Wellington, Fla. — March 28, 2018 — The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) kicked off CSI5* competition for the twelfth and final week with classes in the International Ring including the $1,000 Bainbridge 1.40m and the the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic. Sixty-seven horse-and-rider combinations lined up to compete in the Classic, one of the final few 5* classes before the culmination of the CSI5* $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix on Saturday night. At the end of the day, it was Brazilian athlete Jose Roberto Reynoso who scored the victory in both events aboard two talented mounts.
The course for the the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic, a power and speed round designed by Brazilian native Guilherme Jorge, tested athletes in their ability to execute a power round over the first seven fences with the focus switching to speed for fences eight through 12. The time in which the combinations crossed the timers were considered their jump-off speeds and ranking of the class was determined by the one around alone. Of the 63 starting competitors, 25 combinations were able to complete their rounds without issue and roughly another 20 or combinations had issue with only one rail or time fault. The second phase allowed for 39 seconds to cross the finish line but in what looked to be an effortless feat, Reynoso would clear the timers almost 15 seconds under.
Israeli athlete Daniel Bluman managed to hold the lead well into the the second round of horses following the drag break with Entano, a position he had previously scooped up from Brazilian competitor Yuri Mansur. However, New York native Georgina Bloomberg quickly overthrew his position with an efficient time of 26.159 seconds aboard Paola 233. Bloomberg and the 11-year-old Westphalian mare (Pontifex x Utina) owned by Gotham Enterprizes LLC, have had previous success placing first in the $6,000 1.40m Speed Challenge of week 7 at WEF and second in the $8,000 Rose Hill Farm 1.40m Speed class in week 9.
Bloomberg seemed to have the class in the bag, but Darragh Kenny had the luck of the Irish with him as he piloted Chakito to break the 26 second mark and clear the timers in 25.943 seconds. Chakito, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Chacco Blue x Depardienne) owned by Vlock Show Stables LLC, has had consistent results with Kenny over the course of the WEF season and recently secured a spot in the top 10 during the Week 8 $25,0000 ProElite Jumper Classic 1.45m.
However, with a course designed by a fellow Brazilian native and a win already under his belt, it was Jose Roberto Reynoso who seemed to have luck on his side today. In the previous class, the $1,000 Bainbridge 1.40m, Reynoso managed to shave over half a second off of Erynn Ballard and Emergo’s time to secure a victory with Zambia Mystic Rose in 31.736 seconds. In what seemed to be an effort to outdo even himself, Reynoso shaved approximately 2 one hundredths of a second from Kenny’s lead time and blazed across the timers in 25.711 seconds. Reynoso piloted Magnolia Mystic Rose, an 8-year-old Brazilian bred mare owned by Haras Mystic Rose.
Five-star competition will return to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center tomorrow morning with the final leg of the $132,000 WEF Challenge Cup.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Jose Roberto Reynoso– $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic Winner
On winning both classes today:
“No doubt it was wonderful and a very special day. I hope the week will continue to be even better than it was today.”
On his horses:
“These are both new mares. One is only 8 years old and the other is 9,so they don’t have too much experience. I have only been riding Magnolia Mystic Rose for about a month. For me they are both very good mares and I think they have a lot of potential.”
On showing at WEF:
“It is the second year I’ve come to WEF and I would come every year if I could but finding sponsors is difficult. If I was able to find the right sponsor I would stay here because I think the show here is the top in the world. Showing here in Wellington is a dream come true.”
RESULTS
$35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic CSI5*
Horse / Rider / Country / Phase 1 Faults | Time / Phase 2 Faults | Time
1. Magnolia Mystic Rose / Jose Roberto Reynoso / BRA / 0 | 42.41 / 0 | 25.711
2. Chakito / Darragh Kenny / IRL / 0 | 42.41 / 0 | 25.943
3. Paola 233 / Georgina Bloomberg / USA / 0 | 41.58 / 0 | 26.159
4. Cerise / Mclain Ward / USA / 0 | 43.23 / 0 | 26.413
5. Catungee / Catherine Tyree / USA / 0 | 42.81 / 0 | 26.543
6. Vitiki / Yuri Mansur / BRA / 0 | 42.64 / 0 | 26.615
7. Entano / Daniel Bluman / ISR / 0 | 42.35 / 0 | 26.779
8. Inferno / Yuri Mansur / BRA / 0 | 42.43 / 0 | 27.126
9. Little Lord 90 / Karen Polle / JPN / 0 | 42.64 / 0 | 27.276
10. Penelope Cruz / Capt. Brian Cournane / IRL / 0 | 41.53 / 0 | 27.323
11. Corona 93 / Jose Roberto Reynoso / BRA / 0 | 42.51 / 0 | 27.381
12. Caruschka 2 / Eduardo Menezes / BRA / 0 | 42.56 / 0 | 27.519
For a full list of results, click here.