Source:  News Release/Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for JWM Inc.

Laura Kraut and Jubilee d'Ouilly Top
$33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2

Ivory Coast and Peter Pletcher Triumph in
Second Year Green Working Hunter Division

Wellington, FL - Laura Kraut and Jubilee d'Ouilly jumped to victory in the $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Thursday afternoon at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) in an exciting jump-off of top competitors. Last to go in a 24-horse tie breaker with McLain Ward holding the first and second positions, Kraut and Jubilee shaved fractions off of the leading time to win in a dramatic finish.

The second week of FTI WEF competition, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run January 16-20. Highlight events include the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday evening and the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI WEF runs through March 31 featuring 12 weeks of world-class competition.

Luc Musette of Belgium is the course designer in the International Arena for week two. In Thursday's $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2, Musette saw 57 entries in the first round of competition with 24 advancing to the jump-off. Only nine competitors were able to clear the short course without fault as they raced against the clock, and Laura Kraut and Jubilee d'Ouilly's time of 35.57 seconds took top honors.

Laura Kraut and Jubilee d'Ouilly. Photo © Sportfot.

McLain Ward finished second and third with his mounts Rothchild and Zhum CW. Ward and Sagamore Farm's Rothchild stopped the clock in 35.70 seconds to place second. Ward guided Zhum CW, owned by Ilan Ferder and Missy Clark, to third place in 36.22 seconds.

Jubilee d'Ouilly is a 16-year-old Selle Francais mare by Palestro II x Graphit, owned by A. Le Bon and F.X. Le Bon. The mare has had a very successful career in Europe and just made her first trip to the United States this winter as a new mount for Kraut. The rider detailed, "I got her at the end of November. She is now 16 years old. She has had an illustrious career with Penolope Leprovost and Trevor Coyle, so I have big shoes to fill."

"Trevor unfortunately got hurt, so they called me and asked if I would take over the ride, which was an unexpected and pleasant surprise," Kraut smiled. "I have jumped her twice. I jumped in Paris and then London. In London she was very unlucky; she had one down in the grand prix, but she should have been clear, she jumped a really good round."

Jubilee just got out of quarantine in Wellington on Monday and is off to a great start for the winter. Kraut is not sure how long she will have the ride, but plans to enjoy her time with the talented horse.

"Trevor doesn't know how long his injury is going to last, so he is not sure when he can come back," Kraut explained. "I think they both agreed that she is not getting any younger. She needs to kind of go on if she is going to go, being 16, so I don't know. I am just happy to have the ride on her for now."

Last to go in the jump-off, Kraut was able to watch McLain Ward go on his first mount and figure out a plan with Jubilee. Their times were extremely close.

"I stayed specifically to watch McLain go on Rothchild," she noted. "I didn't see him go on his second, but he did six strides from jump one to jump two, which I knew I couldn't do. She doesn't have that kind of stride, but she is a very quick horse, so I just thought I could outturn him to the orange jump. That would be the only place I made up that time because he was galloping."

Ward was not sure if his time would hold up with some of the good horses and riders that followed him. He stated, "I actually thought all four at the end of the jump-off had a chance; they are all great riders and fast horses. That mare with Laura is a very experienced, older horse who has always been super fast, just naturally fast. Rothchild did kick out pretty hard rolling back, which I think slowed him up a little and I checked to the last jump. Smooth is always faster and that wasn't so smooth, so there were a couple of little mistakes on my part, but I was thrilled with both of my horses. The horse of Ilan and Missy's is new. I went as fast as I really wanted to go today and it wasn't quite fast enough. A great rider and a very experienced horse beat you and that is going to happen sometimes."

Kraut looks forward to the rest of the circuit now having Jubilee as well her Olympic partner Cedric to show in the big classes. She stated, "The owner is obviously aware that I have Cedric and so I think that she is looking forward to me being able to jump Jubilee alongside with him. With her being 16 years old and Cedric being 15 years old, neither one of them can go, go, go all the time, so I think it is really nice that I will have two sort of premier horses and just be able to flip-flop between them."

Laura Kraut and Jubilee d'Ouilly in their winning presentation with ringmaster Cliff Haines. Photo © Sportfot.

Also showing in the International Arena on Thursday, Katie Monahan-Prudent earned victory in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumper Classic aboard Michael Smith's V. Out of 41 competitors and seven entries that made it to the jump-off, the pair had the fastest of six double clear rounds in 37.220 seconds. Andres Rodriguez and Arao Enterprises, LLC's Aberdeen 33 finished second in 37.508 seconds.

Final Results: $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2

1. JUBILEE D'OUILLY: 1997 Selle Francais mare by Palestro II x Graphit

LAURA KRAUT (USA), A. Le Bon and F.X. Le Bon: 0/0/35.57

2. ROTHCHILD: 2001 SBS gelding by Artos x Elegant De L'Ile
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Sagamore Farms: 0/0/35.70

3. ZHUM CW: 2004 KWPN gelding by Querlybet Hero x Cambridge

MCLAIN WARD (USA), Ilan Ferder & Missy Clark: 0/0/36.22

4. ZAFIRA: 2004 KWPN mare Nassau x Cappucino van Berkenbroek
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Haity McNerney: 0/0/37.33

5. QUOINTREAU UN PRINCE: 2004 Selle Francais gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Rosire
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), LAURA CHAPOT & MCLAIN WARD: 0/0/38.19

6. WANNICK WH: 2003 KWPN stallion by Heartbreaker x Joost
CHRISTINE MCCREA  (USA), Candy Tribble/Windsor Show Stables: 0/0/38.43

7. G&C FLASH: 2002 Hanoverian gelding by Forrester x Grannus

LUIS LARRAZABAL (VEN), Gustavo Mirabal: 0/0/38.72

8. ULTIMO: 2001 KWPN gelding by Marlon x Laroche
HECTOR FLORENTINO (DOM), Stransky's Mission Farm: 0/0/39.18

9. UTAN: 2001 KWPN gelding by Burggraaf x Concorde
ANGELA COVERT (CAN), Eastwood Group: 0/0/39.99

10. CARLOTTA SINGULAR: 2002 Hanoverian mare by Chasseur x Singular Joter
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Susan Grange: 0/4/36.38

11. ROCKY W: 1998 KWPN gelding by Libero H x Corofino
KAITLIN CAMPBELL (USA), Kaitlin Campbell: 0/4/36.49

12. HH LET'S FLY: 1999 Hanoverian gelding by Lordanos x Forrest

RODRIGO PESSOA (BRA), Double H Farm: 0/4/36.76

Ivory Coast and Peter Pletcher Triumph in Second Year Green
Working Hunter Division

Ivory Coast and Peter Pletcher were named champions of the Second Year Green Working Hunter division after two days of competition at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Ivory Coast, owned by Eva Bisso, and Pletcher led the division after day one of competition when they placed third and sixth over fences before winning the under saddle. Ivory Coast and Pletcher picked up another blue ribbon, this time over fences, and placed sixth in the stake round on day two.

Pletcher was also in the irons for the division's reserve champion, Westbrooke, owned by Laurie Lewis. The eleven-year-old Warmblood gelding placed first and second over fences and fifth under saddle on day one, followed by fifth and fourth places over fences on day two.

"As a duo, they're night and day, but they're both very game horses. I don't ever worry about them spooking. It doesn't matter what ring, when it is, they always give it their all," Scott described of the winning pair.

Pletcher found Ivory Coast last summer for owner Bisso, who was looking for a horse to compete with in Adult Hunter divisions. The eleven-year-old Trakehner won them over with his superior quality of movement and sweet personality.

Peter Pletcher and Ivory Coast. Photo © Anne Gittins Photography.

"We thought we'd buy a horse that could do bigger jumps and maybe the derbies also. So we looked around and found him. He's beautiful and a really good mover, and also super sweet," Pletcher described. "Eva has shown him a few times in lower adult classes and he's got a super brain."

Pletcher went on to describe Ivory Coast's fluid movement as the gelding's greatest strength in the ring. "He's really smooth. He has a beautiful topline, and has such a beautiful way of going that if maybe he jumps one jump a little funnier, his topline is so pretty that it makes the jump look better," Pletcher stated.

Fortunately, Pletcher didn't have to worry about any mistakes over fences during this division. Ivory Coast was undaunted by the course laid out by Philip J. Devita. "The course was really, really good. There were a lot of oxers in the class. There's a lot of different stuff that some of the other horses might have spooked or been a little funny at, but he didn't really care at all," Pletcher stated.

Week two of competition at the FTI WEF, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, continues Friday with the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51 & Over (Section A), hosted in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Arena and the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class in the International Arena. For full results, go to www.showgroundslive.com.

Wellington, FL - The second week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off on Wednesday, January 16, with a win for Conor Swail (IRL) and Carlotta Singular in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

The second week of FTI WEF competition, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run January 16-20. Highlight events include the $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Thursday afternoon, the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday evening, and the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic on Sunday afternoon. The 2013 FTI WEF runs through March 31 featuring 12 weeks of world-class competition.  

Luc Musette of Belgium is the course designer in the International Arena for week two jumper competition. In the first class of the week, 24 entries showed in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class. Only six entries were able to clear the course without fault, and the fastest clear round belonged to Ireland's Conor Swail and his mount Carlotta Singular, owned by Susan Grange. The pair was first to go in the class and set an unbeatable pace at 61.578 seconds.

Ramiro Quintana finished second in 63.718 seconds riding Largo, owned by Maverick Ventures, LLC. Darragh Kenny placed third in 65.161 seconds riding Delilah, owned by Derbypie. Conor Swail also took fourth place honors with his time of 65.683 seconds aboard Cloverleaf Farm's Vancouver D.M.L.

Conor Swail and Carlotta Singular. Photo © Sportfot.

Carlotta Singular, an eleven-year-old Hanoverian mare by Chasseur x Singular Joter, is a brand new ride for Swail. The mare showed successfully under Canadian rider Yann Candele for several years and now seems to be off to a good start with her new partner.

Swail stated, "I just started riding her ten days ago. She is a very nice jumper with a lot of experience. She is fun to ride."

Commenting on his round today, Swail noted, "Today was good. I was first to go and her own natural way is quick. She likes running along and being fast anyway, so just doing the turns and floating along, it suits her actually. It was a nice round; I was very pleased with how she jumped."

Going first, Swail's plan was just to be neat and tidy around the course. "I wanted to get a nice result. There was still a good bit left, but like I said, she is naturally fast, so it makes it a lot easier just to be neat and tidy. The course was good. It was big enough I thought. It was flowing and he gave you a few options. It was nice."

Swail will ride Carlotta for the rest of the circuit. He plans to show the mare in the$33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 tomorrow afternoon and will then show in the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday evening.

"My plan is for her to do the bigger classes," Swail stated. "I am just getting used to her a little bit now and trying to figure her out and see what she does well."

Conor Swail with ringmaster Cliff Haines and Luis Miguel Martinez of G&C Farm. Photo (c) Sportfot.

Swail has several nice mounts for this year's circuit and looks forward to having more success as the weeks continue.

"I have started to ride Sue Grange's horses now and she has a lot of nice horses," he detailed. "It is a nice opportunity for me to have a good season here. Carlotta will be the main one and also Landsdowne; he is a nice stallion. Those too I will do mainly for the big classes. There are also a few other very nice ones to do the other classes."

The $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off and speed classes were also held in the International Arena on Wednesday with two more wins for the Irish. In the jump-off class, Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm, LLC's Amaretto D'Arco were victorious. In a class of 94 competitors, 22 entries made it to the jump-off round and 12 jumped double clear. Sweetnam and Amaretto D'Arco won it in a time of 31.438 seconds. Pablo Barrios and ZL Group's Zara Leandra were just fractions behind in 31.502 seconds to finish in second.

In the speed class, Darragh Kenny guided Cavallo Farms' Gucci to victory with the fastest clear round out of 54 competitors in 64.462 seconds. Matt Williams and North Star's Cyrina Z finished second in 68.330 seconds.

Week two will continue on Thursday with the $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 as the highlight class in the International Arena at 1 p.m. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

Final Results: $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m

1. CARLOTTA SINGULAR      CONOR SWAIL          SUSAN GRANGE: 0/61.578

2. LARGO           RAMIRO QUINTANA        MAVERICK VENTURES, LLC: 0/63.718

3. DELILAH     DARRAGH KENNY      DERBYPIE: 0/65.161

4. VANCOUVER D.M.L.         CONOR SWAIL          CLOVERLEAF FARM: 0/65.683

5. WOTSAMILLION    LAURA KRAUTSTONE HILL FARM: 0/69.268

6. NOUVELLE       LAURA KRAUT    EVITA GROUP: 0/70.977

7. MERLIN         JEFFERY WELLES  NOEL GROSS: 4/63.616

8. JUBILEE D'OUILLY  LAURA KRAUTA. LEBON: 4/64.749

9. COLGATE         PABLO BARRIOS  PABLO BARRIOS: 4/65.435

10. DIXSON         IAN MILLAR       ARIEL AND SUSAN GRANGE: 4/66.882

11. AMOR VAN DE ROSTAL   MAC CONE     CHADBURN HOLDINGS, INC: 4/69.288

12. SEVENTH FEE     MICHAEL DORMAN     WYNDMONT: 4/71.044

Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, An Official Photographer of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, us.sportfot.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are "AA" rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.

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