The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began its fourth week of competition, sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, on Wednesday with a $34,000 1.45m speed class to kick things off in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Following a win in Sunday’s $34,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic with AD Argos to conclude week three, Brazil’s Alvaro ‘Doda’ de Miranda kept his winning momentum going with a victory in the first class of week four aboard AD Amigo B. WEF four runs January 28-February 1, 2015. The week will feature the $372,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Fidelity Investments®, on Saturday, January 31. Other highlights include the $127,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4 on Thursday, January 29, the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Team Event, presented by the McNerney Family, on Friday, January 30, at The Stadium at PBIEC, and the $85,000 Suncast® 1.50M Championship Classic on Sunday, February 1. The $50,000 Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Asheville Regional Airport, will also be held during week four on January 30-31, 2015. The special showcase will feature some of eventing’s top horses and riders competing for phenomenal prize money in the winter equestrian capital of the world. Thursday’s $127,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4, all three phases of the $50,000 Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Asheville Regional Airport, and Saturday night’s $372,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI-W 5*, presented by Fidelity Investments®, will be live streamed atwww.COTH.com. The course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week four is Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. Jorge set the morning’s 1.45m speed course for 58 starters with 18 clear rounds. Darragh Kenny (IRL) set the pace with an early clear aboard Toffolon Partners LLC’s Gatsby in 60.30 seconds to eventually finish fourth. Eric Lamaze (CAN) soon came along with Artisan Farms LLC’s Rosana du Park to take the lead in 59.72 seconds. They held on through most of the class, but were later pushed into second place. Andres Rodriguez (VEN) and Arao Enterprises LLC’s Caballito jumped into third place in 60.05 seconds, followed by Doda de Miranda and AD Amigo B, who took the winning edge with their time of 59.61 seconds.
