Mexican Eugenio Garza Perez soars taking Longines victory at Columbus

By Catie Staszak

A victory in the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Columbus stamped the 10-year-old Zangersheide Victer Finn Dh Z as a horse to watch this season on the North American League.

Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) rode the bay gelding to the top of the podium in the horse’s World Cup qualifying debut. After missing nearly a year of competition while recovering from injury, Victer Finn Dh Z showed off his ability—and his fitness—by topping a jump-off field of 10. The pair crossed the timers in 41.33 seconds, less than two-tenths of a second faster than Peter Lutz (USA) and Robin du Ponthual (41.49 seconds), veterans of the 2016 World Cup Finals. Kelli Cruciotti (USA) and Chamonix H (42.65 seconds) finished third.

“That was an amazing course and a fun jump-off,” Garza Perez said. “With the horses and riders that were in the jump-off, you knew it was going to be fast. We definitely went in there with the plan of trying to be as fast as possible and playing to the strengths of my horse. He’s a naturally fast horse and covers a lot of ground, and it worked out our favor, which is amazing.”

Alan Wade (IRL) set the track for the newest leg on the North American League, which saw 39 combinations compete. The field featured four veterans from the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Paris (FRA), including Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili, Charlie Jacobs and Cassinja S, Alison Robitaille and Ace, and current World Cup champions Beezie Madden and Breitling LS.

“It’s for sure [a highlight],” Garza Perez said. “[Victer Finn Dh Z] is 10 years old, but he’s not that experienced. He took a while off. He came out [today] as good as ever. It was amazing. I really didn’t expect that result, but I’ll take it!”

Maintaining Momentum

After recording her first World Cup victory in New York with D’Arnita, Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) solidified her place atop the east coast sub league standings of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League with an eighth place finish in Columbus aboard another mount, Cat Ballou. She boasts 29 points. Mattias Tromp (USA), who finished third in New York, also proved his consistency, finishing 10th in Columbus and securing second in the standings with 22. Sacramento’s World Cup winner, Wilhelm Genn (GER), sits third with 20 points.

Eve Jobs (USA), who finished fourth in Columbus, is declared on the west coast, and she now leads those standings with 24 points, ahead of Karrie Rufer (21 points). Garza Perez has moved into a joint third with Uma O’Neill, who won in Vancouver. They each have 20 points.

Competition continues on the west coast at Del Mar, CA (USA), on 21 October 2018.      

Result:

1. Victer Finn Dh Z, Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) 0/0 41.33

2. Robin du Ponthual, Peter Lutz (USA) 0/0 41.49

3. Chamonix H, Kelli Cruciotti (USA) 0/0 42.65

4. Venue d’Fees des Hazalles, Eve Jobs (USA) 0/0 45.44

5. Amice Z, Charlie Jayne (USA) 0/0 49.75

6. Brindis Bogibo, Andrew Welles (USA) 0/4 40.34

7. Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) 0/4 41.11

8. Cat Ballou, Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) 0/4 42.65

9. Shorapur, Kevin Babington (IRL) 0/4 44.44

10. Chicago Hof Eversem Z, Mattias Tromp 0/4 47.44

Full results can be viewed here

Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) – 1^st

“I still have to get together with my team and discuss it, but obviously a result like this [makes you think harder about] a chance to qualify for World Cup Finals, which of course is an amazing championship. It wasn’t really one we were thinking of [originally], because the horse is just back two months, and we wanted to get him back and see how he was. It’s horses. One day you’re up top, and the next you’re on the ground. I don’t know yet, but I hope we’ll give it another go at a World Cup qualifier.”

“I think [he’d be well suited to World Cup Finals]. I think he’s a just a great horse. I’m really a lucky guy to have such a special horse.”

Peter Lutz (USA) — 2^nd

“We’ve had him for about four years now. He’s just been a great horse for us for all these years. We did our first World Cup Finals together two years ago, so we’re hopeful that we’ll go again. We’ll certainly try.”

Kelli Cruciotti (USA) — 3^rd

“I’m not usually an emotional person, but I was welling up a little. A year ago at this horse show, I jumped [Chamonix] in her very first class after bringing her out of retirement, and the year before that, she had just recovered from her second colic surgery. For me, she’s the best horse I’ll ever ride. I cannot thank enough all the vets, trainers, and everybody that’s really been behind her. This is really special for me.”

Standings: Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League — East Coast

1. Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) 29

2. Mattias Tromp (USA) 22

3. Wilhelm Genn (GER) 20

4. Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) 20

5. Conor Swail (IRL) 17

7. Andrew Welles (USA) 15

8. Georgina Bloomberg (USA) 13

8. Lucy Davis (USA) 13

8. Vanessa Mannix (CAN) 13

Full standings can be viewed here

Standings: Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League — West Coast

1. Eve Jobs (USA) 24

2. Karrie Rufer (USA) 21

3. Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) 20

3. Uma O’Neill (USA) 20

5. Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) 17

6. Juan Jose Zendejas Salgado (MEX) 15

6. Karl Cook (USA) 15

6. Kelli Cruciotti (USA) 15

9. Zazou Hoffan (USA) 12

9. Richard Spooner (USA) 12

Full standings can be viewed here