Leeann Ablin puts her trust in Larrazabal
Luis Fernando Larrazabal and Baroness continue to scale new heights at the Winter Equestrian Festival – adding their second WEF Challenge Cup win in week 6 on the grass of the Derby Field – and it is thanks to owner Leeann Ablin that they are doing so.
“The plan was never to sell her,” said Leeann of the 10-year old Westphalian mare, who has partnered with Luis since she was six. “We just bought her to see if he could produce her and it’s beyond my wildest dreams how far she has come and I’m just so happy.”
Luis – whose jump off time of 45.78 seconds aboard Baroness, gave him victory over the original 37 entries in the $62,500 CSI 3* WEF Challenge – attributed his ongoing success to the support he receives. “Leanne Ablin, and her daughter [Emily], they’ve been supporting me for so many years. This mare has been with us since she’s six and there were a couple times that people were asking for her, but she [Leeann] was committed to keeping her for me and keep going for the sport. So I’m very happy that we’re able to show and give some results and bring some wins home.”
Baroness – naturally fast – made light work of the jump off course to take the lead from Ireland’s Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro, sitting on a time of 46.61 seconds. “She [Baroness] has a lot of success here,” said Luis, referring to the grass arena – the scene of two earlier victories for the pair at WEF this year, including a WEF Challenge Cup victory in week two. “I always have a good feeling but you never know until you finish – and pass the flags after the last jump,” the Venezuelan rider said.
Luis and Baroness return to the fray for Sunday’s $140,000 CSI3* Grand Prix – also on the Derby field. “She’s jumping Sunday, so hopefully we can repeat it [the win],” said Luis. “And then I’m very excited because she’s going to do her first five star here next week.”
Baroness made her five-star debut in the Hampton Classic last summer and the move up to that level was anticipated. “We knew she was going to be a five-star [horse],” said Luis. “So I’m very glad she’s ready for it.”
Leeann, herself a competitor in the sport, will be in her preferred role on Sunday – watching from the hill. “It is so much better to watch and to be an owner because you get nervous, but I don’t have to perform,” she said. “It takes all the stress off. I love it. I’d much rather watch the professional ride my horse and take her to the highest level that she can achieve.”
This could be interesting: