Jessica Mendoza and In the Air Win $32k CSI3* Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round 2
Jessica Mendoza & In the Air. © Sportfot
A week ago, British show jumping athlete Jessica Mendoza was on a horseback safari in Africa, admiring elephants and other wildlife from the comfort of the saddle. This week, she switched gears for week 2 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and rode to a win in the $32,000 CSI3* Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 from a star-studded order that included multiple Olympians and top-ten ranked athletes.
After returning from her African vacation, Mendoza took to the grass derby field on Friday afternoon for a victory riding In the Air, a mare creating buzz and already winning up to the CSI5* level with the FEI World Cup™ finalist.
“It was incredible,” Mendoza said of kicking off her season with a big win after a jump-off against a “who’s who” of international show jumping riders that included world no. 1 and Thursday’s victor Henrick Von Eckermann (SWE), German Olympian Richard Vogel, and world no. 3 Ben Maher (GBR), to name a few. “It was not an easy jump-off against those boys, so it was nice to beat them.”
Mendoza was one of 13 to jump clear over Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s (GER) first-round track, and one of only three women to get the job done. She took over the lead midway through the jump-off, knowing there were still fast riders behind her.
“My horse is honestly the most incredible horse to go in the ring on, let alone a jump-off,” Mendoza said of In the Air, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Air Jordan x Indoctro). “I have complete faith in her, but it’s pretty nice to see them behind me.”
Rounding out the podium was Vogel claiming second place with Cydello, and Venezuela’s Luis Fernando Larrazabal took third riding Quick Chick 3 for owner Victoria Huertematte.
Wellington International
news@wellingtoninternational.com
www.wellingtoninternational.com
