Wellington, Fla. – Feb, 16, 2017 – Chile’s Samuel Parot and his own 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Atlantis, claimed the blue ribbon in Thursday’s $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round Six at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
The Week Six WEF Challenge Cup welcomed 61 starters, with only 19 combinations managing to clear the first round track. The triple combination proved to be a difficult element of the course in round one, causing rails for many riders. In addition, in the jump-off, a tight rollback to a one-stride caused a number of refusals.
Parot and Atlantis were victorious after a clear first round with a jump-off time of 31.94 seconds. Pedro Junqueira Muylaert and Prince Royal Z MFS, Stenio Da Silva’s 10-year-old Zangersheide stallion, were close behind Parot, winning second place with a jump-off time of 33.68 seconds. Laura Chapot and ISHD Dual Star, a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare owned by Mary Chapot, raced around the course but finished third with a time of 33.79 seconds.
“Atlantis is very fast and hasn’t competed much since recovering from an injury last year,” Parot explained. “So far I enjoy riding in both the smaller international ring [at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival facility] and the bigger International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center — both venues create a great atmosphere for competition.”
The duo has developed a strong partnership in the past two years with numerous wins including the Split Rock Farm $130,000 Grand Prix CSI3* in May 2016.
“I’ve had Atlantis for about two years now — he is a great jumper and he is very fast,” Parot continued. “At home we mostly focus on flatwork and only jump occasionally.”
The sixth week of WEF competition, sponsored by World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR), runs from Feb. 15–19 with hunter classes continuing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and upper level jumper classes taking place at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival showgrounds.
Week highlights include the $10,000 and $25,000 Hollow Creek Farm U25 Grand Prix team events, presented by EnTrust Capital, the $35,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic, the $50,000 National Grand Prix and the $130,000 Grand Prix CSI3*.
RESULTS
$35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round Six
Place / Rider / Horse / R1 Faults / R2 Faults | Time
1. Samuel Parot / Atlantis / 0 / 0 | 31.94
2. Pedro Junqueira Muylaert / Prince Royal Z MFS / 0 / 0 | 33.68
3. Laura Chapot / ISHD Dual Star / 0 / 0 | 33.79
4. Daniel Coyle / Cita / 0 / 0 | 33.92
5. Jonathon Millar / Bonzay / 0 / 0 | 36.71
6. Stephanie Macieira / Randon Pleasure / 0 / 0 | 37.637
7. Celso Ariani / Bente / 0 / 4 | 35.73
8. Andrew Kocher / Ciana / 0 / 4 | 36.75
9. Kent Farrington / Creedance / 0 / 4 | 37.06
10. Christian Heineking / NKH Caruso / 0 / 4 | 37.09
11. Gianni Gabrielli / Contenders XC / 0 / 4 | 38.04
12. Jennifer Gates / Luftikus S / 0 / 4 | 41.411