Elisa Broz Strikes Again in $30,000 1.45m Open Classic

Eliza Broz and Tinkerbell have competed in the $30,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic twice together during Desert Circuit so far, and the duo has won in both outings. With a 100% strike rate in the class, Broz and the 13-year-old Mecklenberger mare (Chacco Blue x Silvio) blazed an unbeatable class in the week five edition Thursday afternoon.

“‘Tink’ is obviously very good at speed classes, and she’s naturally careful,” Broz, 18, said of why these classes suit her and the mare so well. “I get in there and she’s fresh and maybe still checking out the jumps, so she stays careful and I can just ride. I’ve learned she has so much power by the end of the course that I have to keep her a little slow at the beginning.”

The initial slow pace was deceptive for then-leader Shawn Casady, who set a time to beat with Tiffany Sullivan’s Castelissimo of 60.238 seconds. Broz left very little on the table, clocking in at 58.801 seconds. “Shawn said I looked so slow at the beginning and then he looked at the time and thought, ‘What happened?!’ Broz joked. “I just let her do her thing and she’s naturally good at that.”

Casady ended up second while Jake Endicott claimed third with RMF Chacco Top, owned by Ashland Farms.

Broz is coming off a two-week hiatus from the show ring, which so far has proven to be a good decision for her own and her horses’ performances. “I think it’s always good to give the horses a break,” she remarked. “They’re athletes too; they need time to recover and chill. We do lots of flatwork and training at home. I got to see my parents which is always nice. Something that’s really important that Cassio [Rivetti] has taught me and has made sure to emphasize is flatwork. That, for her, is really important.”

Going into week five, Broz held the third-place position in the G2 Open Jumper Leading Rider standings. With her eye on the overall prize at the end of the season, she plans to keep aiming Tinkerbell at these open classes to continue earning prize money. “That’s my goal with Tink, to keep some money won and hope to be up there,” she shared. “Obviously Kaitlin [Campbell] is doing quite well. It’s tough out there but we’ll see!”

 

Cassio Rivetti Races to the Win in CSI3* Two Phase

Earlier Thursday, Broz’s own trainer, Cassio Rivetti (BRA), took the win in the $5,000 Morning Star Sporthorses CSI3* Two Phase aboard Nadale Van Dorperheide, owned by Ilan Ferder. The pair has been knocking on the door of a big win throughout the season at DIHP, seeing their time together come to fruition in the opening FEI class of Desert Circuit V.

“I did the five-star [in December], and he was very good the first week [of circuit],” Rivetti said of the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding. “We just took two weeks off. Actually, my plan was to not go so fast on him, but he jumped number one a little too high so I decided to change my plan and go forward. He’s a fast horse so I don’t have to do too much, just go with him.”

Rivetti clocked in just a fraction of a second faster than second-place finisher, Matt Archer (USA) with Zibaloubet Z, owned by Rhys Farms, LLC. Third-place honors went to Vanessa Mannix (CAN) and Carmela Z.

Rivetti and Ferder have high hopes for the up-and-coming 10-year old. “We think it could be a really good horse for the grand prixs,” Rivetti continued. “We sent him here this winter in hopes that he does well.”

Their predictions are proving true with this win, adding to Rivetti’s second place finish in the CSI3* Grand Prix during week two of Desert Circuit. With this horse, Rivetti plans to finish out the CSI3* week strong and point the horse toward CSI4* action during week six.

“He’s a very sensitive horse, so he needs to be trusted,” Rivetti commented. “Now we’re getting along well with each other. He’s a very good quality horse. Sometimes I have to go slow, and I have to let him take his time but he can jump everything; he’s a big scopey horse and very careful.”

FEI action continues Friday with the $38,700 La Quinta Resort & Club CSI3* Speed in the Grand Prix ring.

Final Results: $30,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic

1. Tinkerbell / Elisa Broz / Elisa Broz / 58.801
2. Castelissimo / Shawn Casady / Tiffany Sullivan / 0/60.238
3. RMF Chacco Top / Jake Endicott / Ashland Farms / 0/60.866
4. Billy Nala / McKenna Norris / McKenna Norris / 0/63.015
5. C’Est Roberto / Stephanie Gershon / Everardo A Hegewisch / 0/65.070
6. Sun Warrior / Kaitlin Campbell / Linda Starkman / 4/60.960
7. Escapado S / Ian McFarlane / Mountain View West Farm LLC / 4/61.449
8. Monseigneur / Matt Archer / Rhys Farms, LLC / 4/62.032
9. Capri 111 / Amy Juelsgaard / Amy Juelsgaard / 4/63.749
10. Comrado / Savannah Jenkins / Proper 12, LLC / 4/65.767
11. Corpowei / Amy Juelsgaard / Amy Juelsgaard / 4/67.370
12. Botero / Allison La Joie / Durango Farms / 4/70.313

Final Results: Morning Star Sporthorses CSI3* 1.40m Two Phase

1. NADALE VAN DORPERHEIDE: 2013 BWP gelding by Zilverstar T x Winningmood
CASSIO RIVETTI (BRA), Ilan Ferder: 0/0/33.34

2. ZIBALOUBET Z: 2014 ZANG gelding by Zirocco Blue x Baloubet Du Rouet
MATT ARCHER (USA), Rhys Farms, LLC: 0/0/33.40

3. CARMELA Z: 2011 ZANG mare by Candillo 3 x Nissan Caretano Z
VANESSA MANNIX (CAN), Vanessa Mannix: 0/0/33.81

4. KADANS VAN DE MISPELAERE: 2010 BWP stallion by Wandor Van De Mispelaere x Lux Z
JAEHEE JEON (KOR), Brother Fortune Equestrian Ltd.: 0/0/35.29

5. CHAGALL DE TOSCANE: 2012 SF stallion by Norton D’Eole x Opium De Talma
LAURA HITE (USA), HF Farms LLC: 0/0/37.61

6. TERASINI: 2009 AES gelding by Cheers Cassini x Nijinski
DANIEL IGHANI (ARG), Daniel Ighani: 0/0/38.70

7. CLARITY: 2009 HOLST gelding by Clarimo x Ephebe For Ever
GREGORY WATHELET (BEL), An Breeding: 0/0/39.87

8. CHAGOLOU: 2012 OS stallion by Chacco Blue x Conthargos
JAMIE GORNALL (GBR), Gornall Equestrian: 0/4/35.84

9. EDITA: 2009 KWPN mare by Ukato x Clinton
ZUME GALLAHER (USA), Blue Gate Stables LLC: 0/4/36.75

10. LIMBOSSINI RC: 2011 Holsteiner gelding by Guardus Limbus x San Patrignano Cassini
MARK WATRING (PUR), Mark Watring: 0/4/37.33

11. MCCAW MVNZ: 2011 NZWB gelding by Corofino II x Cassini II
KATIE LAURIE (AUS), Carissa McCall: 0/4/44.07

12. CADEAU Z: 2013 ZANG gelding by Carmena Z x Quattro B
MANDY PORTER (USA), Risen EQ Holdings LLC: 0/5/41.28

A Lot to Lykke: Michelle Morris and Lykke Li-Terma Z Win High Performance Hunters

The first championships of WCHR week were awarded Thursday as the professional divisions came to a close at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP). Out of 15 competitive entries, Michelle Morris and Ava Park’s Lykke Li-Terma Z were the ones on top in the High Performance Hunters, adding yet another impressive accolade to the mare’s resume.

“It’s kind of miraculous actually because she was a jumper originally and started dabbling in the hunters,” Morris said of her beginnings with the 11-year-old Zangersheide (Levisto Z x Cornet Obolensky). “We got her for a young rider who started with her in the Short Stirrup and 2’6” hunters. We started working with her in the hunters; she did the 3’6” Performance and 3’9” Greens and really started to learn the job.

“Now she’s really come into her own and has been a great High Performance horse,” Morris continued. “We’re looking to do the [$50,000 Butet USHJA International Hunter] Derby on Sunday. She’s just such a special mare. She’s confidence building. You can go in and ride your best and leave it all out there. And she loves the show. She’s definitely a show girl.”

Park, Lykke Li-Terma Z’s owner, competes with the mare in the 3’3” Large Older Junior Hunters, and the pair has high hopes competing in WCHR action this season. With Morris aboard, the horse will continue to contend the High Performance Hunters, with sights set on Capital Challenge in the fall in both divisions.

“It’s special that the mare can do both. With those two divisions the goal is to be consistent and qualify,” Morris said.

The horse is definitely beloved by all, including Park, in the barn. “She loves attention,” Morris said of Lykke Li-Terma Z. “All the kids love her, and she loves her owner, Ava. Last time we did the WCHR Hunter Spectacular I had Ava lead her around and show her the jumps.”

WCHR week is a big week for Morris, her students, and all the hunter riders who frequent the show ring at DIHP. But it’s not just about the end result; Morris emphasizes the journey getting there and values every step along the way. “We’re coming here for WCHR weeks and aiming for WCHR championships, as well as really stepping up in the derbies,” Morris said. “If Derby Finals happens, that’s great, but if not, getting the experience of going in there is huge. That’s something we can keep progressing towards. You feel like you reach one point [with this horse] and then she gives you another whole layer.”

Hunter action continues Friday with the $10,000 Amberway Equine USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open and the $10,000 Kubota USHJA National Hunter Derby – Junior/Amateur in Main Hunter.