The evening’s showcase class at the 2020 Palm Beach Derby CDI in Wellington, FL, on Friday 28 February 2020 - the Grand Prix Freestyle 4* - , saved the best for last. Jessica Jo Tate (USA) piloted Elizabeth Guarisco’s 17-year-old gelding Faberge to their first ever Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) victory in week eight of the 12-week winter spectacular.
Tate has been riding the son of Florestan I for 11 years and has had her eye on winning a cooler from AGDF for much of that time.
Dong Seon Kim (KOR) finished second on Belstaff, with the in-form Japanese Olympian Kiichi Harada once again gracing the podium, this time filling third on Egistar with 70.745%.
Tate, who splits her time between South Carolina and Wellington, said: “I’m so proud and really pleased with my horse. We haven’t shown since Devon [in September], so we’ve been doing a lot of fitness with him. He really was so with me tonight and had a lot of energy. He loves the crowd, so that’s always fun to bring a horse like that here. I’ve always wanted to win a cooler at Global, so this was amazing that I got to put one on for the four-star freestyle. It was really a special evening and for sure a highlight of my career so far. We’re just totally thrilled.”
Tate, who rode to music made by Marlene Whitaker, added: “Faberge is like a Labrador Retriever. He is the most friendly, kind-hearted, wonderful horse. We always need to work on our energy, so riding at night in the cool weather like this helps us. He just has the most wonderful workman-like character, and he really tries his heart out for me.”
Dong Seon Kim Announces a Break from Competition Sport
“I really wanted to win, but it didn’t go as planned,” he said. “I really practiced the one-tempis to make sure there were no mistakes, but these things happen. This is my first international season with him, so I think there were still some miscommunications, but I’m still really happy.
“The horses are going to be sent to my good friends in Europe who are much, much better riders than me and who can give them the best career that they deserve. I’ll still ride for fun at the weekends, and maybe I would like to come back eventually.”
Stephen Clarke, who presided from C, said: “The way the riders interpreted the music I thought was great, especially for the crowd. I think it’s so good for the sport when you see riders really taking some risks and really developing these freestyles in an interesting and difficult way. It makes it fun and brings the sport forward.”
Harada On a Roll
“It was my first freestyle with Fairytale,” said Harada, who is vying for a place on the Japanese team for this year’s Olympics. “I learned the music just today, a few hours ago, but it really fit to him. I feel the horse loved the freestyle and expect maybe he’ll do much better later on. Egistar was hot today and a bit difficult for me to control. Maybe Egistar was a little bit jealous of Fairytale.”
Harada was most closely pursued in the three-star class by Nora Batchelder (USA) who finished second with 71.835% on Andrea Whitcomb’s 12-year-old Fidertanz gelding Faro SQF. Third went to another Japanese rider, Akane Kuroki, who is still getting to know her new ride Zuidenwind, a stallion by OO-Seven. They scored 71.49% after winning the qualifying grand prix.
Fourth Palm Beach Derby Title for Christoph Koschel
Each rider was given five minutes to familiarize themselves with Karen Pavicic’s Totem before the test. Koschel proved unbeatable yet again tonight, riding the eight-year-old to 70.221% versus Ebeling’s 66.397%. Of the gelding by Totilas, whom Pavicic has had since a foal, Koschel said: “The Prix St. Georges is not the end for this horse; you can really feel the grand prix horse in him and he’s very willing to collect. I really enjoy it when they’re so willing. I tried my best and I want to say a big thanks to all the owners, especially Karen with this really special horse, who I think has a big future.”
Gomez Molina in Charge of Inter I
The young Spanish rider Pablo Gomez Molina, who works for Yeguada De Ymas, dominated the FEI Intermediate I CDI3*, presented by Harmony Sporthorses. On Furst Fiorano Ymas he scored 72.99%, their best result to date in this test. The 25-year-old rider splits his time between Wellington and Europe.
It was another hefty score that landed the winner’s sash in the Prix St. Georges 3*. All three top placed riders broke the 70% barrier, but it was Endel Ots who came out on top to lead the USA’s whitewashing of the class, filling the top five slots.
Wellington-based Ots rode the 11-year-old mare Sonnenberg’s Everdance, who was bred at Sonnenberg Farm in Oregon, to 73.775%, with the flying changes being a particular highlight and attracting a nine from the experienced British judge Stephen Clarke. This was the Johnson daughter’s first CDI show. Ots held off a challenge from Jami Kment who recorded 72.745% on Gatino Van Hof Olympia, by Apache. Meagan Davis was third on Damocles HLF (70.981%).
by Alice Collins - GDF press release
Photos © Sue Stickle - Astrid Appels
Related Links
Scores: 2020 CDI Wellington
Salvino Returns to the Arena with 76.87% Top Score at 2020 CDI Palm Beach Derby