HANDY VAN HD: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Tinka's Boy x Nabab de Reve
ALBERTO MICHAN (MEX), Ilan Ferder: 0/70.08