NEWS RELEASE

Feb. 20, 2008

Jumper Focus at WEF Turns to Nations Cup, Selection Trials

WELLINGTON, Fla., Feb. 20-The arrival of more foreign riders turned the focus of jumpers to the Nations Cup and selection trials for the 2008 Olympic Games Show Jumping Team at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival presented by Zimmerman Advertising at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

The U.S.A., defending title holder Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Britain, New Zealand and possibly Argentina and Venezuela will field teams for what has become a major highlight of horse sports in the United States. Thousands of fans, many waving the flags of the nations in the competition, others in face paint, are expected for the event that will be Friday night, March 7.

The Nations Cup will be held amidst the five U.S. selection trials for the 2008 Olympic Games Show Jumping Team that are scheduled to begin on Thursday, Feb. 28 and run through Sunday, March 9. All of the trials for which 41 riders have entered, will be in the International Arena with its new all-weather footing. Three of the trials will be under lights.

Last week, the fifth of WEF 208, saw a grandfather and a 19-year-old take home the biggest wins.

But after three inches of rain overnight Tuesday, the highest praise was given to the International Arena footing by two-time Olympic course designer Olaf Petersen of Germany.

As riders in rain gear prepared for competition Wednesday morning, he exclaimed about the arena: "Unbelievable. This is one of the very few rings in the world where you could get this much rain and it can even be ridden on. This footing is perfect. I have seen rings around the world all my life and this may be Number 1."

In that ring, Canada's Mac Cone was one of the most experienced riders in the starting field for the $60,000 Kilkenny International Cup Grand Prix CSI3* on Sunday but his horse, Ole, was making his debut at the 1.60m level. As the only combination to jump double clear, Cone and Ole beat out Beezie Madden and Authentic, who had the fastest four-fault round.

"I told Beezie that I wasn't going to beat her unless she knocked something down because I was not going to outrun her. To beat the best horse and the best rider, you need luck and a prayer," laughed Cone, 55, who recently became a grandfather.

Cone was pleasantly surprised to win as it was the first time Ole had jumped a grand prix featuring jumps set at 1.60m in height.

"The original plan was to get him comfortable at the height of the WEF class, and this week he jumped double clean. I stewed over it and said "the footing is perfect, the weather is going to be perfect, let's give it a go!" said Cone of his decision to enter Ole, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Sara Houstoun and Larry Evoy. "This was his first time jumping at this height as opposed to Beezie's horse, which has done it countless times."

It was announced earlier in the week that Madden would be given a bye from competing in the United States Equestrian Team Show Jumping Selection Trials with Authentic, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Abigail Wexner. A bye also was given to McLain Ward and Sapphire.

As for her jump-off round which produced four faults, Madden said, "I maybe pushed him a bit too hard, but I wouldn't have done much differently. I showed him on Thursday and Friday, and then today. He was still fresh and aggressive, so it maybe wasn't my smoothest round."

Jeffery Welles took third place with Armani while Danielle Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and the stallion Vancouver D'Auvrey placed fourth for owner Sir Ruly.

While a grandfather galloped off with victory in Sunday's Grand Prix, it was 19-year-old Harvard student Hillary Dobbs who laid claim to Thursday's $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series Round IV.

One of 14 competitors from the starting field of 59 to advance to the jump-off over the track set by Petersen, Dobbs jumped clear in a time of 42.18 seconds to move into the lead. Canada's Amy Millar, who was celebrating her 31st birthday, made a valiant effort with Costa Rica Z, but her time of 42.86 seconds would eventually place her third overall. Britain's Peter Charles proved to be the strongest competition, stopping the clock at 42.36 seconds to become the runner-up riding Murkas Pom D'Ami, a nine-year-old Belgian-bred gelding.

The victory was the second one for Dobbs in under a week. On Saturday, Feb. 9, she won the $20,000 1.50m Classic riding Marengo.

"It is surreal. I was thrilled to win the 1.50m Classic, and this is my first grand prix win in Florida. It hasn't hit me yet," said Dobbs. Of Corlette, an 11-year-old German-bred mare, Dobbs commented, "She's a quick horse across the ground and she tries her heart out. She gives me everything she has."

Charles, who is hoping to be selected to this year's British Olympic Team, was content to finish second to Dobbs, commenting, "She effective and very competitive. I knew I wasn't going to catch Hillary; she goes like the bloody clappers. I can't catch her on the flat, our pace across the floor isn't as fast, but it will get better with time. I'm not going to grumble about where I finished today."

Week Six opened Wednesday, with the CSI3* Equestrian Sport Productions LLC "AA" WCHR Spectacular, presented by the Palm Beach Post.

While the focus will be on hunter competition, including Saturday night's AHJF/WCHR Hunter Classic, Thursday will feature the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round V while Sunday brings the $60,000 Spy Coast Grand Prix.

The 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising, attracts the best horses and riders from around the world to Wellington, Fla., and offers more than $5 million in prize money. For more information, visit www.equestriansport.com.

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Zimmerman Advertising, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is an Omnicom Group company and the 15th largest advertising agency in the U.S. Offices are in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and Atlanta.

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