January 20, 2021 – Wellington, FL – Todd Minikus (USA) and Alberto Michan (ISR) bested a field of 105 entries in the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers as the second week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) got underway at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).
The upcoming week at WEF features an abundance of international show jumping with CSI3* competition on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village with the $37,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Friday, Saturday’s $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Jumper Classic and $10,000 Hermès U25 Welcome, and a thrilling Sunday of competition featuring the $137,000 Restylane Grand Prix CSI3* followed by the $25,000 Hermès U25 Grand Prix. All the feature classes will be available to watch for free on the livestream.
Todd Minikus and Napoleon Of Picobello win Section A of the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers ©Sportfot
Minikus piloted the nine-year-old Zangersheide stallion Napoleon Of Picobello for Louisburg Farm over the two-round course set by Nick Granat (USA), stopping the timers at 23.950 seconds. The pair has been together for the past nine months and are starting to find a rhythm.
“It was a nice course for the first class of the week and my horse has won three 1.40m classes in a row now,” he said. “He won two last week and now today so I’m pretty proud of his success so far. He’s a careful horse. He had a little bit of trouble focusing and now he seems to be really focused and he’s becoming pretty consistent. I’m very thankful to Louisburg Farm for the opportunity to ride him.”
Alberto Michan and Cosa Nostra win Section B of the $6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers ©Sportfot
Michan and his own Cosa Nostra, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, left all the jumps in their cups and crossed the finish line in 24.221 seconds. The victory marked their return to the ring for the first time since showing in the CSI3* in Wellington in November 2020.
“I gave her a nice break because she did a lot this past year,” he said. “I’m just starting to get her back to the ring, and I had planned to do two classes this week, but I felt her jumping so well I decided she would only jump today. Hopefully I’ll continue to bring her back to do the CSI4* and CSI5*. She has a lot of experience, she’s very careful and scopey, and I’m very happy to feel her first time out in such great shape. I’m hoping to have a good, long year.”
$6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers Section A
1. NAPOLEON OF PICOBELLO: 2012 Zangersheide stallion by Nabab De Rêve x Picobello Eurocommerce Sao Pao
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Louisburg Farm: 0/23.950
2. THORNHILL KATE: 2005 Irish Sport Horse mare by Courage II x Clover Hill
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Laura & Mary Chapot: 0/24.769
3. DIADEM DU THOT: 2013 SF gelding by L’arc De Triomphe*bois Margot x Olympe Du Thot
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Stars and Stripes: 0/25.729
4. LUKE SKYWALKER 70: 2011 Hanoverian gelding by Levisonn x Carthaga Z
GUSTAVO PRATO (ARG), Kisma Equestrian, LLC: 0/26.311
5. DIJON TERDOORN Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Himarra ter Doorn
BEAT MÄNDLI (SUI), Grant Road Partners, LLC: 0/26.771
6. CLEARBLUE Z: 2010 Zangersheide gelding by Cleaurway x Satene Sheets
REBECCA CONWAY (USA), Hillington Farm: 0/27.084
$6,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Jumpers Section B
1. COSA NOSTRA: 2010 Oldenburg mare by Conthargos x Quintender
ALBERTO MICHAN (ISR), Alberto Michan: 0/24.221
2. LATINO VAN DE LOOISE HEIDE: 2011 BWP gelding by Cantos x Hadrilla Van De Looiseheide
SARAH HUBBARD (USA), Hubbard Horses, LLC: 0/25.352
3. VIVA: 2012 SWB mare by Vivaldi K x Arlette
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Grenlundagarden I Vitaby: 0/26.139
4. CORBAWIDO PS: 2012 PZHK by Balou Du Revention x Annette
GAVIN HARLEY (IRL), Wolfstone Stables and Sales Inc: 0/26.388
5. QUATINKA: 2011 Hanoverian mare by Frh Quaid x Piazza
DARRAH KENNY (IRL), SHL Farm: 0/26.941
6. MALLE BABBE VAN’T KIEVELD: 2012 BWP mare by Emerald x Campiola Van Den Hoendrik
DAVID ARCAND (CAN), Les Productions Yapasdemots: 0/27.128