Victory went to Brazil’s Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa (BRA) riding Sharapova Imperio Egipicio in the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m CSI5* and there was a win for Irish rider Jordan Coyle aboard Eristov in the $35,000 Wanderers Club 1.45m CSI2* on Friday. WEF continues through April 1 and offers more than $9 million in prize money.
Musa mastered fellow Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge’s speed track and secured the top spot by more than two seconds. Stopping the clock in 58.08 seconds, he and Sharapova Imperio Egipicio, a 15-year-old Brazilian Sport Horse mare (Baloubet du Rouet x Welton Ambassador) topped the 49-horse field.
Yet another Brazilian, Eduardo Menezes, took second riding Caruschka 2 in 60.97 seconds for owner E2 Stables, while Alexandra Paillot (FRA) was third aboard Uelem Croze, owned by Paillot Equine Consulting, Inc., with a time of 61.82 seconds.
Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa and Sharapova Imperio Egipicio. Photo by Sportfot Photography
Musa has had the ride on Sharapova Imperio Egipicio for a year and always points the mare toward speed classes, saying, “She is very experienced and you never have to touch the reins. The horses and riders in today’s class were very, very fast and you had to take a risk and run the whole time.
“This is a special victory,” continued Musa, who spent the season at WEF with a string of four horses. “I have been coming to WEF for four seasons and I am happy to be here and win here. It’s like the Formula 1 of equestrian sport.”
Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa and Sharapova Imperio Egipicio in their presentation ceremony with Richard Schechter of Bainbridge and ringmaster Steve Rector. Photo by Sportfot Photography
Later in the day, Coyle ended his circuit in just the same way it began after a win in the $35,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 during the first week of the season. Both top placings came aboard Eristov, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Concorde) owned by Elan Farm.
Returning third in Friday’s 1.45m, Coyle was one of 11 riders to advance to Jorge’s jump-off track from an original field of 63. His time of 33.06 seconds held on for the win, dropping Matthew Metell (USA) to second in 33.46 seconds riding Donchalant for owner Wolver Hollow. Javier Fernandez (MEX) rounded out the top three in 34.06 seconds aboard End Good All Good, owned by Miguel Madero.
Jordan Coyle and Eristov. Photo by Sportfot Photography
“This is a spectacular horse,” said Coyle, who rides for Old Salem Farm based in North Salem, NY, and got the ride on Eristov at the end of 2017. “I knew he was going to be great the first time I sat on him and I think he proved that this winter. I have to thank my team at Old Salem Farm and my owner, Elan Farm, for their support in helping me and the horse find success.”
Jordan Coyle and Eristov in their presentation ceremony with ringmaster Steve Rector. Photo by Sportfot Photography
Coyle and Eristov will contest the $50,000 Wanderers Club Grand Prix CSI2* on Sunday during the final day of competition at the 2018 WEF.
“Eristov has definitely earned himself some time off in the paddock as soon as we return home to North Salem,” concluded Coyle.
Final Results: $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m CSI5*
1 SHARAPOVA IMPERIO EGIPICIO: 2002 Brazilian Sport Horse mare by Baloubet du Rouet x Welton Ambassador
FRANCISCO JOSE MESQUITA MUSA (BRA), Daniel Aguiar Morelli: 0/58.08
2 CARUSCHKA 2: 2004 Oldenburg mare by Caspar x Continue
EDUARDO MENEZES (BRA), E2 Stables: 0/60.97
3 UELEM CROZ: 2008 gelding
ALEXANDRA PAILLOT (FRA), Paillot Equestrian Consulting Inc: 0/61.82
4 JIVA: 2009 BWP mare by Concorde (84.4140) x Nonstop
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/62.14
5 CERISE: 2008 SBS mare by Cicero Z van Paemel x Non Stop
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Sagamore Farms: 0/62.79
6 VITIKI: 2008 Hanoverian by Valentino x For Expo
YURI MANSUR (BRA), Yuri Mansur: 0/62.97
7 JEWEL 8: 2009 Belgian Warmblood mar by Kannan x Indoctro
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), The Jewel Group: 0/63.12
8 ELIZABETH: 2009 KWPN mare by Zirocco Blue VDl x Sydney
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Siboney Ranch: 0/63.22
9 WAHRHAFTIGE CR: 2006 Holsteiner mare by Clearway x Coronado
BEN ASSELIN (CAN), Spruce Meadows: 0/63.63
10 CHARMING FORCE B: 2007 KWPN mare by Vleut x Flipper
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Terri Brent Stables & Cynthia Gordon: 0/64.10
11 CAILLOU: 2007 gelding
LUIS PEDRO BIRABEN (ARG), Mighel Madero & Luis Pedro Biraben: 0/64.94
12 BOCKMANNS LAZIO: 2000 Westphalian stallion by Lancer II x Cor de la Bryere
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Gladewinds Farm LLC: 0/65.99
Final Results: $35,000 Wanderers Club 1.45m CSI2*
1 ERISTOV: 2009 KWPN gelding by Cicero Z Van Paemel x Concorde
JORDAN COYLE (IRL), Elan Farm: 0/0/33.06
2 DONCHALANT: 2008 KWPN mare by Larino x Amaretto I
MATTHEW METELL (USA), Wolver Hollow: 0/0/33.46
3 END GOOD ALL GOOD: 2009 KWPN gelding by Mr. Blue x Caretino
JAVIER FERNANDEZ (MEX), Miguel Madero: 0/0/34.06
4 LOUGHNAVATTA INDIGO: 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Luidam x VDL Arkansas
JONATHAN CORRIGAN (IRL), Twin Oaks Stables Inc.: 0/0/34.43
5 VDL CARTELLO: 2007 Holsteiner stallion by Cartani x Lord
CORMAC HANLEY (IRL), Heathman Farm, LLC: 0/4/32.27
6 SHL SWEET TRICIA: 2009 KWPN mare by Caspar x Tampa
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Sarah Ryan: 0/4/34.20
7 DEEJAY: 2008 KWPN gelding by Harley VDL x Amulet
STEPHEN MOORE (IRL), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/4/35.41
8 AANWINST: 2005 KWPN mare by Odermus R x Jackson
JORDAN MACPHERSON (CAN), JEM Stables Inc: 0/4/35.51
9 HH DONNATELLA: 2003 Belgian Warmblood mare by Toulon x Mr. Blue
DANIELA STRANSKY (VEN), Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc.: 0/4/36.86
10 HAVANA DE LA LANDE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Nabab de Reve x Parco
ELISA URIBR (COL), Elisa Uribe: 0/11/50.72
12 BRAVOURE: 2006 KWPN gelding by Tolano Van’t Riethof x Goodwill
BLYTHE KAROLYI (USA), Amalaya Investments: 1/72.54
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