Wellington, Fla.—Jan. 12
Day 2 of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival saw a win for Todd Minikus on a new ride.
Minikus has taken the reins of riding Valinski S, who jumped in the 201 Rio Olympic Games with Australian rider Matt Williams. And he piloted the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood to the top of the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Todd Minikus on Valinski S. Photo by Sportfot
It was the second grand prix win in a row for Minikus and Wyndmont Inc.’s Valinski S, as they topped the $50,000 Nutrena National Guard Grand Prix in Wellington on Jan. 9. “That’s two classes in a row for him, which is outstanding,” Minikus said. “Wyndmont has a great team getting those horses ready for me. I just ride them here in the ring. They are doing a good job and making it easy for me, so I can’t take all the credit.
“He has always been a very good horse,” Minikus continued. “When they first got him years ago, Michael Dorman rode him, and I always really liked him. I even asked about him a couple years ago and then it’s funny how things come around. They called a couple weeks ago and asked if I would ride him. Obviously he jumped great for Matt at the Olympics, so it’s not a fluke. He is a top horse.”
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Speaking of his strategy for the jump-off Minikus detailed, “He went so fast for me last Sunday to win that $50,000 class. Basically it is just, ‘Put your foot to the floor and hang on.’ A couple weeks ago when I showed him, I think he didn’t understand how fast I really wanted to go when I said I wanted to go. I think he thought I was joking a little bit, but I think he is getting the drift of it now because that was really fast today.”
Guilherme Jorge of Brazil set the track for the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup and 52 entries started in Round 1, with 10 advancing to the jump-off and another six clear rounds over the short course. Second to go, but first to clear the shortened track, Minikus and Valinski S set an unbeatable pace of 37.99 seconds for the win.
Marilyn Little and Karen O’Connor’s Clearwater finished second in 38.33 seconds. Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela and Dipssy placed third with their time of 40.99 seconds.
Minikus had another Wyndmont mount, Zephyr, in the jump-off as well and finished seventh with a fast time, but one rail down.
