Olympic Silver Medalist Chris Kappler Rides Primeur 58 to 1.45m Win at Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL – February 2, 2005 - The second week of the nine week long 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival got underway Wednesday morning with the start of the Bayer Gold Coast Jumper Classic at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida. The Winter Equestrian Festival is the largest and longest running equestrian sport series in the United States.

Hunter competitors have the week off and jumpers will take center stage in five rings of exciting show jumping action through Sunday. Olaf Petersen, the course designer for the 2004 Olympic Games at Athens, Greece this past summer, will test the riders with his courses at the Internationale Ring. The 1.45m Jumper class, scored under Table II Sec 2b, time first jump off, was the morning feature at the Internationale Arena.

Olympic Silver Medalist Chris Kappler, riding Primeur 58 owned by Kathy Kamine, topped a field of 49 starters for the victory. 13 of the 49 competitors produced first round clears and seven of those advanced to the tiebreaker against the clock.

Kappler raced across the finish line in 40.575 seconds to post his first win of the young 2005 season. His margin of victory was .68 seconds over Ramiro Quintana and Carousel, owned by Mary B. Schwab, who finished second in 41.260 seconds.

Kappler was glad to get back to the winners circle. “I was really happy because this was Primeur’s first class of the season,” he explained. “He’s had a nice break since the Syracuse show this fall and he came out jumping really well today. Because he was so good today,” Kappler noted, “I’ll do the 1.45m tomorrow and try and get him set up for the Bayer Wellington Cup on Sunday.”

Kappler, whose superstar Royal Kaliber had to be humanely destroyed following the Olympic Games in Greece, said that he’s looking for a couple of new grand prix mounts. “Primeur, so far this year, is my only grand prix horse. I’ve also got three 7 year olds that I’m working with. I’m trying to find a couple new horses, but it sure isn’t easy,” he said, chuckling. Royal Kaliber was a two time winner of this Sunday’s featured event, the $50,000 Bayer Wellington Cup Grand Prix.

As far as Olaf Petersen’s courses, Kappler said that this week will be much tougher than during opening week. “Today was more technical and longer than last week. Last week was a great welcome back but I think we’ll move a little closer to reality jumping this week with Olaf Petersen here,” Kappler said.

Cody Baird and Fit 3, owned by the October Farms, finished third today with a clear round in 42.544 seconds. Fourth went to Stacy Krembil’s Pulque, ridden by Eric Lamaze, coming home clear in 42.750 seconds. Rounding out the top six were In Style, owned by Bakers Dozen and ridden by seven time Canadian Olympic rider Ian Millar in fifth, and Sal Wannahorse’s Wanahorse Flash Varrennes, shown by Katie Monahan Prudent in sixth. Millar clocked in at 42.829 seconds and Prudent finished up in 42.974 seconds.

Official Results - #1002 – $7500 1.45m Table II 2b – 2-02-05 – International Arena

• 1 – Primeur 58, Chris Kappler – 0-0/40.575
• 2 – Carousel, Ramiro Quintana – 0-0/41.260
• 3 – Fit 3, Cody Baird – 0-0/42.544
• 4 – Pulque, Eric Lamaze – 0-0/42.750
• 5 – In Style, Ian Millar – 0-0/0-0/42.829
• 6 – Wanahorse Flash Varrenes, Katie Prudent – 0-0/42.974
• 7 – Caucalis, Joe Fargis – 0-0/47.994
• 8 – Corafina 4, Aimee Aron – 0-4/42.172
• 9 – Quarnak de Longpre, Federico Sztyrle – 0-4/43.067
• 10 – Kassidy, Lisa Jacquin -0-4/47.283
• 11 – Capitano, Jimmy Torano – 0-8/59.210
• 12 – Morgan, Jimmy Torano – 0 – ret.