Marilyn Little Stakes Claim on 1/ST CSI2* Grand Prix

Marilyn Little & Olympic van de Noordheuevel. Photo © Sportfot

Marilyn Little (USA) received a special delivery a week prior to taking a big victory on the final day of Week 5 at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Olympic van de Noordheuevel, owned by Tal Milstein Stables, stepped off a plane into the winner’s circle as the pair claimed top honors in the $62,500 1/ST CSI2* Grand Prix to cap the week, presented by Fidelity Investments.

“I’m incredibly grateful and so excited for the opportunity,” Little said of getting the chance to pilot the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Zambesi TN x Darco). “It’s a great horse. He’s had a ton of experience. Tal had a feeling it was going to click. He’s probably one of the easiest horses I’ve ever had the opportunity to ride. It’s novel for me to have so much experience under me. My goal today was to trade on that and take advantage of it since he knows how to go fast.”

The jump-off, set by 2024 Olympic course builder Gregory Bodo (FRA) kept getting faster two very fast competitors behind Little when she took over the leading time in 38.59 seconds. Ultimately, she was one one-hundredth of a second faster than second place, which went to Luciana Lossio (BRA) and LS Oscar. Third place went to Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) and Berdien, owned by Louisburg Farm.

The confidence Little had in the opening CSI2* classes with Olympic van de Noordheuevel was enough to convince her they were ready to challenge the other eight competitors over the short course.

“After the class on Friday I knew we had a good shot,” she said after her sixth-place finish in the Qualifier. “He’s such a great jumper and I thought if I’m in the jump-off I really want to take a shot at it.”

Little noted that it was the final line that made the difference. “My plan was to do eight [strides] down the last line,” she explained. “I knew it was a risk, but I saw it three or four [strides] out and he picked right up on it. It worked out. It’s like betting; you’re all in when you make a decision like that at the end.”

Lorenzo De Luca Came, Saw, Conquered in $62,500 Hermès CSI5* 1.50m Classic

Lorenzo De Luca (ITA) only just arrived in Wellington and is already a winner, taking the top call in Sunday morning’s $62,500 Hermès CSI5* 1.50m Classic aboard Denver de Talma to close out Week 5 of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Out of 53 entries over Gregory Bodo’s (FRA) track, De Luca put in a clear round in a rather quick time to qualify for the jump-off in the Winning Round format. Close to the end of the order, he sealed the deal with the Louisburg Farm-owned Selle Français gelding (Vigo Cece x Canturo Bois Margot).

“This horse is my best horse,” De Luca said of Denver de Talma, turning 12 years old this year. “It’s definitely the best horse I’ve ridden in my entire career. I have really high hopes for him. He had a magnificent season last year.”

Though the horse has all the talent in the world to win a class like this, De Luca’s strategy wasn’t pure speed in the jump-off.

Mimi Maddock and Remy Becker Share Wins in ASPCA Maclay

Two young riders took home blue ribbons in the two sections of the ASPCA Maclay, presented by Fauna & Flora, on Sunday morning. Mimi Maddock topped section A aboard Smokeshow 8, owned by Vandenburg Equine LLC, and Remy Becker piloted Voodoo, owned by Madison Widmer, to the win in Section B.

Both partnerships are new, so the riders have put in the hard work to get to know their mounts and hope to continue achieving top results and eventually qualify for equitation championships.

“I’ve had him for three weeks,” Maddock commented on her partnership with Smokeshow 8. “He’s relatively new but he’s such a good horse. He’s so experienced so I feel really confident going around because he’s been there, done that.”

As for how the horse was helping her to the win Sunday, Maddock replied, “He’s so nice to flat; he just goes into such a natural shape so easily. It’s nice that he carries his own rhythm so he knows where he’s going, and is always looking for the next jump.”

Wellington International
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