Todd Minikus and Amex Z Capture $72,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI4* at TIEC

Todd Minikus and Amex Z Photo: ©Sportfot
Todd Minikus and Amex Z
Photo: ©Sportfot

Mill Spring, NC – June 6, 2019 – Todd Minikus (USA) and Amex Z came out on top in the $72,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI4* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), stopping the jump-off clock at 36.242 seconds to claim their second consecutive FEI victory. Aaron Vale (USA) and Finou 4, a 2006 Hanoverian gelding (Flashlight 16 x Concetto Famos) owned by Thinks Like A Horse and Donald E. Stewart, stopped the jump-off timers at 38.149 seconds to secure the pair a second place finish, while third place was awarded to Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Casper, a 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Contender x Baloubet Du Rouet) owned by Sky Group, with a jump-off time of 38.902 seconds.

Course Designer Kelvin Bywater (GBR) had 46 entries test the course, with eight pairs returning for the jump-off round. Minikus and the 2009 Zangersheide mare (Andiamo Z x Landaris), owned by Bit By Bit Group, were proud to be representing Horseware on their saddle pad as the pair received the top honors, Minikus expressed.

Aaron Vale and Finou 4 Photo: ©Sportfot
Aaron Vale and Finou 4
Photo: ©Sportfot

“In the first round, Amex jumped really nice. She won last Sunday’s Classic and that was the last time she was in the ring. I ran her pretty hard in that jump-off, and I did not know if that was going to have her a little undone or not,” Minikus explained. “She rode beautifully in the first round today and then she was spot on in the jump-off. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Minikus followed Vale in the jump-off, and was able to take advantage of following behind the seasoned competitor, he noted. “Typical Aaron was lightning fast. Aaron Vale and I were brought up in the same path of horsemen through our years. So today, I was a little older and wiser, I’ll say,” Minikus added.

“I got to go after him [Vale] and that’s always a big deal to be able to follow him, instead of trying to set the pace,” Minikus said. “His horse [Finou 4] tried really hard at the blue oxer before the combination. He had to reorganize before the combination. I got lucky to find the flowing one [stride] to the combination and I think that was the difference.”

Sharn Wordley and Casper Photo: ©Sportfot
Sharn Wordley and Casper
Photo: ©Sportfot

Minikus elaborated that part of his success with the mare at TIEC has come from learning how to set her up for success in the venue’s environment. “She’s a little funny in the schooling area and in the traffic. And this schooling area is unique with the people standing above her. So we do wear blinkers on her in the schooling area – it’s just calming for her and helps her concentrate as we are warming up,” Minikus stated.

After receiving her honors and leading the victory gallop, Amex Z was led back to the barn in a rope halter. “We lead a lot of our horses in rope halters,” Minikus revealed. “They behave in them, and it is not as aggressive as a chain over the nose. We like to think we are practicing better horsemanship, even when she gets to be a handful sometimes.”

The winning duo plans to return to Tryon Stadium this Saturday under the lights for the $204,000 Coca-Cola Grand Prix CSI4*, which will kick off at 8pm. After finishing out the week, Minikus plans to remain at TIEC and work with some of the younger horses. “We will show at the national shows here and get some miles for them, and then we will fire back up for the [FEI] summer shows.”

RESULTS

$72,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI4*
Place / Horse / Rider / R1 Faults | Time / R2 Faults | Time
1. Amex Z / Todd Minikus / 0 | 66.14 / 0 | 36.242
2. Finou 4 / Aaron Vale / 0 | 70.37 / 0 | 38.149
3. Casper / Sharn Wordley / 0 | 69.42 / 0 | 38.902
4. Hadja Van Orshof / Kelli Cruciotti / 0 | 68.98 / 0 | 40.019
5. Venus / Hector Florentino / 0 | 70.14 / 4 | 39.537
6. Keoki / David Blake / 0 | 71.83 / 4 | 40.078
7. Abracadabra Wkt / Daniel Bedoya / 0 | 69.06 / 8 | 38.029
8. Bull Run’s Almighty / Kristen Vanderveen / 0 | 69.77 / 8 | 38.102
9. Chaqui Z / Shane Sweetnam / 1 | 73.53
10. Bull Run’s Risen / Kristen Vanderveen / 1 | 74.45
11. Ibabco / Santiago Lambre / 4 | 66.5
12. Gatsby / Sharn Wordley / 4 | 67.64

For full results, click here.

Kelli Cruciotti and Zidante Dominate $6,000 1.40m Power & Speed Stake CSI4* at TIEC

Kelli Cruciotti (USA) and Zidante cruised around Wednesday’s $6,000 1.40m Power & Speed Stake CSI 4* to open FEI competition at Tryon Spring 6 TR&HC Charity Horse Show, stopping the speed portion timers at 29.579 seconds. Savannah Jenkins (USA) and Quitana 11, a 2006 Holsteiner mare (Quick Star x Lucky Lionell) owned by Georgy Sarah Maskrey-Segesman, claimed second on a speed phase time of 30.178 seconds, while Pablo Barrios (VEN) and Le Vio, his own 2009 Hanoverian gelding (Van Gogh x Drosselklang II), cleared the speed test in 30.66 seconds to take third.

Kelli Cruciotti and Zidante Photo: ©Sportfot
Kelli Cruciotti and Zidante
Photo: ©Sportfot

Cruciotti and the 2004 Dutch Warmblood mare (Cantos x Herannus) owned by Serenity Farm have been paired for six years, competing together in the Junior Jumpers. “I’ve pretty much done everything with her. She has a heart of gold,” Cruciotti explained. “She tries so hard for me in every class. She loves to compete, and I think she wants to win more than I do, so she just loves it. She’s just an amazing horse.

“I loved the course,” Cruciotti said of the Kelvin Bywater (GBR) design. “This was my first time ever showing here. The ring felt great, and the horses jumped awesome. I’m looking forward to a great week.”

Despite a speedy performance to take the win, “I actually just wanted to have a nice, efficient round,” Cruciotti admitted. “I wasn’t thinking about going super fast. My main goal with her this week is actually for Sunday in the $36,000 1.45m Sunday Classic CSI 4*. She’s so naturally fast and she has her own rhythm, so it’s not hard to go fast. I just kind of have to let her go.

“This year has probably been one of her best years,” Cruciotti continued. “She won a 5* class in Wellington, she just last week won a 4* Speed Stake at Devon. She’s 15 years old, and she’s finding her stride now. I’m really proud of her.”

RESULTS

$6,000 1.40m Power & Speed Stake CSI4*
Place / Horse / Rider / R1 Faults | Time / R2 Faults | Time
1. Zidante / Kelli Cruciotti / 0 | 37.75 / 0 | 29.579
2. Quitana 11 / Savannah Jenkins / 0 | 37.68 / 0 | 30.178
3. Le Vio / Pablo Barrios / 0 | 37.74 / 0 | 30.66
4. Dante / Briley Koerner / 0 | 37.44 / 0 | 31.795
5. Abracadabra Wkt / Daniel Bedoya / 0 | 38.06 / 0 | 32.755
6. Cairo B / Deborah Stephens / 0 | 38.43 / 0 | 32.83
7. Redmond / Freddie Vazquez / 0 | 36.08 / 0 | 33.17
8. April Moon / Angel Karolyi / 0 | 38.62 / 0 | 33.683
9. Eastern Jam / Hunter Holloway / 0 | 37.2 / 0 | 33.706
10. Valentino Du Soleil / Ali Leopold-Moreno / 0 | 36.89 / 0 | 37.821
11. Kirschwasser SCF / Shane Sweetnam / 0 | 38.98 / 1 | 45.659
12. Carlos Jd Z / Darragh Kerins / 1 | 44.5 / 1 | 44.783

For full results, click here.

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