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Richard Spooner Triumphs with Quirino 3 at Spy Coast
Wellington, FL, USA
Photo: Randi Muster
The third week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Nespresso and runs through Sunday, January 31. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit. Germany's Olaf Petersen Jr. designed the course with 12 numbered obstacles, including an in-and-out combination followed by a tight five strides to a vertical and a triple bar oxer as the first element of a two-stride combination. There were 13 clear rounds over the course out of 43 entries in the class. The early leader was Bob Kraut (USA) on Providence, who set the first clear round in a time of 67.784 seconds. Laura Chapot (USA) and her mount Redford made a valiant effort when they stopped the clock at 66.516 seconds and posted a clear round that would make them the new leader. It wasn't long before Tarzan and David Arcand (CAN) entered the ring and posted a time of 64.267 seconds, which was the new time to beat. The eventual winner of the class, Quirino 3 piloted by Richard Spooner, produced a blazing time, stopping the clock at 62.311 seconds. The pair was able to maintain the lead for the rest of the class even when Chapot entered the ring on her second mount Chili Pepper, who produced a time of 63.408 seconds for second place. Spooner said of the course, "Olaf did a great job. It is so nice to have him here in Florida." As for Quirino, Spooner has had the horse for a while, but it was his very first time in the International ring. Spooner spoke very fondly of his mount Quirino, a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Quick Star xx Inschallah. He explained of his strategy, "I was able to make up a lot of time because the horse has a huge stride." He continued, "I could make the tight turns and get a little bit deep into the lines, but because of his large stride, I was able to make it out of the lines." As for upcoming plans, Spooner plans to show Quirino 3 in more of the speed classes and WEF Challenge Cup grand prix classes during this circuit. Final Results: $6,000 Spy Coast 1.40m Speed Challenge | ||
