The first five-star grand prix of the season was a treat for show-jumping fans as Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Alejandro, owned by Sweet Oak, Spy Coast, & Seabrook LLC, sped to the win in the $401,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI5* on Saturday, February 13, at the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
The fifth week of WEF at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center concludes on Sunday, February 14, with an action-packed Sunday lineup, including the $73,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic and the $50,000 Restylane Grand Prix CSI2*. Feature classes are available both live and on demand using the livestream.
There were 40 entries in the grand prix competing over a course designed by Kelvin Bywater (GBR). Nine punched their ticket to a clear round and advanced to the jump-off. As the last in the ring for the jump-off, Sweetnam knew exactly what he had to do, and pushing Alejandro for speed as he crossed the starting timers, he didn’t let up through the long gallop to the final oxer on course. They landed clear in 37.03 seconds for victory.
“Obviously Clooney is one of the best horses in the world, and I watched Devin who rode at the start and saw his numbers, so I just thought about having a good rhythm from the start and I tried to do the same as Devin,” said Sweetnam of his jump-off plan. “I have a very quick horse, and he’s quick in the air. It was very close at the end, so you had to have a bit of luck to get there and it happened today.”
Sweetnam started riding Alejandro, a 12-year-old Rheinländer gelding by Acorado’s Ass x Contanga, two years ago.
“I got him when he was quite green and raw, and we have built a great relationship,” shared Sweetnam. “[The break because of] COVID was good for him because it gave him time to chill out a bit, without traveling and doing bigger classes. Since then, he’s really been on form and placed in the top three or four in every grand prix he has done.
“At the start of circuit, I blew the three-star under the lights,” he continued. “I was too far off the last fence, so I was mad at myself. It wasn’t really his fault, so I made up for it today and he made the difference.”
Don Langdon, Managing Broker at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, said he was elated with how their competition has gone this week at WEF.
“This is our sixth year of sponsoring the CSI5* event, and every year is just more enjoyable than the last,” he said. “I know in sports it’s very challenging to get into a ‘zone’ at the right time and with all the challenges we’ve had this year, for the three of you to have a night like tonight, you must feel really good. I can tell you from a spectator’s point of view, we were all so excited through the whole night. Number one, we were excited to be out, and number two, to watch the event with the way it started off with Devin and finished with Shane and Martin. You competed so well. I don’t know if we give as much kudos of the athleticism of the three of you riders as we should, but I’m happy I was there.”
Concluding the night, Fuchs noted, “I also want to say thank you very much for [Douglas Elliman Real Estate’s] support in sponsoring this amazing grand prix. For us riders, it’s great that we get to come here to Florida and show at WEF. At home in Europe, there are only CSI2* classes and not really the level that we would like to compete at. For me, this is a great opportunity that I get to jump here and that we have so many generous CSI5* classes, so thank you from all the riders.”
Final results here