For a horse who wasn’t even supposed to be stepping out onto the Internationale Field for the $42,800 AHJF Hunter Classic Spectacular, Safari certainly made an impression at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Fla.

The 5-year-old warmblood — in only his third week of competition at 3’6″ — posted the best scores in the two rounds of the classic on Saturday night, Feb. 24, to take the lion’s share of awards with rider Tim Gougen.

“He was amazing,” said Gougen of the flashy bay gelding. “I wasn’t sure how he’d be out on the field, but he let me place him wherever I wanted. He was great.”

Gougen, Boggs Hill Farm, Wellington, Fla., selected Safari for owner Janet Read through trainer Bobby Braswell of Quiet Hill Farm. Gougen wasn’t sure if Safari was ready to break his first year green status, but after he showed at Littlewood (Fla.) one week and was reserve champion the first week he contested the division on the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit, Gougen took another look.

During the Bainbridge Classic/WCHR Spectacular, Safari earned top ribbons in section A of the first year green division behind division tricolor winners Scott Stewart’s Ovation and Sandy Ferrell’s Corofino Gold. When Stewart declined to start Ovation in the classic under the lights on the field, Gougen was offered the slot and accepted.

Safari’s peer Corofino Gold, a new ride for Ferrell, was hot on his heels throughout the competition. Ferrell, last year’s classic winner aboard Late Entry, finished just 1 point behind for the reserve championship title with a two-round total of 178.875 points to Safari and Gougen’s 179.875.

Liza Towell Boyd, also piloting a new first year green mount, Brunello, owned by Caroline Clark Morrison, placed third with 176.25 points. The gleaming chestnut was imported earlier this month and has been a show hunter for just two weeks.

With a capacity crowd in attendance on a lovely Florida evening, 25 contenders qualified to compete over two rounds in the 11th anniversary of the feature event of the American Hunter Jumper Foundation.

The courses, designed by Michael Rheinheimer, received rave reviews. With mainly single fences, they allowed the veteran horses to show their boldness with a more galloping stride, while also keeping the green horses confident. The course also included a new fence designed and built for the AHJF, a solid planter decorated with two impressive trees, which was the final fence in both rounds.

“The courses worked to my advantage,” Gougen added with a smile. “It was very fair, with lots of single jumps. The horses could find their shape and jump very well.”

There were very few problems in the first round, although junior star Addison Phillips fell from her mount, Morocco, midway around the course when a refusal ensued near the in-gate. She appeared unhurt and walked out of the ring. Sister and brother Boyd and Hardin Towell had unfortunate luck when both of their four-foot mounts, Onassis and Blink, pulled the same back rail of the oxer in the double combination.

After the first round, eight riders returned for the shorter second round course. Stewart and Good Life, the only qualifier at the four-foot height, jumped first. The always-stylish Stewart guided his elegant bay to solid scores to finish with 170.937, good enough for seventh.

Ferrell and Indian Summer, who had the week’s high-score award after posting a 91 in the second year green division earlier in the week, returned over the 3’9″ height. Stephanie Riggio’s flashy chestnut took over the lead with a 174.312.

The 3’6″ section included just one junior and one amateur. Alexandra Thornton, 13, and Dunwalke LLC’s Tobasco performed a beautifully flowing round, with the small chestnut galloping around with confident consistency. The spectators cheered loudly in appreciation as Thornton posed scores good enough for fifth overall with 173.25.

Unfortunately, amateur rider Rowlanda Blue Stephanos, 26, of Sagaponack, N.Y., misjudged the second fence on course and Double Cinco slid into it, sending Stephanos over his head. She also walked out of the ring, appearing unhurt.

The top three returned to the ring in reverse order, with first Boyd taking over the lead with the bold jumping Brunello, then Ferrell moved to the front with Megan Fellows’ attractive Corofino Gold. Finally, Gougen and Safari stepped onto the field.

“Yes, I was nervous,” said Gougen smiling. “I didn’t know what to expect. He could do it again or get a little green. But he rose to the occasion and was great. I’m very excited about this horse. He has a bright future.”

Results:

1. Safari/Tim Gougen/179.875 2. Corofino Gold/Sandy Ferrell/178.875 3. Brunello/Liza Towell Boyd/176.25 4. Indian Summer/Sandy Ferrell/174.312 5. Tobasco/Alexandra Thornton/173.25 6. Marshall/Louise Serio/172.50 7. Good Life/Scott Stewart/170.937 8. Double Cinco/Rowlanda Blue Stephanos/EL

Also competed:

9. Saloon/Jennifer Waxman/83.5 10. Falcon/Jennifer Waxman/82.0 11. Tchaikovsky/Kirstin Coe/81.25 12. Rio Renoir/Brad Wolf/81.0 13. Sienna/Tatiana Dzavik/79.875 14. Hush/Nicole Simpson/78.75 15. Dream Date/Rachel Geiger/77.75 16T. Cello/Holly Orlando/76.75 16T. Say The Word/Nicole Bellissimo/76.75 18. Mimosa/Addison Phillips/75.25 19. Just Jack/Caroline Moran/73.375 20. Lucerne/Rachel Udelson/72.5 21. MVP/Amelia McArdle/69.25 22. Onassis/Liza Towell Boyd/46.75 23. Blink/Hardin Towell/45.125 24. Aeropostale/Rachel Geiger/45.0 25. Morocco/Addison Phillips/EL