Pablo Barrios Speeds to the Win in $34,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup at Spruce Meadows
Calgary, AB, Canada – July 9, 2015 – The 2015 Spruce Meadows Summer Series began its final week of competition, the ‘Pan American’ Tournament CSI 5*, presented by Rolex, with wins for Pablo Barrios (VEN) and Abigail McArdle (USA) on Thursday. The ‘Pan American’ Tournament continues with world-class show jumping through Sunday, July 12.
Pablo Barrios led the victory gallop in the $34,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.50m riding Emanuel Andrade’s Fananka A in the Meadows on the Green. Out of 48 entries, 13 cleared Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) speed track, and Barrios and Fananka A blazed the winning time of 56.73 seconds. Hardin Towell (USA) and Jennifer Gates’ Lucifer V finished second in 56.91 seconds, and Rodrigo Lambre (BRA) placed third aboard Mario Onate’s Charielle, with a time of 58.09 seconds.
Barrios has had great results throughout the summer at Spruce Meadows, but this was his first international win of the series. Fananka A, a ten-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Chin Chin x Kannan), is a new mount for the rider this summer and he explained that Thursday’s course suited the horse perfectly.
“I am happy that I finally got one victory,” Barrios stated. “I never expected to have it with her because she is just a new ride for me. Emanuel let me ride her because I was a little short on FEI horses. Basically, we trained her to do the derbies. I was a little unlucky in both derby competitions, but she placed in both.”
“Finally, this course was perfect for her,” Barrios continued. “When I walked the course I really liked it for her. It was long lines for a big horse and she has a big step. Two of the tightest turns were to her good side on her left lead. Everything was perfect for her, so I went for it to see if I could win and I was lucky.”
“She has a very different style,” Barrios said of Fananka. “The quality is top; I have never ridden a horse with that much quality, but the rideability is a little tough. You have to place her in a distance that she feels comfortable. Normally, she gets deeper than what you want or she will put herself in a place that you think she is in trouble, but she is so careful and she tries so hard. I do not know how, but she leaves the rails up.”
Further detailing his round, Barrios explained, “I was fast in the rollback from number three to the plank. Then I was the only one in the competition who did seven strides to the combination. She has a huge step and she goes a little left, so I planned the seven and it worked perfect. I think I was very quick there; everybody was doing nine or eight strides. Then I was fast in the rollback after the liverpool. Again, she goes left and she turned great, so I made good time there.”
Barrios hopes to continue riding Fananka and thanked the Andrade Family for letting him compete the mare this summer. He also thanked sponsors: Animo, Hagyard Equine Clinic, Devoucoux, Purina, Choice of Champions, Healthy Coat, and Der Dau.
On Friday, Barrios plans to compete ZL Group, Inc.’s Zara Leandra in the $85,000 Ashcor Technologies Cup 1.55m. The mare has been competing very well and he hopes to jump her in Sunday’s $400,000 Pan American Cup, presented by Rolex, to conclude the Summer Series.
Final Results: $34,000 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.50m
- $8,500 FANANKA A Belgian Warmblood / M / 10 Chin Chin x Kannan
PABLO BARRIOS (VEN) WELLINGTON, FL Emanuel Andrade: 0/56.735 - $6,800 LUCIFER V Westphalian / G / 9 Lord Pezi x Grandeur
JACK HARDIN TOWELL JR. (USA) CAMDEN, SC Jennifer Gates: 0/56.916 - $5,100 CHARIELLE Oldenburg / M / 9 Chacco Blue x Argentinus
RODRIGO LAMBRE (BRA) MONTERREY Mario Onate: 0/58.099 - $3,400 SCOUT DE LA CENSE Selle Francais / G / 9 Easy Boy x Crazyhorse of Coco
MARIO DESLAURIERS (USA) NEW YORK, NY Lisa Deslauriers: 0/58.544 - $2,380 SF ARIANTHA Dutch Warmblood / M / 10 Corland x Emillion
ANDRES RODRIGUEZ (VEN) WELLINGTON, FL Olivia Cox-Fill: 0/58.605 - $1,870 ZZ TOP VH SCHAARBROEK Z Zangersheide / G / 14 Zandor Z x Latus I
EMANUEL ANDRADE (VEN) WELLINGTON, FL Emanuel Andrade: 0/60.704 - $1,360 CAT BALOU Hanoverian / M / 10 Converter x Acord II
TAMIE PHILLIPS (CAN) STRATHMORE AB Tamie Phillips: 0/61.424 - $1,020 RETIRO Warmblood / G / 10 Rockfeller Z x Play Boy
MCLAIN WARD (USA) BREWSTER, NY Susan Heller & McLain Ward: 0/62.657 - $1,020 ZIDANE H Dutch Warmblood / S / 11 Diamant de Semilly x Iroko
FRANCOIS ESTEVES (BRA) BRA Victoria Baumgarten: 0/62.815 - $850 COCQ A DOODLE Warmblood / M / 8 Nolan R x Niagra
MOLLY ASHE (USA) WELLINGTON, FL Nutmeg Group LLC: 0/62.962 - $850 SRI ALADDIN Dutch Warmblood / G / 10 Quasimodo z x Burggraaf
MEAGAN NUSZ (USA) HOUSTON, TX Amalaya Investments: 0/63.250 - $850 ORBETELLO Oldenburg / S / 12 Orlando x Landgraf I
BRIANNE GOUTAL (USA) NEW YORK, NY Hampton Farms LLC: 0/64.829