Alise Oken and Teirra (Sportfot)
Week three of the FTI WEF runs January 23-27. The week will feature the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge (FTI GCC), presented by Fidelity Investments®, at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. This year, the event will distribute $1.5 million to 34 lucky Palm Beach County charities in a pro-am team competition.
Other highlights will include the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The grass derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC will host the $50,000 CSI 2* Grand Prix, weather permitting, at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The 2013 FTI WEF circuit continues through March 31 featuring 12 weeks of world-class competition.
Uliano Vezzani of Italy set the courses for Friday's classes in the International Arena at PBIEC. In the RCG Farm High Amateur-Owner Jumpers, Alise Oken and Teirra were clear in both the power and speed rounds with the fastest time of 28.990 seconds to win the class.
Sophie Morner was the only other rider to clear both rounds aboard Lovsta Stuteri's Nichebourg and finished second with her time of 29.350 seconds. Bhaskar Dasgupta and Zinesse had four faults in the speed phase in 30.887 seconds to place third.
Rider Alise Oken and her family's Hi Hopes Farm purchased Teirra this fall and Oken began showing the mare just before the start of the FTI WEF circuit. Teirra, a 13-year-old KWPN mare by Tolano Van Het Riethof x Aldatus, previously showed successfully under amateur rider Addison Phillips and then competed internationally with U.S Olympic gold medalist Laura Kraut with wins and top finishes around the world. Kraut is also Oken's trainer of three years, and is now coaching Oken and Teirra together in their new partnership.
Friday's win was Oken and Teirra's second of the FTI WEF circuit after also topping an $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class during week one. They also finished fifth in week one's $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic.
"I started riding her at the end of December and everything has just clicked so well," Oken said of the combination. "Laura had been riding her for a year and a half before that, so she knew how the horse went and she thought we would be a good match. I started riding her and it has just been so great. I have been showing her for three weeks now and we have already won two classes. She is a very good mare. She has been doing really well and I am really excited about her."
As Oken moves up with her riding and works on being more competitive at the higher levels, riding a horse with Teirra's talent and experience has given the rider a lot of confidence.
"It is pretty unreal," Oken smiled. "She definitely knows what she's doing and helps me out. She has been to Aachen; she has been everywhere over in Europe, so she is definitely experienced and when I need her she is there for me."
Riding with Kraut and showing against the world-class competitors in Wellington is also a great learning experience for Oken.
"It is a whole new level of going fast and knowing how to win," she stated. "I am still learning where to shave time off and everything, but Teirra is helping me learn all of that, so it has been great. I am so lucky to be able to ride with Laura as well. She has taught me so much and it has been awesome so far."
Oken plans to show Teirra in the 1.50m classes throughout the circuit and hopes to continue to do well in those and gain more experience. Friday's amateur-owner win was a nice preparation for Saturday's highlight 1.50m class.
Commenting on the win, Oken stated, "The class today was really good. We are going to do the 1.50m tomorrow, so I was going in to do a nice round and go a little fast and cut my corners a little bit and it all worked out. We won today, so she was really good."
Also showing in the International Arena on Friday, Laura Chapot and Bradberry continued their consistent performance in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge classes. The duo placed second in the class during week one, won it during week two, and repeated their victory during this third week of competition. In the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class, Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S, owned by Morningside Stud and Torrey Pines Stable, wrapped up the day with a victory.
Final Results: $2,500 RCG Farm High AO Jumper II.2.c
1. TEIRRA ALISE OKEN HI HOPES FARM, LLC: 0/0/28.990
2. NICHEBOURG SOPHIE MORNER LOVSTA STUTERI: 0/0/29.350
3. ZINESSE BHASKAR DASGUPTA BHASKAR DASGUPTA: 0/4/30.887
4. CORDINO ELIZABETH PATZ DOUBLETHINK, LLC: 4/45.545
5. WILLIAMS ROBERT JORNAYVAZ ROBERT JORNAYVAZ: 4/45.749
6. LEVANTINO L GABRIELLE STERN GABRIELLE STERN: 4/46.782
7. HIGH YUMMY NICOLE WALKER NICOLE WALKER: 4/47.806
8. CADINI EVELYN PAN PAN MANAGEMENT I, LLC: 4/48.315
9. AARON 287 ALISE OKEN LUCILLE OKEN: 4/48.480
10. WINDOCTRO KATE MORRISON CRAIG MORRISON: 4/50.321
11. ZAHARA S SUSAN HORN KINGSFIELD FARM: 8/45.872
12. ROLLS ELIZABETH PATZ ELIZABETH PATZ: 8/46.458