FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adrienne Marciano for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL- January 29, 2010 - Richard Spooner of Agua Dulce, CA, was victorious today in the $6,000 Spy Coast 1.40 Speed Challenge on Quirino 3 owned by Oscany, Inc.
The third week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Nespresso and runs through Sunday, January 31. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
Germany's Olaf Petersen Jr. designed the course with 12 numbered obstacles, including an in-and-out combination followed by a tight five strides to a vertical and a triple bar oxer as the first element of a two-stride combination. There were 13 clear rounds over the course out of 43 entries in the class.
The early leader was Bob Kraut (USA) on Providence, who set the first clear round in a time of 67.784 seconds. Laura Chapot (USA) and her mount Redford made a valiant effort when they stopped the clock at 66.516 seconds and posted a clear round that would make them the new leader. It wasn't long before Tarzan and David Arcand (CAN) entered the ring and posted a time of 64.267 seconds, which was the new time to beat.
The eventual winner of the class, Quirino 3 piloted by Richard Spooner, produced a blazing time, stopping the clock at 62.311 seconds. The pair was able to maintain the lead for the rest of the class even when Chapot entered the ring on her second mount Chili Pepper, who produced a time of 63.408 seconds for second place.
Richard Spooner and Quirino 3
Spooner said of the course, "Olaf did a great job. It is so nice to have him here in Florida."
As for Quirino, Spooner has had the horse for a while, but it was his very first time in the International ring. Spooner spoke very fondly of his mount Quirino, a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Quick Star xx Inschallah. He explained of his strategy, "I was able to make up a lot of time because the horse has a huge stride." He continued, "I could make the tight turns and get a little bit deep into the lines, but because of his large stride, I was able to make it out of the lines."
As for upcoming plans, Spooner plans to show Quirino 3 in more of the speed classes and WEF Challenge Cup grand prix classes during this circuit.
Tomorrow's action will continue in the International Arena with the $10,000 Cavalor SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Classic and the Masters Jumpers in the morning, followed by the $25,000 1.50m Suncast Classic in the afternoon. Tomorrow's highlight competition is the $55,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes under the lights at 7:00 p.m. which will feature the Budweiser Clydesdales exhibition before the start of the class.
Final Results: $6,000 Spy Coast 1.40m Speed Challenge
1. QUIRINO 3, RICHARD SPOONER, OSCANY: 0/62.311
2. CHILI PEPPER, LAURA CHAPOT, LAURA CHAPOT: 0/63.408
3. TARZAN, DAVID ARCAND, DAVID ARCAND: 64.267
4. REDFORD, LAURA CHAPOT, MARY CHAPOT: 0/66.516
5. PROVIDENCE, ROBERT KRAUT, PETER WETHERILL: 0/67.784
6. CARNITO, FEDERICO SZTYRLE, HERB SAMBOL: 0/68.689
7. SIL, STEVEN WEISS, LAURA CONNOLLY: 0/69.937
8. WOODSTOCK, KELLEY FARMER, MCLAIN WARD: 0/70.789
9. VDL NUIT DE POMME, STEVEN WEISS, LAURA CONNOLLY: 0/71.174
10. QUIMAR, JAMES BENEDETTO, EQUINIMITY LLC: 0/71.324
11. SEMPER FI, NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO, ERIKA HOGG-BELDEN: 0/72.287
12. ATHOS 163, MCLAIN WARD, MARLEY GOODMAN & TURTLE LANE FARM: 0/78.412
