Guatemala’s Alvaro Tejada secured the win in Section A of the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup aboard Agroprosa’s Voltaral Palo Blanco.
Wellington, Fla. – Jan. 19, 2017 – The second round of the ever-popular $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup had an impressive 119 horse and rider pairs entered to tackle the course, designed by Mexico’s Ana Catalina Harris Crus, built at 1.45m in height. Due to the large amount of entries in Thursday’s class, it was declared there would be a California Split, meaning there would be two jump-off sections and ultimately two winners.
Guatemala’s Alvaro Tejada was the final rider to go in the first round, where he laid down a clear ride in 69.24 seconds. Tejada and 24 other riders advanced to the jump-off, but it was Tejada and his homebred mare, Voltaral Palo Blanco, owned by Agroprosa, who galloped through the timers in a blazing 40.821 seconds to earn the title in Section A.
Watch part of Alvaro Tejada and Voltaral Palo Blanco’s first round in Thursday’s $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round Two.
The win was particularly special for Tejada, whose entire family has a passion for horses. Voltaral Palo Blanco was bred and raised in Guatemala by his late grandfather.
“For me, this is very exciting,” said Tejada. “It is definitely one of the biggest wins of my riding career. I’m very proud of her because she is a homebred mare. She’s a really good mare and she tries so hard for me. She will do anything for me.”
In preparation for the jump-off, Tejada watched Daniel Coyle’s ride and did not think it would be feasible to outdo his time.
Tejada said, “It was really quick. I saw him go and he was super fast. I thought it was going to be impossible to catch him, but the mare was feeling great so I had to take the opportunity and go for it.”
Tejada will return home in mid-February to continue training his string of young horses, but until then he has his eyes set on competing at the Palm Beach Masters CSI3*-W at Deeridge Farms in February and then again at WEF Week Five.
Narrowly missing Tejada’s time by 0.04 seconds was Ireland’s Daniel Coyle aboard Ariel and Susan Grange’s Cita, making Coyle the class winner in Section B.
“I just went from the first jump and tried to stay the same pace and not do anything crazy. She’s naturally very, very quick,” Coyle explained. “I think that’s probably where I made up more time than some of the other riders. I have to be very happy as I’ve only ridden her a handful of times. She’s brilliant and a real winner.”
Ireland’s Daniel Coyle navigated Ariel and Susan Grange’s Cita to a first place finish in Section B.
The 22-year-old rider is hoping Cita will continue her winning ways this Saturday night as the pair competes under the lights in the $86,000 Marshall and Sterling Insurance Grand Prix CSI2*.
Coyle has ridden the Holsteiner mare a couple of times, but their understanding of each other is only getting better with each ride.
“I can kind of understand her now and the way she likes to go,” said Coyle. “She doesn’t like to be told off too much. You have to just kind of let her jump the jumps and just steer her to the right place. She’s brilliant.”
Coming in second place in Section A behind Tejada was McLain Ward riding Contessina Della Caccia, while Beat Mandli and Zander took third.
McLain Ward and Contessina Della Caccia finished in second behind Alvaro Tejada in Section A.
Beat Mandli and Grant Road Partners LLC’s Zander finished in third place in Section A.
Just behind Coyle in Section B were second place finishers Emily Moffitt and It’s Real Love VD SMIS Z. Laura Chapot rode ISHD Dual Star to round out the top three winners in Section B.
Emily Moffitt and Poden Farms’ It’s Real Love DV SMIS Z came in second place
behind Daniel Coyle in Section B.
Laura Chapot and Mary Chapot’s ISHD Dual Star finished in third place to round out the top three winners of Section B.
Jumper competition will resume at 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, in the International Arena, beginning with the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumpers.
Results: $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round Two (Section A)
1. VOLTARAL PALO BLANCO: 2002 KWPN mare by Voltaire x Contender ALVARO TEJADA (GUA), Agroprosa: 0/0/40.82
2. CONTESSINA DELLA CACCIA: 2008 Selle Francais mare by Contefino x Cassini MCLAIN WARD (USA), McLain Ward: 0/0/40.94
3. ZANDER: 2004 KWPN gelding by Cantos x Saygon BEAT MANDLI (SUI), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/0/41.44
4. TEQUILA DE LILE: 2007 Selle Francais mare by Luccianno x Etna Paulelle MARKUS BEERBAUM (GER), Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC: 0/0/41.66
5. COUP DE CHANCE: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Cardento x Darco ELIZABETH GINGRAS (CAN), B Gingras Equestrian Ltd: 0/0/41.98
6. HEROS: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Canadian River x Clinton AMY MILLAR (CAN), AMMO Investments: 0/0/42.95
7. LORO PIANA BALLYLECK ROYALE: 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Royale Touch ALMA BJÖRKLUND (SWE), Alma Björklund: 0/0/45.24
8. CASSINI Z: 2007 Oldenburg gelding by Cassini II x Capone DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Southern Ways Equestrian Ltd: 0/0/45.83
9. REUS DE LA NUTRIA: 2005 Selle Francais mare Zandor Z x Kannan EMANUEL ANDRADE (VEN), Emanuel Andrade: 0/0/46.72
10. COUNT ME IN: 2007 Hanoverian gelding by Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes BETH UNDERHILL (CAN), Sandy Lupton: 0/0/48.68
11. NOUVELLE: 2004 KWPN mare by Solitair x Contango LAURA KRAUT (USA), Evita Group: 0/4/42.49
12. BABALOU 41: 2005 Oldenburg mare by Balou du Rouet x Silvio I TODD MINIKUS (USA), Two Swans Farm: 0/4/44.92
Results: $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round Two (Section B)
1. CITA: 2006 Holsteiner mare by Casall x Pik Ramiro DANIEL COYLE (IRL), Ariel and Susan Grange: 0/0/40.86
2. IT’S REAL LOVE DV SMIS Z: 2008 Zangersheide mare by C Indoctro x Liberato I EMILY MOFFITT (GBR), Poden Farms: 0/0/41.01
3. ISHD DUAL STAR: 2002 Irish Sport Horse mare by Quick Star x Concorde LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Mary Chapot: 0/0/41.47
4. BREITLING LS: 2006 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Quintero x Accord II BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/0/41.79
5. IL RUBACOURI: 2006 SI gelding by Nabab de Reve x Heartbreaker ROBERTO TERAN JR (COL), Roberto Teran Jr: 0/0/42.44
6. CASSINJA S: 2006 Dutch Sporthorse mare by Carinjo x Cassini I CHARES JACOBS (USA), CMJ Sporthorse, LLC: 0/0/44.84
7. PALOMA: 2006 Holsteiner mare by Canaletto S x Henzo de la Brasserie PETER WYLDE (USA), Kathleen Kamine: 0/0/45.62
8. HH CISKE VAN OVERIS: 2002 Belgian Warmblood mare by Celano x Darco MAGGIE MCALARY (USA), Double H Farm: 0/0/46.60
9. UITTERAARD: 2001 KWPN gelding by Numero Uno x Burggraaf ANGEL KAROLYI (VEN), Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc: 0/0/48.14
10. TOU LA MOON: 2008 Belgian Warmblood mare by Toulon x Skippy II CHARLIE JAYNE (USA), Alex Jayne & Maura Thatcher: 0/0/48.93
11. BLUF: 2006 KWPN gelding by Ukato x Placido BRETT BURLINGTON (USA), Alden Burlington: 0/4/42.66
12. TISELE DU PARK: 2007 Selle Francais mare by Tinka’s Boy x Ukase KARA CHAD (CAN), Torrey Pines Stable: 0/15/60.36