David Q. Wright and Campari win Week II Grand Prix © Flashpoint Photography

PENSACOLA, FL (February 18, 2006) — Despite Mother Nature’s sudden curve ball in the weather, the chilly temps didn’t lessen the crowd’s enthusiasm or owner-rider David Q. Wright’s determination of riding Campari to victory in the $25,000 EMO sponsored Grand Prix.

The 14 year-old Holsteiner gelding was near the bottom of the order of first round horses to take on designer Michel Vaillancourt’s 12 obstacle track of twist and turns tonight, going clean in a time of 70.971, well under the 72 second allowance. “Technical is the theme tonight with lots of bending lines and blind spots,” Vaillancourt commented. The course was full of hard and often immediate turns off of one element to the next as well as the use of what Vaillancourt referred to as “optical illusions” such as the #11 fence, a big 4’9” oxer complete with liverpool beneath, using blue rails that had a thin white stripe running the length versus the standard block pattern that horses are more accustomed to. The same effect was used earlier in the layout at fence #3, also an oxer that required a hard left turn to yet another wide oxer at fence #4. The hot spot came there with an immediate right turn that had riders cutting through the middle of a combination to make a sharp left turn into the tall black and white vertical #5 fence. “Last week that vertical (#5) was in an innocuous place but it took a lot of folks out, so the last thing I wanted to do was get up against that too much. I just rode it like it was a big mean jump,” Wright said of the first round. “Campari was just fabulous, he handled the technical parts great.”

From the 23 starters only 5 went on to the dash for the cash round of seven jumps. Vaillancourt turned the heat up in the jump off with more quick turns and the dreaded now you see-now you don’t liverpool. The competitors were allowed 40 seconds to “Getter done” as the Canadian designer joked in his best Larry the Cable Guy impersonation. Last week’s Grand Prix winner, Wilhelm Genn, had two of the five horses in the final round. The first on course was Happy Z, the 8 year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Genn, going clear in a time of 33.680. “I wasn’t sure this was going to be the night, Wilhelm had gone clean and pretty fast. Looked like the winning round had just gone, so when he (Wilhelm) had to get on another one ahead of me, I thought what the heck I might as well take the shot.” Wright beamed, “I didn’t think it was going to get any better than Wilhelm’s time but I didn’t really want to be second. I wanted to win.” He laughed. Campari also wanted to win and did so with a time of 30.629 seconds. “It was a fun ride. I wish I could have my other two mounts in there, but as my friends say it only takes one bullet if it’s the right one and Campari was the right bullet tonight!” David said of his partner after the second round.

Wilhelm Genn and Happy Z did claim the second place win with their 33.680 time. Rio Corde, the 9 year-old Hessian gelding owned by Winsor Farm Sales, Inc. and ridden by Bill Lowry took third place with a time of 34.252. The 12 year-old Dutch Warmblood Optimal owned by Chorbe Farm and piloted by Greg Kuti finished fourth with 4 faults in 35.715 seconds. Completing the top five was Wilhelm Genn riding last week’s Grand Prix winner, Le Argento, the 9 year-old Oldenberg gelding owned by Harry and Cary Van Wormer, with 12 faults and a time of 33.767.

Allen Rheinheimer, who takes over as course designer for the jumpers next week said of tonight’s competition, “We’ve got some strong talent here but I plan to continue testing their abilities. This was a great group tonight.” Judges for this evening’s Grand Prix were Mike Christian of Ft. Worth, TX, and Fred Brown of Southern Pines, NC. “Really good collection of riders and horses here. Tough competitors,” commented Brown. The finale Grand Prix of show jumping will take place next Saturday evening at 7:00PM in the covered arena.

The Gulf Coast Winter Series continues through February 26th with showings taking place Wednesday through Sunday each week. Classes begin daily at 8:00AM until approximately 4:30PM and the public is invited. Admission is free. For more information or results on the Gulf Coast Winter Series visit www.ClassicCompany.com or call the show office at (850) 944-7703.