Conyers, GA—June 21, 2007— You hear it every year among those who exhibit at the summer series here, “we’re showing in Hotlanta”, generally a reference to the high temperatures, but for two months now it’s been Sergio Campos of the Florida-based Longwood Equestrian Center creating the real heat with his 10 year old homebred mare Shakira do Jacare. Campos captured the top placing over a field of 30 international riders in the opening Welcome Show Jumping Stake presented by Classic Equine Equipment.

The starting field showcased riders from 6 countries outside the US including a team from Ecuador as well as professionals from Puerto Rico, Columbia, Venezuela, Canada, and the winner’s home country of Brazil.  Campos and Shakira do Jacare, whom he owns and trains, bested six jump-off contenders with a clear go in the seven-obstacle final round (the course today designed by Michel Vaillancourt) that challenged riders with a hairpin turn or two and a swift pace. The “Queen of Speed” as she [Shakira] is known around the circuits earned the title with a blazing final time of 33.068, far below the allotted 44-second limit.

Campos piloted three rides in the class, held in the Olympic Grand Prix arena of the Georgia International Horse Park. Of the three, two made the jump off.  “I actually thought all my horses jumped well,” said Campos following his victory. “I thought Michel put together a really challenging course for the start of the series,” he added. “It was really tough. Only 6 clean out of 30! This could be an indicator of what’s to come in Saturday’s Grand Prix.”

Campos, who has captured a total of 27 career GPs, attributed his success with Shakira to their experience in the show ring and her natural speed. The most troublesome spot on today’s course seemed to be the 6AB combination, where 80% of the field accumulated downed rails. Course designer Michel Vaillancourt commented riders didn’t seem to be finding their distances in the approach to it. Campos admitted it was a “scopey line”.  To make that particularly difficult line work, Campos noted: “Shakira is not too scopey but I know her so well now that I can make adjustments to make it easier for her,” he continued. “Sancho [Campos’ first mount] is very scopey, so it was easy for him and Monkey [his third mount] was good until the triple. I think with the sun beginning to cast shadows in front of the box oxer of the last line he was caught off guard,” Campos laughed, “he tried to jump the shadow AND the oxer.”  Sergio has no disappointment in Monkey du Parc given that the young horse recently won the High Amateur Jumper Classic with owner Dianna Rudolpho in the irons.

In a close 2nd place finish was rider-owner Carlos Ramierz aboard Amazonas with a time of 33.359, following 3rd was Geoff Case aboard the ADBF, Inc owned Mashaallah in a time of 37.007, 4th went to Pablo Barrios riding Tibor for owner Anna Lisa Smith in 32.541 seconds with 4 faults, and rounding out the top five was Pablo Barrios with Harlow de Presle for owner Giancarlo Gelleni finishing with 4 faults in a time of 35.523.

Sergio and the Mill Creek Stables owned 7-year-old gelding Sancho had a great start to the youngster’s summer series placing 5th earlier in the 7 & 8 year-old Young Jumper Qualifying class and a well-earned 6th in the afternoon’s Welcome Stake.  Mill Creek Sandhya and Campos took the top honors in the same 7 & 8 year-old Young Jumper Qualifier class while in the 6 year-old Young Jumper division he placed 3rd and 6th with Mill Creek Stables’ Early Morning and Downtown respectively.

Campos will give his Grand Prix competitors a day off to relax before they head into Saturday evening’s main attraction, the $25,000 EMO sponsored show jumping event. “I’ll still be working,’ he mused, “they’ll get to lounge and walk about while I’m working with young jumpers all day.”

The action continues throughout the weekend starting at 7PM Friday evening with the 2nd Horses Helping Horses $25,000 Hunter Classic presented by AME Financial. An estimated 30 plus of the nation’s top hunter competitors are anticipated, including last years defending champion Elizabeth Towell Boyd. New for the event this year will be the fun and creative “Golf Cart Tail Gating Contest”, complete with special awards in categories such as “Best Use for Martini Glass”.  Saturday evening at 7PM will showcase an International level of riders all vying for the $25,000 top spot in the EMO Grand Prix.

The Atlanta Summer Classics continues with more hunter/jumper and Grand Prix action through July 1st. Week II will include with the “Horses Helping Horses” Silent Auction on Saturday June 30th beginning at 10AM until 4PM in the horse park’s Carriage Room (located behind the covered arena) with an array of tack, 5A Baker Blankets, Racing Memorabilia, Jewelry, and much more. At 5PM the dinner tent located on the Grand Prix field will open with dinner from Outback Steakhouse being served at 6PM. All proceeds from both the auction and dinner go to Old Friends Equine Retirement facility. Also at 6PM in the Grand Prix ring, visitors will be introduced to “Mick”, the special guest horse representing Old Friends, benefactor of proceeds from the weekend of giving back. And at 7PM the thrilling $25,000 Outback Steakhouse Horses Helping Horses Grand Prix. Admission is free to the public (with the exception of the charity dinner-tickets can be purchased by calling Becky Miles at 404-791-5963 or at the show grounds).