Washington, D.C. – Oct. 26, 2019 – Following the conclusion of the WIHS Equitation Final, the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) continued its thrilling competition with the $136,300 Longines FEI World Cup™ Washington CSI4*-W for the President’s Cup. Thirty of the world’s top athletes in equestrian sport gathered in the Capital One Arena to try their hand at the highlight event. The stands were filled with spectators eagerly watching on as riders battled it out for the top spot. At the end of the night, it was the United States’ Laura Kraut and Fleurette who emerged victorious in the nation’s capital.
Twelve obstacles made up the first round track designed by Olaf Peterson. Many horse-and-rider combinations struggled to clear all of the jumps, knocking rails through combinations and losing focus after blind turns. A total of 28 riders fell victim to the exigent path, leaving only two riders to battle it out in the jump-off, including Andrew Welles who was the pathfinder of the first round track and the only clear round until the very end of the first round. Brianne Goutal Marteau and Viva Columbia finished in the third place position after clearing all the fences but breaking the beams with a single time fault.
As the final athlete to ride the first round, Kraut became the only contender to match Welles’ clear ride. The two then went head-to-head in an intense jump-off over a shortened track. Welles and Itasca Group LLC’s Primo Troy, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion, were the first to tackle the seven effort track. Led to the in-gate by Oakland Stables Darragh Kenney and Hardin Towell, the 32-year-old athlete was in great company as he entered the arena to tackle the course. However, an unfortunate 12 faults left the door wide open for Kraut to claim the title she has been working towards for so many years.
Kraut rode St. Bride’s Farms’ Fleurette, a 10-year-old Selle Francais who just arrived from Europe earlier in the week. As the mare’s first indoor final experience and first World Cup qualifying class, the veteran rider expertly navigated the jump-off with her partner, putting 4 faults on the scoreboard to take home the win. The Olympic gold medalist has placed second and third in the class before but has never been able to secure the top spot, making her win aboard Fleurette a memorable one. Kraut has only been with the mare for a few months, but she has high hopes of taking her to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Many athletes from the class aim to represent their country in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Finals set to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2020. The next leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ tour for the North American League is the National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky. Stay tuned to Phelps Sports for complete coverage of all of the North American League World Cup Qualifiers.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Laura Kraut – $136,300 Longines FEI World Cup™ Washington for the President’s Cup Winner
On winning the President’s Cup:
“It’s been a class that I wanted to win for many, many years. I think I’ve been jumping in the international division here since the late ‘80s. I’ve had quite a few seconds and thirds and fourths, but it’s just always seemed to elude me. I said at the beginning of the week, ‘I think this is going to be my week.’ She jumped well on Thursday.”
On the jump-off:
“You’re thinking, “Oh for God sakes don’t fall down.” When you know you have 12, that’s a breather. If it’s 4 faults, there’s pressure. Eight faults, you think, I’ve got to go a bit. But with 12, I thought, ‘Just don’t muck this up.’ She jumped well and then she got into the double and got a little behind the bit and jumped really high over A then really high over B and had it down. She’s wonderful. Like I said to Andrew, it was a bummer that that happened for him, but it was good for me.”
On Fleurette:
“I’ve never jumped her indoors, and I don’t know how much she has done indoors. We weren’t really sure. One thing I do know is that she’s just such an intelligent horse. She takes everything in stride; nothing really bothers her. Except for big screens, that’s’ the only thing. It’s funny, tonight in the prize giving she was looking straight up at the screen. She handled it great. She’s handled jumping in a big ring like Aachen beautifully, she’s handled pretty much anything I’ve asked of her so far, and that’s just a little bit of her personality. She’s a work horse.”
Andrew Welles – Second Place
On the class:
“I thought for sure we were going to have a jump-off. With the quality of riders that the horse show attracts, and the second half of the order was really stacked with some of the best riders in the world. I thought for sure we were going to. Personally, I thought it was an exciting class that there weren’t so many clear. Laura and I were saying on the way over here, yes a 12-horse jump-off is a lot of fun, but I think some of these grand prixs when you’re really fighting for a clear round, those are the classes you’re gripped to. You’re watching every jump, and it’s exciting to be a part of it.”
Brianne Goutal Mateau – Third Place
On the course:
“I thought that the course jumped difficultly. I thought my mare jumped amazingly, and I was super happy with the result. I wish I’d been a little bit quicker in a couple of places on course. It was a tough test, but it was great sport. It’s one of the few indoor shows where you really get that city feel with the huge crowds. It’s a gem we want to hold onto.”
RESULTS
$136,300 Longines FEI World Cup™ Washington for the President’s Cup
Place / Rider / Country / Horse / R1 Faults / R2 Faults | Time
1. Laura Kraut / USA / Fleurette / 0 / 4 | 40.99
2. Andrew Welles / USA / Primo Troy / 0 / 12 | 45.69
3. Brianne Goutal Marteau / USA / Viva Colombia / 1 | 61.63
4. Erynn Ballard / CAN / Catoki’S Son Z / 4 | 57.19
5. Kent Farrington / USA / Creedance / 4 | 57.48
6. Capt. Brian Cournane / IRL / Armik / 4 | 59.34
6. Shane Sweetnam / IRL / Chaqui Z / 4 | 59.34
8. Cassio Rivetti / BRA / Bacara D’Archonfosse / 4 | 59.40
9. Devin Ryan / USA / Caspar’s Lasino / 4 | 59.75
10. Catherine Tyree / USA / Enjoy Louis / 4 | 60.23
11. Adrienne Sternlicht / USA / Toulago / 4 | 60.70
12. Kristen Vanderveen / USA / Bull Run’s Risen / 4 | 60.85