In the $36,000 Equiminity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6, 61 entries went to post for a chance at prize money and the opportunity to compete in Friday night’s $134,000 CabanaCoast Grand Prix CSI 3*. There were 13 clear in the first round, and 10 of those chose to return for the jump-off.
Setting the pace as the first ones in the jump-off, Laura Chapot (USA) and Chandon Blue, owned by Mary Chapot, were clear and very fast in 36.77 seconds. However, it would not quite be enough, and they settled for second place. Third place went to Kelli Cruciotti (USA) riding her own Hadja van Orshof, who were clear in 38.01 seconds.
Ibrahim Barazi and Omnia Incipit. Photo © Sportfot.
Cutting more than two seconds off the leading time, Barazi and Omnia Incipit, an 11-year-old Bavarian mare by Lordanos owned by IB Stable, brought the winning time down to 34.59 seconds.
Barazi, who was only showing in his 22nd FEI class, won his first FEI class during week 9 last year and marked the first win for a Jordanian rider at WEF. He planned to compete in this event and aimed for a strong performance.
“I think I rode horribly the first round; she jumped amazing,” said the rider who trained with Joe Fargis after moving to the United States. “The course was very, very nice and challenging enough considering the size of the ring we have. I don’t think the course designer over-faced anyone. It wasn’t overly big or wide. It was just a smart course. The horses needed stamina to get from the start to the finish. Things show up quick. It’s almost like riding in an indoor.”
Barazi saw Chapot go first in the jump-off and felt there were two places on course where he cut off two seconds of time. “I saw everybody do 10 [strides] in the last line,” he explained. “My mare, although she’s small, she has a big stride. I decided to just use that stride and the long line to make up for the nine [strides] every step of the way, to get closer to the Hermès oxer, and it worked out. Where I also thought I was a little quicker was 3ab to 4. I just put a curve in that line and took the chances of jumping the oxer on an angle and making it wider for the horse, but I know she’s good and would do it.”
It’s a bit of a fairytale story for Barazi and the 15.3 hand-high Omnia Incipit. Barazi found her in Slovakia in “the middle of nowhere.” When friends in Europe called Barazi, knowing his type of horse, he watched a video of her jumping 1.20m online.
Ibrahim Barazi and Omnia Incipit in their winning presentation with ringmaster Steve Rector. Photo © Sportfot.
“I was like, ‘This horse looks like she can jump,’” he recalled. “I flew over all the way for her. I did one trip. She was spinning and doing exciting things, and I didn’t jump much. I got back to the airport, slept there for the night, and flew back the next morning. We did the vetting and it looked good, and I bought the horse.”
While he originally had partners that owned Omnia Incipit, Barazi now owns her fully. “She has a very big personality,” he said of the mare. “She’s very sensitive. I would describe her as a cat. If there’s anything underneath her, she’ll just jump away. That’s what makes her a good show jumper; she just wants to jump away from the fences, higher and higher.”
Final Results: $36,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 6
1 OMNIA INCIPIT: 2008 Bavarian mare by Lordanos
IBRAHIM BARAZI (JOR), IB Stable: 0/0/34.59
2 CHANDON BLUE: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco Blue x Landcapitol
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Mary Chapot: 0/0/36.77
3 HADJA VAN ORSHOF: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Cabrio van de Heffinck
KELLI CRUCIOTTI (USA), Kelli Cruciotti: 0/0/38.01
4 D CAROLUS: 2008 KWPN gelding by Tjungske x Calando I JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 0/0/39.41
5 DINGEMAN: 2008 KWPN gelding by Nintender x Darnels SANTIAGO LAMBRE (MEX), Santiago Lambre: 0/4/35.76
6 CATINKA 25: 2009 Oldenburg mare by Catoki x Luxano
VANESSA MANNIX (CAN), Vanessa Mannix: 0/4/38.32
7 CACHAREL: 2007 KWPN mare by Vingino x Clinton
KELLY SOLEAU-MILLAR (USA), Bridge Brook Arms and Donna Vanderwoude-Dymant: 0/4/39.90
8 CHARLY BROWN: 2005 BWP gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Burggraaf
TEDDY VLOCK (ISR), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/4/40.10
9 KOULTAN DE TORRES: 2010 CDE gelding by Ukato x Skippy II
ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Martin Canet: 0/4/40.92
10 KS CORADINA: 2007 LWB mare by Corlensky G x Cardento 933
SUSAN HORN (CAN), Kingsfield Farm: 0/4/41.00
11 ROBIN DE PONTHUAL: 2005 Selle Francais gelding by Elf D’or x Calypso D’Herbiers*Ecolit
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), Katherine Gallagher: 0/WD
11 CLASSIC DREAM: 2010 German Sport Horse gelding by Colestus x Inster Graditz
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Darragh Kenny and Ann Thompson: 0/WD
11 DAYLIGHT VDL: 2008 KWPN gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Stakkato
MARKUS BEERBAUM (GER), Daylight Group: 0/WD