Randi Muster 2007 (Todd Minikus and Pavarotti were the highest-placed members of the U.S. team in the $150,000 CN U.S. Open Jumper Championship, Presented by Cosequin.)
A total of 39 riders attempted to win the final event of the CSIO5* CN Wellington Open tournament held as part of the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit. There were many thrills along the way as nine riders elected to retire after experiencing difficulties and one rider, Argentina’s Max Amaya, was eliminated after falling off at the first fence.
In the end only three riders—Todd Minikus, Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa and Deslauriers, were able to master the track set by course designer Jose Gamarra of Bolivia. The stage was set for an exciting jump-off as the three gentlemen are renowned for their competitive abilities, especially when speed is a factor.
First to challenge, Florida-based Minikus guided Pavarotti, his 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, around the Internationale Arena in a time of 47.59 seconds, leaving all the rails in their place.
Pessoa, the current Olympic champion, came next riding Coeur for Hunter Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of presenting sponsor CN. The pair was on target to overtake the lead, but the big grey gelding’s huge stride brought Pessoa to the final fence earlier than expected, causing the rails to fall. Although they had a faster time of 46.98 seconds, four faults would keep them out of top spot.
Deslauriers, who earned the nickname “Super Mario” early in his career, was the final challenger. Riding his 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Paradigm, Deslauriers rode the jump-off course to perfection, and when he cleared the final fence, the clock declared him the victor with a winning time of 47.03 seconds.
“My horse is quick, and I knew I was close to Todd’s time. I couldn’t have told you how close, but close!” said Deslauriers, 42, who remains the youngest rider to have ever claimed the World Cup, winning in 1984 at the age of 19. “The course was fair but, at the same time, difficult. You needed scope and the time was tight.”
For his victory, Deslauriers picked up a winner’s check of $50,000. He also continues to lead the FTI Rider Challenge rankings, putting him in line for a $100,000 bonus at the end of the Wellington circuit.
Minikus settled for second position, acknowledging that his plan for the jump-off failed to work in his favor.
“Unfortunately, I had to go first and it was not like I had ‘slow’ and ‘slower’ following me,” he laughed. “It is not normally my style to be cautious, but I was hoping that they would make mistakes. But they didn't."
Posting double-clear rounds gave Minikus confidence in Pavarotti, a horse he purchased last May.
“We call him the ‘wonder runt’ around the barn,” said Minikus who earned $30,000 for the day’s work. “He is very small…with high heels on he would only be about 15.2 hands high. He has plenty of personality and attitude. I misunderstood a few things about him when I first got him, and it took me a few months to realize just how green he is. When we were schooling at home, he seemed like he had all the moves and knew all the tunes. But then we did some research and discovered that his only experience had been in Finland with a young girl who had never jumped him more than four feet.”
Third-place finisher Pessoa was content with his mount’s performance. Pessoa took over Coeur’s reins earlier this year from Cayce Harrison and the Winter Equestrian Festival has been the pair’s first time showing together.
“Coeur jumped very well, and I am proud of my horse,” said Pessoa, who is based outside of Brussels, Belgium, and is spending his second winter competing in Wellington. “This is the biggest track that we’ve jumped, and hopefully we will get to know each other in the next few weeks and months.”
Finishing in fourth position was U.S. rider Lisa Silverman and Obelix R who suffered the heartbreak of jumping clear only to incur one time fault for exceeding the 80-second time allowed. In fifth position was 18-year-old Brianne Goutal of New York City, who piloted Cesar to the fastest four-fault round. Both Beezie Madden aboard Integrity and fellow New Yorker McLain Ward aboard Sapphire, plus Laura Kraut and Anthem, put down four-fault rounds, seating them in seventh, eighth and 10th place respectively. Five faults landed Georgina Bloomberg and Cim Christo in the 11th spot.
The Winter Equestrian Festival continues with the CSI5* CN Worldwide Wellington Finale held March 14-18. Sunday’s feature will be the 300,000 Euro CN Worldwide Florida Open Grand Prix, the richest grand prix event ever held at the Winter Equestrian Festival.