No fear of the dark for Iron Maiden and Roberto Teran Tafur
Columbia’s Roberto Teran Tafur and Iron Maiden took a victory lap in the $32,000 3* WEF Challenge en route to the main act of Week 1 of the Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF] – ‘Saturday Night Lights’ at Wellington International.
A large field of 62 horse and rider combinations took on the Nick Granat-designed course, which failed to produce a clear round until Natalie Dean and Con Calma went 24th in the order.
“My plan was to go clear and efficiently,” Roberto said of the jump off in which his early round time of 41.63 proved fast enough to fend off 11 other contenders. “I didn’t wanna take him too much out of the box before Saturday night.”
Two Irish riders chased Roberto’s time in the jump off with Shane Sweetnam aboard Coriaan van Klapscheut Z finishing second in a time of 43.39 and Nicky Gallaghan taking third with VDL Nikita van de Leeuwerk stopping the clock on 43.54 seconds.
Roberto had nothing but praise for Iron Maiden and has high hopes for his future. “He is a really brave, fantastic prospect,” he said of the 10-year old Zangersheide gelding. “He has a great technique. He’s very, very light off the ground, very sensitive, and just a modern type. Now he’s jumping the meter 50 and meter 55s, and I think he’s going to go all the way to the top.”
If WEF premiere week is anything to go by, Saturday night promises to deliver a packed house. “We had the biggest opening night we’ve ever had for last Saturday night, Battle of the Sexes,” said Wellington International President Michael Stone at today’s opening press conference. “Our hospitality venues were overrun. We almost ran out of food – which will never happen again! It was huge, a hugely popular event and I think it’s a credit to our team who promote it and run it.”
Saturday night raises the stakes for the $140,000 FEI 3* Grand Prix and Roberto is confident that Iron Maiden will rise to the occasion – and be even better than in daylight. “He’s better under the lights,” Roberto said. “He’s brave and he’s a sharp horse and he has a few night classes under his belt. I’m really hoping for a double clear on Saturday night. He likes to be in the show.”
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