Alvaro de Miranda and Rodrigo Pessoa Earn Dual Victory
Week seven of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday afternoon with a shared victory for Brazil's Alvaro de Miranda aboard AD Uutje and Rodrigo Pessoa with Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7. Held in a “California Split” due to the large number of entries, the competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $125,000 distributed.
Fredric Cottier of France set the track for Thursday's $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in the International Arena at PBIEC. The class saw a total of 115 entries in round one with 30 clear trips to jump-off. The short course saw ten clear rounds with two combinations opting not to return. Alvaro de Miranda completed the fastest tie breaking round in 37.63 seconds overall for the win in Section A of the class riding AD Uutje. Rodrigo Pessoa finished in 37.89 seconds with Alain van Campenhoudt's Citizenguard Cadjanine Z for the win in Section B. Another rider for Brazil, Yuri Mansor, had the third fastest time of 39.01 seconds with QH Amor.
With the split class, the top three finishers in Section A were Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje in 37.63 seconds, Yuri Mansor and QH Amor in 39.01 seconds, and Reed Kessler (USA) with Ligist in 39.60 seconds.
Section B saw the top placing for Rodrigo Pessoa and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in 37.89 seconds followed by Kent Farrington (USA) and Amalaya Investments' Willow in 39.14 seconds, and Laura Kraut (USA) with Cherry Knoll Farm Inc.'s Cedric in 42.96 seconds.
De Miranda and AD Uutje also shared a victory in week two's $34,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 and the rider noted that his horse, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Monaco x Calypso, is making great progress throughout the circuit.
AD Uutje will compete with de Miranda on the Brazilian team in next week's $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™, presented by G&C Farm, and the riders are excited to have such a promising team going in after the top three finish for Brazil on Thursday.
In addition to the prize money in Thursday's class, de Miranda earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG 'Go Clean for the Green' promotion for wearing his SSG 'Digital' Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG 'Digital' Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.
Final Results: $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 Section A
1. AD UUTJE: 2001 KWPN gelding by Monaco x Calypso
ALVARO DE MIRANDA (BRA), Alvaro de Miranda & Victory Equestrian Sport BV: 0/0/37.63
2. QH AMOR: 2005 KWPN gelding by Namelus R x Haarlem
YURI MANSOR GUERIOS (BRA), Yuri Mansor Guerios: 0/0/39.01
3. LIGIST: 2000 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Levantos II x Robin Z
REED KESSLER (USA), Kessler Show Stables LLC: 0/0/39.60
4. SIMON: 1999 KWPN gelding by Mr. Blue x Polydox
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/0/43.83
5. ROYCE: 2004 Oldenburg stallion by Café au Lait x Grandilot
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Elm Rock LLC: 0/0/46.40
6. GLORY DAYS: 2001 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento 933 x Diamond Serpent
KATIE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners, LLC: 0/4/38.09
7. URICO: 2001 KWPN gelding by Zandor Z x Fedor
BEN MAHER (GBR), Jane F. Clark: 0/4/39.13
8. BLUE ANGEL: 2002 AES mare by Luidam x Ascendant
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Robin Parsky: 0/4/39.42
9. EGANO VAN HET SLOGENHOF: 2004 BWP gelding by Electro x Nagano
EIKEN SATO (JPN), Stephex Stables: 0/4/39.90
10. ACORTE: 2003 Hanoverian mare by Acorado x Stakkato
AUDREY COULTER (USA), Copernicus Stables LLC: 0/4/42.40
11. CORNET D'AMOUR: 2003 Westphalian gelding by Cornet Obolensky x Damiani
DANIEL DEUSSER (GER), Stephex Stables: 0/4/43.40
12. VASCO: 2002 KWPN gelding by Andiamo x Clinton
ADAM PRUDENT (FRA), Plain Bay Farm: 0/4/44.85
Final Results: $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 Section B
1. CITIZENGUARD CADJANINE Z: 2002 Zangersheide mare by Canabis Z x Feinschnitt I Z
RODRIGO PESSOA (BRA), Alain Van Campenhoudt: 0/0/37.89
2. WILLOW: 2003 KWPN gelding by Guidam x Little Rock
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Amalaya Investments: 0/0/39.14
3. CEDRIC: 1998 Holsteiner gelding by Chambertin x Carolus Z
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Cherry Knoll Farm Inc: 0/0/42.96
4. CONTHENDRIX: 2004 Holsteiner gelding by Contendro x Cor de la Bryere
ANDRE THIEME (GER), Andre Thieme: 0/0/45.09
5. URSULA XII: 2001 Scottish Sport Horse mare by Ahorn x Papageno
SCOTT BRASH (GBR), Lady Harris & Lady Kirkham: 0/0/48.46
6. CAFINO: 2003 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento 933 x Roderik 856
ALEXANDER ZETTERMAN (SWE), Alexander Zetterman: 0/4/38.70
7. ZIGALI P S: 2004 KWPN gelding by Kigali x Palfrenier
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 0/4/39.14
8. POWERPLAY: 2004 Holsteiner gelding by Casall x Limbus
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 0/4/39.65
9. BÖCKMANNS LAZIO: 2000 Westphalian stallion by Lancer II x Cor de la Bryere
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Karina Rotenberg: 0/4/40.62
10. BROOKLYN BLUES: 2004 Oldenburg mare by Balou du Rouet x Fruhlingsball
YANN CANDELE (CAN), Carol Sollak: 0/4/42.95
11. QUIZ: 2004 Selle Francais gelding by For Pleasure x Laudanum
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Spruce Meadows: 0/4/44.37
12. QUALITY GIRL: 2003 Oldenburg mare by Quidam's Rubin x Dobrock
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Quality Group: 0/8/39.60