Nick Skelton claims the Suncast Grand Prix
Nick Skelton of Great Britain was the only rider to have double clear rounds in today's $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic at the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. However, he was able to accomplish double clear rounds on both of his mounts in the class, giving him first place with Nemo 119 and second on Carlo 273, both owned by Beverly Widdowson. Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and Kilkenny Rindo were the fastest four-faulters for third place.
The first week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by G&C Farm and concludes on Sunday, January 17. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and the circuit will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
Today's 1.50m course was designed by Olaf Petersen of Germany, and out of 22 entries in the class, four found the route to a clear round to move on to the jump-off. Katherine Dinan and Vancouver had no jumping faults in the first round, but a single time fault placed them fifth at the end of the class.
Skelton returned first in the jump-off on Nemo 119 and set down a winning pace of 42.270 seconds, but it was the clear round that won him the class.
Christine McCrea (USA) and Romantovich Take One, owned by Candy Tribble, had an early rail for four faults and ended in a time of 46.573 seconds.
Shahinian-Simpson and Kilkenny Rindo, owned by Kilkenny Crest, were very fast in 40.793 seconds, but a rail at the fourth jump in the shortened course cost them the win.
Skelton returned last with Carlo 273 and was able to take an easier pace with the nine-year-old Holsteiner by Contender. They crossed the timers in 48.472 seconds with no faults to finish second.
Skelton rode Nemo and Carlo yesterday in a 1.40m class to begin his winter season in Florida and finished third and seventh. “I was pleased with them; they both jumped well,” he commented.
Skelton and Nemo, an 11-year-old Holsteiner by Cambridge, finished second in last year's $400,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix and had a solid summer of showing. After a month off, Skelton is starting him back here and believes he has the talent to repeat his success.
Nick Skelton was happy to go second in the jump-off with Carlo, a younger horse. “Carlo has just turned nine and he's pretty inexperienced, but he can step up a bit now and do some more. He's a very good horse, very careful, but you have to take your time a bit more with one as careful as him. You don't want to have too many slip-ups otherwise you can go backwards so quick,” he explained. “It was good to go second with him. I didn't have to put too much pressure on him. But he's a fairly quick horse when he goes anyway.”
Of his opening week one-two finish, he joked, “To win anything at my age is nice.”
The first week of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concludes tomorrow with the highlight event, the $25,000 G&C Farm Speed Derby, in the International Arena at 1 p.m.
Final Results: $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Classic
1. NEMO 119, NICK SKELTON, BEVERLY WIDDOWSON: 0/0/42.270
2. CARLO 273, NICK SKELTON, BEVERLY WIDDOWSON: 0/0/48.472
3. KILKENNY RINDO, NICOLE SHAHINIAN-SIMPSON, KILKENNY CREST: 0/4/40.793
4. ROMANTOVICH TAKE ONE, CHRISTINE MCCREA, CANDY TRIBBLE: 0/4/46.573
5. VANCOUVER, KATHERINE DINAN, KATIE DINAN LLC: 1/75.169
6. BLUE CURACAO, MARILYN LITTLE-MEREDITH, PAUL & MARY LOEBER: 4/69.705
7. TEIRRA, ADDISON PHILLIPS, ADDISON PHILLIPS: 4/71.356
8. TENESSEE, TIM HENDRIX, STAL HENDRIX: 4/71.866
9. G5, CHRISTOPHER PRATT, INDIGO FARMS LLC: 4/73.473
10. LAJANA, WIM JANSSEN, WIM JANSSEN: 4/73.828
11. ACCORDIAN, ROBERT KRAUT, PETER WETHERILL: 4/74.068
12. TWISTER, DAVID TROMP, BEYAERT FARM INC: 4/74.530