Wellington: Eric Lamaze captures WEF Challenge Cup

Wellington, FL – March 15, 2018 – Canadian Olympic champion Eric Lamaze claimed his third WEF Challenge Cup win of the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) season on Thursday, March 15, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The now 28-time winner of the class earned victory in the $35,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 10 with Chesney, owned by Artisan Farms LLC. 

Week ten of WEF, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, runs March 14-18. The jumper highlight is the $132,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 17. A 12-week circuit, WEF hosts hunter, jumper, and equitation competition until April 1 and offers more than $9 million in prize money.

From a field of 85 entries in the $35,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 10, nine advanced to jump off over the track set by 2015 Pan American Games course designer Michel Vaillancourt (CAN). Lamaze and Chesney, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding by Indoctro x Kannan, tripped the jump-off timers in an unbeatable 36.59 seconds to take the win. 

Second place with a time of 37.07 seconds was the USA’s Amber Harte riding Austria 2, owned by Take the High Road LLC. Rounding out the top three was Georgina Bloomberg (USA) aboard Manodie II H, owned by Gotham Enterprizes LLC, who finished on a time of 37.50 seconds.

“I must say, today’s a big step up,” said Lamaze of the winning performance from Chesney, a mount that he has gotten to know and seen progress over the past year. “I didn’t have a WEF [Challenge Cup] planned for him on this circuit to be honest, but we’re coming down to the end. We have horses in Europe; we have Mexico next week and all of that, so some of them have to step up, and how great it is that he responded that way!

“I really have respect for how careful he is. I love careful horses, and he sure is a catty one that I think actually has quite a bit of jump in him,” continued Lamaze. “You don’t know – a few of these jump-offs, and their wings start sailing and before you know it – Fine Lady was the same thing. So I really believe in him. I think he’s a first-class horse.” 

Chesney is owned by Andy and Carlene Ziegler’s Artisan Farms, a strong supporter of equestrian sport and an owner Lamaze is always thankful to have the opportunity to ride for.

“I’m really happy, and again, an Artisan horse winning this competition! It’s great,” said Lamaze, who also referenced that Tiffany Foster finished 12^th in the class aboard Christos, a young, fellow Artisan Farms-owned horse. “They have great horse power, and for sure it’s a privilege to ride for them.”

Lamaze will next contest Saturday night’s $132,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI3* with Artisan Farms’ and Torrey Pines Stable’s Coco Bongo.

Final Results: $35,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 10

1   CHESNEY: 2007 KWPN gelding by Indoctro x Kannan
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 0/0/36.59

2   AUSTRIA 2: 2008 Holsteiner mare by Casall x Corrado I
AMBER HARTE (USA), Take The High Road, LLC: 0/0/37.07

3   MANODIE II H: 2005 Oldenburg mare by Carthago x Zeus
GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes, LLC: 0/0/37.50

4   DIXSON: 2003 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Vigo d’Arsouilles x Olisco
IAN MILLAR (CAN), Ariel Grange: 0/0/38.57

5   CHEROKEE: 2007 KWPN gelding by Ccardento x Creool

JENNIFER MATTELL (CAN), Joe Mattell: 0/4/38.24

6   COLUMBCILLE DE REVE: 2008 Irish Sport Horse mare by Hermes de Reve x Errigal Flight
NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO (USA), Crooks Show Jumping LLC: 0/4/41.39

7   GASPER VAN DEN DOORN: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Calvaro x Larome
TEDDY VLOCK (USA), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/4/43.09

8   RANDON PLEASURE: 2005 Selle Francais mare by For Pleasure x Quidam de Revel
STEPHANIE MACIEIRA (BRA), Bonne Chance Farm: 0/8/44.03

9   CARNA Z: 2005 Zangersheide mare by Crown Z x Grannus
GUSTAVO PRATO (ARG), Equus Forte LLC: 0/12/37.55

10  CACHAREL: 2007 KWPN mare by Vingino x Clinton

KELLY SOLEAU-MILLAR (USA), Bridge Brook Arms and Vanderwoude-Dymant: 1/75.10

11  SKYHORSE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Calvaro x Quidam de Revel
LILLIE KEENAN (USA), Chansonette Farm LLC: 1/75.65

12  CHRISTOS: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Cristo 5 x Linaro

TIFFANY FOSTER (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 1/76.60