There were 29 entries in the $2,500 Lugano Diamonds High Amateur-Owner Jumpers as the first class to start out International Arena competition on Friday morning. Contesting a power and speed course format designed by Eric Hasbrouck (USA), 10 finished the course with no faults.
The fastest over the speed portion of the course was Dean and Dotcom d’Authuit, an eight-year-old Selle Francais mare by Diamant de Semilly x Quidam de Revel. They finished the course in 30.354 seconds, almost 1.5 seconds faster than the second-place finisher.
Second place went to Maria Brugal of Wellington, FL, on her own Aragorn van Schuttershof, who stopped the timers in 31.722 seconds. Tori Corts of Wellington, FL, and Falkirk Farm LLC’s Bon Jovi were third in 32.314 seconds, while Carlie Fairty of Markham, Ontario, Canada, rode Leal, owned by Fairgreen Sod Farms, to fourth place in 32.567 seconds. Rounding out the top five was Stephanie Valdes of Langley, British Columbia, Canada, on Cyber Lady Z, owned by Wendy Valdes, in 33.263 seconds.
Dean’s partnership with Dotcom d’Authuit began in September last year, after it was competing successfully in the seven-year-old young horse classes with Axel van Colen (FRA). Dean did not get to try the mare before deciding to bring her to the U.S.
“My trainer Ilan [Ferder] found her and said she was the perfect horse for me,” recalled Dean. “I really trust his opinion and he picks the best horses, so it all works out.”
Dean describes her mare as “super fast and careful,” and continued, “Hopefully she will do some of the 1.45m FEI classes this summer, and next year she’ll do some of the bigger FEI classes. She is so amazing.”
Coming into today’s class, Dean was not worried about having to push for speed.
“For her, any speed class I know I’m always going to be competitive,” she said. “I don’t necessarily have to think about going fast. I just try to be smooth, and she’s just naturally very quick. She’s really sweet in the barn. It’s kind of funny because she’s lazy at home, but once she gets in the ring, she’s all game.”
While Dean rides as an amateur, she is also a consistent performer at the top levels of show jumping. Her goals for 2021 include more consistency in the four- and five-star CSI classes, and she would “love to be on some senior Nations Cup teams this year.”
The Winter Equestrian Festival gives her the opportunity to learn and improve over 13 weeks of competition this year, while also providing a way to keep her fantastic string of horses comfortable and happy.
“I love WEF,” said Dean. “It’s one of my favorite places to show. It feels like home here. It’s nice for the horses; they get to go home and go out in the paddock, then they come to the show. They all really like it here. I’m really lucky to have so many great horses. I’ll try to be as consistent as I can and see what we can do this year.”
In the $1,500 Griffis Residential High Junior Jumper class, Zayna Rizvi of Greenwich, CT, rode Nektarina B, owned by Windsor Show Stables, to victory. Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate, owned by Laura and Mary Chapot, were fastest in the $6,000 Bainbridge 1.40m Jumpers.
Final Results: $2,500 Lugano Diamonds High Amateur-Owner Jumpers
1 DOTCOM D’AUTHUIT: 2013 Selle Francais mare by Diamant de Semilly x Quidam de Revel
NATALIE DEAN, Marigold Sport Horses LLC: 0/55.925
2 ARAGORN VAN SCHUTTERSHOF: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Quintero x Nistria VH Schuttershof
MARIA BRUGAL, Maria Brugal: 0/0/31.722
3 BON JOVI: 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Verdi x Whoopy C
TORI CORTS, Falkirk Farm LLC: 0/32.314
4 LEAL: 2011 Westphalian gelding by Lancer III x Cornet Obolensky
CARLIE FAIRTY, Fairgreen Sod Farms: 0/32.567
5 CYBER LADY Z: 2009 Zangersheide mare by Douglas x Babduchka Van De Smis
STEPHANIE VALDES, Wendy Valdes: 0/33.263
6 BUCKLE UP: 2006 KWPN gelding by Colandro x Carentina
NED CUNNIFFE, Whipstick Farm LTD: 0/43.27
7 EL BERLIN BOGIBO: 2009 Dutch Warmblood stallion
TATIANA ANDUJAR IGLESIAS, Tatiana Andujar Iglesias: 0/63.324
8 H&M CARAT DESIRE: 2008 Holsteiner gelding by Carinjo x Moderne II
ANNABEL REVERS, Beechwood Stables LLC: 0/37.442
9 ILIAS: 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Unique Li Drum V/H Juxschot
ANNABEL REVERS, Beechwood Stables LLC: 0/37.643
10 PRADO K: 2003 Westphalian Gelding by Prado x Daylight
BLISS HEERS, Bridgeside Farms LLC: 0/38.151
11 ZANDORA Z: 2011 Zangersheide mare by Zandor Z x Lucinda Jo
ASHLEY VOGEL, Ashley Vogel: 0/30.965
12 COPAIN Z: 2006 Zangersheide Calvino Z x Jordi G
STELLA STINNETT, Heathman Farms LLC: 4/31.54
Competition will continue on Saturday for the jumpers with the $25,000 CaptiveOne Classic in the International Arena, as well as the Ariat National Adult Medal taking place in the South Ring.
