November 29, 2006

Eric Flameng and Mazelle Notch Second Win in Palm Beach Post National Welcome Stake at 123rd National Horse Show and Family Festival

Wellington, FL – They say that history repeats itself, and Eric Flameng has proven that statement. The Belgian rider and the 11 year old Selle Francais/German bred mare Mazelle, owned by Floriac LLC, won the Palm Beach Post National Welcome Stake, CSI for the second time in the National Horse Show and Family Festival history. Their first win in the class came in 2004, and Flameng was thrilled to ride for the blue ribbon again. The Palm Beach Post National Welcome Stake is the opening class for the jumpers at the 123rd National Horse Show and Family Festival, which runs from November 29th through December 3rd, 2006, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club.

The Time First Round course set by Jose Gamarra had 11 numbered jumps with 14 total jumping efforts. The time allowed was a comfortable 81 seconds. Fifty-seven entries competed in the class, which saw eight clear rounds, 12 four fault rounds, four eliminations, and five retirements. The class, slated to start at 3 p.m., was pushed back to a 3:45 start time. With such a large field, this caused the riders at the end of the class to compete at dusk.

The first clear round of the class came from Pablo Barrios (VEN) and Tibor, owned by Anna Lisa Smith, who showed in the 11th position. They blazed around in a time of 65.30 seconds. Although other clear rounds would follow, none would come within two seconds of his time. The closest was Laura Kraut (USA) on Miss Independent, who went clear in 67.77 seconds.

As the rounds passed, Barrios sat and watched his time hold up for the win. It came down to the end, when Flameng and Mazelle entered the ring as the second to last horse in the ring. Flameng picked up the gallop from the start and never let up. As he landed from the triple combination (the tenth fence of eleven on course), Flameng pushed Mazelle to the final triple bar fence. They crossed the timers with no faults in a time of 63.98 seconds.

Flameng was very happy to win again at the National Horse Show. Their last competition together was the Tournament of Champions in Palgrave, Ontario, Canada, in September. “The feeling is amazing, just fantastic,” Flameng effused. “She was not that good this summer, that’s why I’m really happy today.”

He went on to say, “I think she loves this class. Actually, me too! I won the class, and I think that she was perfect!” Flameng added that at first, he was a little worried about going so late when it was getting dark, but said with a laugh, “I think my mare has very good eyes, better than mine. She jumped careful in the dark.”

Barrios was another rider that was pleased with his horse. He has only ridden Tibor for a week, and this was their first horse show together. “It’s an amazing horse, very careful. He can be very fast,” he affirmed. “I know by reference that the horse is very fast. It’s a horse that Laura Kraut picked for Anna Lisa. He’s been in a lot of speed classes.”

By going so early in the order and setting the pace, Barrios knew he could not count on the win. “You always expect somebody to do better than you, especially when you go early in the class,” he acknowledged. “Eric is very fast and I know the mare, so I knew he could do it. I think I need to know my horse more. Probably tomorrow, I’ll go a little bit faster and try to beat Eric.”

The Open Jumper division continues tomorrow at the National Horse Show and Family Festival with the NHS Speed Classic, CSI. The Time First Round class is schedule to start at 3 p.m. in the Internationale Arena.

Results of Class 1001 - Welcome Stake

• 1 - 335 - MAZELLE - ERIC FLAMENG - 0.00 - 63.98 FLORIAC LLC
• 2 - 655 - TIBOR - PABLO BARRIOS - 0.00 - 65.30 - ANNA LISA SMITH
• 3 - 423 - MISS INDEPENDENT - LAURA KRAUT - 0.00 - 67.77 MISS INDEPEND. GRP
• 4 - 395 - OLIVER III - JUDY GAROFALO TORRES - 0.00 - 67.96 - HIGHER GROUND FARM
• 5 - 550 - RMW POWER POINT - JAIME GUERRA - 0.00 - 68.23 - ROCKYMT WARMBLOODS
• 6 - 247 - OLINDA - TODD MINIKUS - 0.00 - 70.75 - HOULIHAN LAWRENCE
• 7 - 537 - AVAILABLE LAVENTOS - MARIO DESLAURIERS - 0.00 - 71.40 MARIO DESLAURIERS
• 8 - 315 - ROCKFORD I - KERI POTTER - 0.00 - 76.00
• 9 - 345 - CINOA - JOSE REGA - 4.00- 64.20 - VICTORIA D'AGOSTINO
• 10 - 657 - HIDDEN CREEK'S CALIPPO 12 - MARGIE ENGLE - 4.00 - 64.37 - HIDDEN CREEK FARM
• 11 - 347 - NAGANO - JOSE REGA - 4.00 - 66.44 - MARGARITA DE BORBON
• 12 - 539 - NAOMI - MARIO DESLAURIERS - 4.00 - 66.93 - MARIO DESLAURIERS

Photo Credit: Eric Flameng and Mazelle, winners of the Palm Beach Post National Welcome Stake at the 123rd National Horse Show and Family Festival. Photo © 2006 Peter Llewellyn/PMG Pictures.