Ocala, FL – A picturesque Florida evening set the stage for the $50,000 UF Veterinary Hospital Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* during Week IV of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series. Thirty-two esteemed show jumping athletes from ten nations contested a challenging course set by FEI Level IV course designer, Alan Wade (IRL) where just four horse-and-rider combinations managed to find a clear round. Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) was the sole competitor to conquer both tracks, and he managed to do it with both his mounts, Nashville (Diamant De Semilly x Darco) and HFG Quaman (Diamant De Semilly x Quidam’s Rubin).
Ashlee Bond (ISR) and Peter Petschenig (AUT) both earned a spot in the jump-off, but Petschenig opted to save his horse for another day, leaving Azevedo and Bond to battle it out over the jump-off track.
“It was just me and Ashlee. I had two and she had one, but she’s a super rider, super-fast and very competitive, so I tried my best on my first horse [Nashville] to put the pressure on,” said Azevedo.
Azevedo and the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding raced around the short course, not touching a single rail to stop the clock at 38.41 seconds.
Ashlee Bond (ISR) was quick on his heels aboard Aurora Farms, LLC’s nine-year-old Selle Francais mare Elka De La Pomme (Cartoon Z x Kannan) in 38.86 seconds, but had one unfortunate rail in the double combination.
Azevedo returned aboard his second mount HFG Quaman, “After I found out that Ashlee had a rail, I decided to take a risk and go slow on my third horse because I went really fast with him yesterday and had the opportunity to be second behind myself today, so I was just hoping for a clear.”
Azevedo and the 10-year-old Brazilian Sport Horse gelding delivered a textbook effort, leaving all rails in their cups in 45.62 seconds, to secure Azevedo the first and second place spots on the podium.
“It was a tough course tonight. When I walked the course, I was impressed with how difficult it was. But, I knew we had a lot of good riders and horses, so it was a bit unexpected to have that number of clear, I was expecting a little bit more,” shared Azevedo about this evening’s first round track.
This is the first time Azevedo has competed in FEI competition at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “About a year and half ago I came for a national Grand Prix and was delighted by this place. For me, it’s the best place in the world. There is no facility better than this. Whenever I have the opportunity to come here, I will.”
Final Results: $50,000 UF Veterinary Hospital Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3*
1 NASHVILLE: 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Darco
Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA), Santa Cecelia Stables LLC: 0/0/38.41
2 HFG QUAMAN: 2013 Brazilian Sport Horse gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Quidam’s Rubin
Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA), Santa Cecelia Stables LLC: 0/0/45.62
3 ELKA DE LA POMME: 2014 Selle Francais mare by Cartoon Z x Kannan
Ashlee Bond (ISR), Aurora Farms, LLC: 0/4/38.86
4 ENNEBEL VAN HET POSTHUIJS: 2009 KWPN mare by Numero Uno x Argentinus
Peter Petschenig (AUT), Petschenig Showjumping, LLC: 0/76.11
5 CHACCO P: 2009 Mecklenburg gelding by Chacco-blue x Elite
Will Simpon (USA), Will Simpson Stables Inc.: 4/72.01
6 PRESCOTT: 2012 Holsteiner gelding by Lordanos x Bb Carvallo
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 4/74.54
7 CALYPSO DE BLONDEL: 2012 Selle Francias gelding by Lauterbach x Kassidi
Erynn Ballard (CAN), Ilan Ferder: 4/75.17
8 GIDEON: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Super Trooper De Ness x Corland
Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen (USA), Serenity Farm: 4/75.58
9 VICK DU CROISY: 2009 Selle Francais mare by Lord Carthago x Vondeen
Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables LLC: 4/75.91
10 EASTERN JAM: 2009 KWPN gelding by Lexicon x Monaco
Hunter Holloway (USA), Hays Investment Corp.: 4/78.66
11 ITCHCOCK DES DAMES: 2014 Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Marius Claudius x Calvaro F.C.
Alberto Michan (ISR), Marco Zamudio: 4/78.71
12 BULL RUN’S RISEN: 2006 KWPN gelding by Utopie x Indoctro
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 4/79.26
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
The UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center
The UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center provides leading-edge patient care in a new 40,000-square-foot hospital facility located in Ocala, Florida. Veterinarians from the University of Florida offer world-class veterinary care and advanced diagnostics and treatment for horses, dogs and cats.
Hours of Operation:
Equine Animal Hospital Open Monday – Sunday, 8am-5pm
Small Animal Hospital, Open Monday – Saturday, 8am-5pm
Contact us at 352-414-3858.