East Dorset, Vt. – July 12, 2018 – Matthew Metell of Wellington, FL, earned his third consecutive victory at the 25th annual Vermont Summer Festival by winning the $10,000 New Balance Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets on Thursday, July 5, during the six-week circuit running through August 12 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
Seven horses advanced to the jump-off track set by Alan Wade of Tipperary, Ireland, who also has the prestigious appointment as course designer for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) in Tryon, NC, this September.
Returning early over the short course, Metell, 28, proved that Donchalant, a 10-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood mare (Larino x Amaretto I) owned by Wolver Hollow, is tough to beat by stopping the clock with a clear round in 31.43 seconds. Christian Coyle of Derry, Ireland, who rides for Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY, was just off the pace to finish second riding Dolce Vita KDW Z, owned by Andrew Kocher, in 32.95 seconds. Morgan Ward of Milford, NJ, posted a time of 43.10 seconds to finish third riding Diacord for owner Sorelli, LLC.
Cynthia McGrath of Hummelstown, PA, finished fourth aboard Caruso, owned by Wynnwood Farm, LLC, in a time of 34.87 seconds, while Vermont native Adelaide Toensing of Charlotte rounded out the top five riding Blue with a double-clear effort in 35.20 seconds.
“She has been fast since I got her and she won a lot of classes in Europe before she came over,” said Metell of his winning mount, a mare he imported together with Theodore “Teddy” Demetriou of Wolver Hollow in Chester, NY. “Her previous rider Rodrigo [Silva Morgado of Portugal] told me she was fast; she has a lot of foot speed and doesn’t mind turning quick to the jumps. That is the whole package and a lot of fun to ride.”
In addition to his share of the prize money from Thursday’s win, Metell was awarded a $1,000 gift card to the New Balance shop at Manchester Designer Outlets. Additionally, Manchester Designer Outlets presented Coyle with a $250 gift certificate to the Le Creuset store in recognition of his second-place finish.
Metell also claimed the Manchester Designer Outlet Welcome Stake during opening week of the Vermont Summer Festival, saying, “Their support means a lot. Not a lot of horse shows award special prizes and every dollar of our prize money goes into an account to pay for the horse show and our horses, so it’s a nice plus to be here and get to visit Manchester Designer Outlets.
“This one will come in especially useful because I have a race coming up in month!” continued Metell, who will put his New Balance shopping spree to good use before running in the 7.1-mile Falmouth Road Race on August, 19, in his hometown of Falmouth, MA.
Open jumper competition continues during the second week of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival with the $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix, presented by The Equinox Resort, on Saturday, July 14, when Metell and Donchalant will look to defend their grand prix title from week one.
RESULTS
$10,000 New Balance Welcome Stake
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Faults | Time
1. Matthew Metell / Wellington, FL / Donchalant / 0 / 0 | 31.43
2. Christian Coyle / Derry, Ireland / Dolce Vita KDW Z / 0 / 0 | 32.95
3. Morgan Ward / Milford, NJ / Diacord / 0 / 0 | 34.10
4. Cynthia McGrath / Hummelstown, PA / Caruso / 0 / 0 | 34.87
5. Adelaide Toensing / Charlotte, VT / Blue / 0 / 0 | 35.20
6. Jennifer Kocher / Chester, NY / Carlos / 0 /0 | 35.23
7. Lainie Wimberly / Ridgefield, CT / RF Quarterman / 0 / 0 | 35.36
8. David Jennings / Franklin, TN / Donegue / 4
9. Karyn Foley / Wilton, CT / Falco / 4
10. Lincoln Russell / Columbus, NC / Gaverdi Z / 4