January 13, 2017 
One down. Twelve to go.
Todd Minikus (USA) kicked off the winter season with a win. Riding Valinski S, the USET veteran claimed Round 1 of the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup on day two of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
The 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was the Rio 2016 Olympic mount of Australia’s Matt Williams. Minikus took over the ride in January.
“He has always been a very good horse,” said the Loxahatchee-based rider. “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.”
The new partnership is off to a promising start. Minikus and Valinski claimed their first victory last Sunday in the $50,000 Nutrena National Grand Prix at Equestrian Sport Productions’ Holiday Finale. The WEF Challenge Cup makes it back-to-back wins.
“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,” said Minkus.
Of the 52 entries in the WEF Challenge Cup, ten advanced to the jump-off with six posting 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.
“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.”
Marilyn Little (USA) and Clearwater finished second in 38.33 seconds. Emanuel Andrade (VEN) and Dipssy placed third with their time of 40.99 seconds.
