Abdel Saïd Punches Grand Prix Ticket in Bainbridge CSI5* 1.50m Classic
Abdel Saïd & Calvaro. Photo ©Sportfot
The stakes were high for Abdel Saïd in the $62,500 Bainbridge CSI5* 1.50m Classic on Friday. Earning the win aboard Calvaro, owned by AS Trading BV, he punched his ticket for the Rolex US Equestrian Open to close out the final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Wellington International.
The top 30 finishers from Thursday’s Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 were already comfortably in the order for ‘Saturday Night Lights’ and were joined by the top-10 in Friday’s speed competition. Coming in the ring eighth out of a starting 61, Saïd and Calvaro put in a daring round, crossing the timers in 62.71 seconds. Ultimately, no other pair came close to the time.
“I’m extremely relieved and delighted with my horse,” Saïd remarked of Calvaro, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Cascadello x Quidam de Revel). “I think he’s an incredible horse and he steps up in moments of pressure. Today I took a lot of risks. When I came into the triple [combination], I was zig-zagging through. For the experience he has, he tries so hard. I’m happy that we won and that we qualified.”
With 19 pairs posting clear rounds, qualification took a quick effort. Germany’s Richard Vogel was the next fastest, scoring second place with Levi Noesar. Cian O’Connor (IRL) took third with Canbella Blue PS, owned by Karlswood Partners.
Saïd thinks very highly of Calvaro, which is in big part why he chose to take so many risks around Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) course. “He’s very flexible and very brave; he has many of the characteristics you want in a great athlete,” he continued. “He’s a fighter. If he faces something new he doesn’t shrink, he goes harder at it. I truly believe that if things go the way I feel they can, he can be one of the best horses I’ve ridden in my life.”
Jessica Mendoza Steps Up with VDL Stella in Vogel CSI2* Qualifier
Jessica Mendoza (GBR) has had a stellar season at Wellington International, and she isn’t done yet. She added another victory to her resume on Friday in the $32,000 Vogel CSI2* Qualifier during Rolex Finale Week of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Her winning partner was a borrowed horse, VDL Stella, owned by Lauren Skowland.
VDL Stella, a 13-year-old mare (Cardento x Baloubet du Rouet), is the ride of one of Mendoza’s students. With only a few days to prepare, the pieces fell into place for Mendoza from a large field of 73 entries contesting Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) track. Eleven pairs advanced to the all-deciding jump-off.
“There were enough in the jump-off so it was nice I was last to go; I could see what everyone was doing,” Mendoza said of her approach. “She doesn’t have the biggest stride, so I couldn’t do the leave-outs. Some did seven [strides] to the double, but I knew doing eight was just as quick. I went quick without losing my cool.”
Mendoza shaved more than a half second off the leading time, which was posted by Juan Manuel Gallego (ESP) and Oriana van’t Ruytershof, owned by Anniela Gonzales Del Valle. In 39.26 seconds, Mendoza secured the win, pushing Gallego into second place on a time of 39.83 seconds. Ashley Vogel (USA) ended up third with Toulonia, owned by Voquest LLC, in 40.08 seconds.
Wellington International
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