NICK SKELTON SECOND IN $75,000 WELLINGTON GRAND PRIX
Monday 01 February 2010
Nick Skelton riding Beverley Widdowson’s Carlo 273 finished second in yesterday’s $75,000Nespresso Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival held in Wellington, Florida.
Germany's Olaf Petersen Jr. designed the course with 13 numbered obstacles in the first round, including a triple combination and an orange oxer at the end of the course that seemed to get the best of most of the competitors. The time allowed in the first round was 76 seconds. A total of 41 horse and rider pairs from 11 different countries came out today to dominate the first course, but only seven managed to advance to the jump off.
The first of the seven to return for the jump-off was Marilyn Little-Meredith (USA) aboard Blue Curacao, owned by Paul and Mary Loeber. They posted a flawless score and set the pace in a time of 37.20 seconds.
Crelido, piloted by Michael Morrissey (USA), made great time and stopped the clock at 36.28 seconds, but unfortunately had the final fence down. Prezioso S and Lauren Hough (USA) were the next challengers and the pair became the new leaders capturing the time of 36.44 seconds with a clear round.
Promised Land, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables, and Christine McCrea (USA) had a faster time next in the jump-off, but had an unfortunate rail mid-course. The next contenders, Carlo 273 and Nick Skelton, entered the ring and took over the top spot with a very fast time of 35.50 seconds with no faults.
Skelton spoke very proudly of his horse and explained, "The horse is only nine and relatively inexperienced. I could have made up time to the double, but I didn't want to risk it."
With only two competitors left and Skelton in the lead, Todd Minikus (USA) and Pavarotti set out to master the course and posted a blazing time of 34.68 seconds to lead the pack. Sarah Segal (USA) was the last of the competitors to challenge the leading time, but with four faults and a time of 38.17 seconds, Minikus was able to prevail and capture first place.
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CSI2* Wellington FL, USA
Final Results: $75,000 Nespresso Grand Prix
1. PAVAROTTI: 1997 KWPN gelding by Lancelot xx Renville
TODD MINIKUS (USA), TODD MINIKUS LTD: 0/0/34.68
2. CARLO 273: 1999 Holsteiner gelding by Cambridge xx Cantus
NICK SKELTON (GBR), BEVERLY WIDDOWSON: 0/0/35.50
3. PREZIOSO S: 1996 German stallion by Pilox xx Syndikat
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), HIGHLIFE FARMS: 0/0/36.44
Final Results: $75,000 Nespresso Grand Prix
1. PAVAROTTI: 1997 KWPN gelding by Lancelot xx Renville
TODD MINIKUS (USA), TODD MINIKUS LTD: 0/0/34.68
2. CARLO 273: 1999 Holsteiner gelding by Cambridge xx Cantus
NICK SKELTON (GBR), BEVERLY WIDDOWSON: 0/0/35.50
3. PREZIOSO S: 1996 German stallion by Pilox xx Syndikat
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), HIGHLIFE FARMS: 0/0/36.44
The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 13 through April 4. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are "AA" rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $5.5 million in prize money will be awarded.
Photo © 2010 Randi Muster/Mustphoto, Inc., Official Sport Photographer of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.