Press release from Equestrian Sport Productions by Jennifer Wood and Summer Grace for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Victory in the highlight class on Thursday, March 7, went to Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and H5 Quintol, owned by H5 Stables, in the $134,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Week 9 of WEF continues through Sunday, March 10, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Week 9 of WEF will host a variety of two-star and five-star events all leading up to Saturday night’s $391,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI 5*. Top national competition in the hunters, jumpers, and equitation will also be offered throughout the week. The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center will see competition from the world’s best riders through March 31.

There were 52 entries in Thursday’s class, with seven going clear and advancing to the jump-off. First into the ring were Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm’s Fleur de l’Aube (Thunder van de Zuuthoev x Orchidee vh Pallieterland). They finished clear in 37.15 seconds for third place.

The time was lowered with the next rider in the ring, Kevin Babington (IRL), on Shorapur (Stakkato Gold x Drosselklang II), owned by Shorapur LLC. They were just under Springsteen’s time in 37.10 seconds, which would hold up for second place.

Menezes and H5 Quintol were third into the jump-off and set the time to beat at 36.66 seconds, which would not be bested by the remaining four riders. “He has that huge stride,” said Menezes of his horse. “With the years, he learned how to get fast in the turns and if I can turn once or twice and then just open his stride, he gets really fast.”

Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Brighton (Contendro II x Quick Star) were fifth in 37.89 seconds, while Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) and his and Alice Lawaetz’s Chacna (Chacco-Blue x Narew XX) were fourth in 37.35 seconds. With four faults in 40.31 seconds, Fernando Martinez Sommer (MEX) and Cor Bakker (Colandro x Quattro) finished sixth and Andrew Welles riding Itasca Group LLC’s Brindis Bogibo (Grand Pilot I x Pacific) were seventh with four faults in a time of 41.85 seconds.

It was a great win for Menezes, who celebrated not only with Quintol’s owners, but with his parents who were here watching. “It means everything,” he said. “I’m happy for the horse. He deserves this.”

Menezes has been paired with H5 Quintol for eight years, since he was a young six-year-old jumper. He knew from the start that it would be a good horse for him. “He’s a very special horse,” said Menezes of the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Quintender x Cento. “He’s afraid of everything outside the ring, but not inside the ring. I don’t know, when I rode him I had this special feeling and I always loved him.”

Knowing the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 course designer Alan Wade would be setting the tracks this week, Menezes chose H5 Quintol to be his top horse for the five-star division.

“For me, he’s one of the best out there and I know he builds big enough and tough enough,” said Menezes. “Quintol is a horse that this suits him, he’s very big and very tough, he can go over any course.”

Short-term, Menezes is aiming for Saturday night’s $391,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI 5*, while long-term, he is preparing H5 Quintol and H5 Chaganus to be ready to represent Brazil at the Pan American Games in Peru in August if he is called upon.