HorseBuff Magazine – Showjumping, Palm Beach Masters, Longines FEI Jumping World Cup
Emily Moffitt (GBR) got “back on [her] feet” with a win aboard Tipsy du Terral in the $36,600 Suncast Welcome Stake CSI4*-W Thursday afternoon at Deeridge Farms.
“It all kind of panned out quite fantastically!” Moffitt exclaimed. “I went in and [trainer Ben Maher] just said, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s go for it. Let’s win something.’ I haven’t had the best start to the season, so it’s great. I feel like I’m back on my feet now. She’s my trusty little steed. We throw her in anything, and she gets it done.”
With just five-hundredths of a second separating the top two, Moffitt credited her win to her mare’s carefulness, particularly in the combinations on course.
“With her, she’s so careful in doubles,” she explained. “That allows me to really gallop in, whereas to the last jump I have to hold her off a little bit. That’s probably where I got it done today.
“It was just one of those rounds where, everything came up perfectly,” she added. “I was lucky that happened, because that makes a big difference.”
Moffitt, 21, has been partnered with Tipsy du Terral for nearly three years, recording a half-dozen victories at the international level, from Europe to Wellington.
“I had her for a few years now,” Moffitt explained. “She’s very strong, and my little chicken arms have to step up their game when I ride her! It’s nice, because she drags you to everything. You’re just along for the ride, and she’s like, ‘Come on, let’s do this!’ I love that. She’s just a really great partner to have.”
Moffitt is just beginning her winter season at the Palm Beach Masters Series®, as she will represent Great Britain in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ USA CSIO5* that will take place at Deeridge Farms on Feb. 16.
“I love everything [about this venue],” she said. “It’s a real change of scenery, and I love the [lake] and the backdrop and everything. It’s just nice to have that big grass field. I love it, and all my horses seem to like it as well.”
Nicole Shahinian-Simpson & Akuna Mattata kick off CSI4*-W competition with a win in $10,000 Palm Beach Masters Warm-up
CSI4*-W competitors took to the Grass Arena for the first time in the $10,000 Palm Beach Masters Warm-up. Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) and Akuna Mattata emerged victorious after 51 combinations took on Alan Wade’s (IRL) course for the 1.40m two phases special competition. Their winning second-phase time was 30.23 seconds.
Jordan Coyle (IRL) and Des le Debut finished second with a 30.89-second time, while Amy Millar (CAN) and Ericson were third (31.61 seconds).
“The easy part with her, is that she has one speed, one gear,” Shahinian-Simpson said of her longtime mount. “The course was straightforward, so I just let her go in her gear. I made some angles and turns and dared her at the jumps, and it was sort of my school [for the rest of the week], in a sense.”
Shahinian-Simpson plans to compete “Nala” in Friday’s $72,900 Candy Tribble Qualifier CSI4*-W with an eye toward securing a spot in Sunday’s $213,300 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Wellington.
“She felt great today,” Shahinian-Simpson said. “She felt really game. The footing was super, and the field rode beautifully.”
Results: $36,600 Suncast Welcome Stake CSI4*-W
1- Emily Moffitt (GBR), Tipsy du Terral 0/60.38
2- Erynn Ballard (CAN), Judge Hof ter Zeedycke 0/60.43
3- Danial Coyle (IRL), Farrel 0/61.78
4- Rodrigo De Paula Pessoa (BRA), Venice Beach 0/62.31
5- Adrienne Sternlicht (USA), Cadans Z 0/62.43
6- Zoe Conter (BEL), Dolitaire Chevannaise 0/64.31
7- Amanda Derbyshire (GBR), Lady Maria BH 0/64.47
8- Karl Cook (USA), Fecybelle 0/65.30
9- Lauren Hough (USA), Paloma 0/66.46
10- Jenni McAllister (USA), Escada V S 0/67.34
Further information on the Palm Beach Masters Series is available at http://www.palmbeachmasters.com
Major reporting contributions for this article were received from the Palm Beach Masters in Wellington FL. and Catie Staszak Media, Inc.
