U.S. World Cup champion Richard Fellers, hailing from Sherwood, OR, is making the most of his time on the east coast with a victory in the $37,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic CSI3* riding Lady Lux to open week six at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Wednesday, February 12.
WEF continues through March 29 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The sixth week of competition runs February 12-16, and features World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) events, as well as CSI3* jumper competition.
Highlights of the week include the $137,000 Grand Prix CSI3* at 7 p.m. in the Global International Arena at Equestrian Village on Friday, February 14, and the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Saturday, February 15, at 7 p.m. in the International Arena during “Saturday Night Lights.” Sunday, February 16, will welcome the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix and $25,000 CP Grand Prix, on the grass Derby Field.
Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris (MEX) set the opening day track in the Global Ring at Equestrian Village (home of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival) for 43 starters from all corners of the world. Over the speed portion of the course, Fellers and Lady Lux stopped the clock at a quick 24.70 seconds to capture the win over Todd Minikus (USA) and Amex Z, owned by Bit By Bit Group, who finished in a time of 25.38 seconds. Ireland’s Darragh Kenny rounded out the top three riding Billy Dorito for owner Vlock Show Stables LLC in 25.72 seconds. Fellers accompanied his student and junior rider Maggie Kehring to Wellington to coach her while she represents the U.S. in the FEI Jumping Junior Nations Cup and is excited to be back in Florida.
“I’ve always had good luck here [at WEF], and I love coming here,” said Fellers, whose last appearance in Wellington was for the 2012 Olympic selection trial, but who has been competing there on and off since the late 1980s. “Both of these venues are wonderful!
“Catsy is a brilliant course designer,” continued Fellers. “I don’t know her that well, but she is one of my favorites. Today, it was very clever, and – in a balanced way – tested everything.”
Fellers and Lux Lady are long-time partners, which showed in the competition rings. Together, he and the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Lux x Master IMP) had the speed and precision to finish just ahead of the other podium contenders.
“She’s an older horse, and she’s always been challenging. But she’s one of my favorite horses because she’s so difficult,” said Fellers. “She’s feisty and stubborn, and doesn’t want to yield to anything, but she is getting more and more ridable and competitive each year. I don’t think she has neared the top of her potential yet.”
According to Fellers, Lady Lux is the perfect combination of attitude from the sire Lux and blood from the Irish Thoroughbred mare that was her dam.
Just off the podium, Jordan Coyle (IRL) and Centriko Volo took fourth in 25.85 seconds for owner Celtic Park LLC, while fellow Irish rider Paul O’Shea capped the top five in 26.48 seconds on Skara Glen’s 7 Pillars, owned by Skara Glen Stables.
Also, winning in the Global Ring on Wednesday, Chile’s Samuel Parot Jr. topped the $6,000 Bainbridge 1.40m Classic. For full results, visit www.PBIEC.com.
Final Results: $37,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m Classic CSI3*
1. LUX LADY: 2005 Irish Sport Horse mare by Lux x Master IMP
RICH FELLERS (USA), Richard Fellers: 0/0/24.70
2. AMEX Z: 2009 Zangersheide Mare by Andiamo Z x Landaris
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Bit By Bit Group: 0/0/25.38
3. BILLY DORITO: 2010 Anglo European Studbook gelding by Billy Mexico x Vechta
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/0/25.72
4. CENTRIKO VOLO: 2012 Oldenburg gelding by Centadel x Chacco-Blue
JORDAN COYLE (IRL), Celtic Park, LLC: 0/0/25.85
5 SKARA GLEN’S 7 PILLARS: 2010 KWN gelding by Spartacus x Whisky
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Skara Glen Stables, LLC: 0/0/26.48
6. VAN DE EMMA: 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare by Van de Vivaldi x Almiro Z
MOLLY ASHE CAWLEY (USA), Oakridge Farm: 0/0/26.92
7. CASALL: 2005 Holsteiner gelding by Casall ASK x Capitol I
ALI WOLFF (USA), Blacklick Bend Farm: 0/0/27.87
8. EASY BOY 23: 2009 KWPN gelding by Canturano x Indorado
JOAQUIN GONZALO ALBISU (ARG), Santana Auction House: 0/0/28.04
9. BALOUTINUE: 2010 Hanoverian gelding by Balou du Rouet x Landor S
ADAM PRUDENT (USA), Plain Bay Farm: 0/0/28.34
10. LINCOURT GINO: 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Gino III x Graf Magna
ALEJANDRO KAROLYI (VEN), Monica Carrera: 0/0/31.66
11. CAMIRA: 2008 Westphalian mare by Cristallo I x Lancer III
SARAH SEGAL (USA), T.K. Farms: 0/0/32.68
12. DOMINKA VAN DE LUCASHOEVE: 2009 SBS mare by Cardento 933 x Chin Chin
SUSAN HORN (CAN), Kingsfield Farm: 0/1/35.17
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