Stewart, Catch Me repeat in top event
WELLINGTON — Scott Stewart and Catch Me won the $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 WC H R P e t e r Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular for the second year in a row Saturday night at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Stewart and his 10-year-old grey Holsteiner gelding won the “Saturday Night Lights” event after topping a fifield of 29 riders in the fifield, including 12 in the second round.
The pair scored 94.00 in the fifirst round and 88.66 in the second for a two-round total of 182.60.
Catch Me, owned by Gochman Sport Horses, LLC, was the 2016 USEF National Horse of the Year and has already won several events during the 2017 winter circuit.
“He’s been really good,” Stewart said. “I think he’s an even better horse than last year. He was a blast to ride. After knowing that last year he was so good, I could relax a bit more this year and just have fun.”
Stewart was also second with Private Life, a 6-year-old KWPN gelding, with rounds of 88.66 and 92.33 for a total of 180.99. It was the horse’s Hunter Spectacular debut.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Stewart said. “He’s always brave and rides like a made-up horse, but he’s only just turning six years old. I was really thrilled with him. He couldn’t have been any better. Not only does he jump well but he’s really comfortable to ride.”
During the week, Stewart and Private Life won the High Performance Working Hunter Division after sweeping all four classes, earning the green horse a spot in the Hunter Spectacular.
On Sunday, Diego Vivero and Bijoux won the $50,000 National Grand Prix on the Derby Field. The pair had double clear rounds and fastest jump-offff ( 34.44 seconds).
Ireland’s Daniel Coyle and Simba De La Roque won the $35,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under-25 Grand Prix. He fifinished with double clears and fastest jump-offff of 36.28, the only rider under seconds. In other events: ■ To showcase the Hunter Spectacular, the $130,000 Grand Prix CSI3 was held Friday. Pedro Muylaert of Brazil and Prince Royal Z MFS, a 10-year-old Zangersheide stallion, won with double clears and fastest jump-offff in 37.27. Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Machu Picchu were second in 37.59, also with double clears. Jimmy Torano of Wellington and Day Dream were third with the fastest four-fault round in 36.94.
■ Samuel Parot of Chile and 14-year-old Zangersheide gelding Atlantis topped a fifield of 61 riders to win the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Round 6 with double clears and 31.94 jump-offff time.
■ Marilyn Little and Clearwater won the $35,000 Suncast 1.50-meter Championship Jumper Classic with a clear jump-offff round in 39.27 seconds.
■ Brazilian Luiz Francisco de Azevedo and 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood Collin won the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45-meter speed class in 65.05 seconds.
■ Lucy Deslauriers, 17, and Hester won the $10,000 Hollow Creek Under-25 Welcome with a clear round in 69.57 seconds.
■ Defending champ Team USA fifinished runner-up to Ireland at the FEI Nations Cup Friday at the HITS Horse Show in Ocala. St. Andrew’s alum Ali Wolff and Casall served as the reserve combination.