April 6 - May 15, 2016 EDITOR: JENNIFER WOOD Ben Maher and Sarena Triumph in Kodachrome and Russell Frey Win $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby to Conclude the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival Ben Maher and Sarena captured the biggest win of the 2016 WEF circuit in the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*. © Sportfot Russell Frey and Kodachrome led from start to finish to win the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. © Sportfot Grand prix action at the 2016 Winter to continue on to the jump-off to The 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival one, and Danny Robertshaw and Jim Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded automatically finish seventh. Yann (WEF) completed its final day of Clapperton judged the rounds on panel with an exciting international Candele (CAN) and the Watermark competition on Sunday with a win two. showdown Saturday night as Great Group’s First Choice 15 were then for Russell Frey and Nina Koloseike Britain’s Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s the first pair to jump the short Moore’s Kodachrome in the $50,000 Russell Frey and Kodachrome led Sarena jumped to victory in the course, finishing with 12 faults in USHJA International Hunter Derby. the standings heading into Sunday’s $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*. 52.31 seconds to place sixth. Jessica final round with the high score of 185 The finale grand prix for the winter Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Held on the beautiful grass field at The circuit, Maher and Sarena topped a Farm’s Cynar Va jumped next, with Stadium at the Palm Beach International in round one. The pair then earned the seven-horse jump-off, with McLain eight faults in 48.69 seconds to finish Equestrian Center (PBIEC), the final high score of 200 on Sunday for the Ward (USA) and HH Azur in second, fifth. feature of the circuit was presented winning two-round total of 385. and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum by Dietrich Insurance and hosted by (GER) and Fibonacci 17 third. McLain Ward and HH Azur, owned by Tailored Sportsman, and sponsored Kodachrome is an eight-year- Double H Farm and Francois Mathy, by Charles Owen, Dover Saddlery, The old Warmblood gelding that Moore Forty of the circuit’s best horses jumped off next, finishing with a fast Clothes Horse and Essex Classics. purchased for Frey last year with and riders representing 13 different time in 46.10 seconds, but added an hopes that the gelding had Derby Finals countries jumped for the winter’s top unfortunate four faults that left the pair The first round of derby competition potential. prize competing under the lights in in second place. Meredith Michaels- was held in the E.R. Mische Grand front of a packed house at the Palm Beerbaum aimed for a safe clear round Hunter Ring on Saturday, where 45 “He was doing the 3’3” Performance Beach International Equestrian Center aboard Artemis Equestrian Farm’s entries took on the first round course Hunters starting out, and I just saw him (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The star- Fibonacci 17, but also dropped a rail designed by Ken Krome. Two panels of and liked him, and then I tried him and studded competition concluded a along the way, finishing third overall had to have him,” Frey stated. “He has fantastic 12-week circuit for the with her time of 51.41 seconds. Maher judges scored each round, and riders international show jumpers. and Sarena followed, completing the were awarded extra points for jumping learned and come along. This was his only clear round over the second high options. first really big derby. This was a different type of class, to show over at the horse Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) set the course for the win with a steady courses in the International Ring round in 53.72 seconds. Last to go, The top 24 entries then moved on show on the grand hunter field, and at PBIEC for the final week of WEF Todd Minikus (USA) and Two Swans to the derby field for Sunday’s handy then to come over here just to do the competition. With 40 starters in the Farm’s Babalou 41 had one rail down round, jumping Bobby Murphy’s course handy round on the field in a completely grand prix, D’Ambrosio’s first round as well, finishing fourth with their time with natural obstacles on the grass. Two different venue for all of the horses. It course yielded seven clear for the of 52.63. panels of judges once again scored was a pretty good test for every horse jump-off, and only one clear over the the contestants, awarding bonus points and rider that was out there. short course for the win. Speaking of his winning mount, a ten- for high options as well as handiness year-old Selle Francais mare (Calvaro on course. Judges Rick Fancher and “He was a little nervous in different Z x Damoiseau d’Or), Maher stated, “I Chloe Reid (USA) and Codarco were Jack Towell scored the rounds on panel places on the course, but he seemed to the first combination to clear the have had Serena for just over a year course in round one, but opted not Please turn to page 2 Please turn to page 12 Continued from Page 1 now, and it has been a tough ride. She enough to beat them, so I decided to had an unlucky rail in the jump-off. The faults all over the place, and it was a was a horse that was bought to jump play it a little safe and leave the jumps 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding very smooth course to ride. The water these big classes, but she was young up. That is not my nature normally, but I (For Feeling x Corland) finished the night line was a little tricky, but I thought it when we got her, and it really took a year think I played a smart game tonight and in third place, and his rider was happy gave the riders a fair chance, and was to get to know her and for her to get put the pressure on Todd. Fortunately to be in the top three alongside Maher an excellent course.” to know me. It has been a lot of hard for me, it worked out. It could have gone and Ward. work and patience from Jane Clark, who either way.” Commenting on the end to a fantastic supported me the whole way through last “Fibonacci was in great form tonight; he evening, Equestrian Sport Productions’ year, because I had a lot of disappointing The cards did not play in Ward’s favor this felt amazing, and he jumped two beautiful CEO Mark Bellissimo added his final rounds. I told her to stick with me, and time around, but the rider was happy for rounds,” Michaels-Beerbaum stated. “I thoughts, stating, “I want to commend we worked hard with the whole team at Maher, and felt that HH Azur jumped two did not actually expect to knock one this group. It is such an international home. This is the first class she has won, great rounds. The ten-year-old Belgian down in the jump-off because he was crowd with USA, Great Britain, and but she picked the right time and I hope Sport Horse mare (Thunder van de jumping so well, so maybe I took that Germany represented with all world- there will be many more.” Zuuthoeve x Sir Lui) took a big win in jump a little casually or underestimated class riders. It is exciting to see such week seven’s $380,000 Suncast® Grand it perhaps. I was delighted with him. I great sport here and to end on a very Maher spoke further about how he has Prix CSI 5*. Ward gave it everything in am very pleased to be in the top three. high note. I am pleased that everyone gotten to know Sarena more over the this week’s jump-off hoping for another That is always where a rider would like was so spectacular in their performances last 12 weeks at WEF and really used victory, but one unlucky rail came down. to end up, and with these two in front of this evening. I would also like to thank the circuit to develop their partnership. me, my Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker will Rolex. This festival took a big transition a “We have been building up towards this read their names in Germany and know number of years ago when Rolex came on “We had a careful plan,” he explained. trying to get her fit,” Ward noted. “Our the class was really hard and good, so it board, and it was a transition to four five- “She did not jump much since November plan was to try to not totally peak her, but works for me.” star [shows]. It was nice to finish this year and became pretty consistent over the pretty much peak her at this point and on a great five-star and a great class.” last few grand prix. The worst she has had then drop back a little, have a little rest, Maher spoke of the night’s first round is one down since November. I found in and then aim for Rio. She felt another track, stating, “I thought it was a great Along with the winner’s share of the jump-offs, when I try to go quick, she gear tonight and to be honest, with these course.