Ocala, FL – The chilly weather didn’t deter the crowd at World Equestrian Center – Ocala from gathering for the highlight event of the week, the $120,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix CSI3*. Thirty-one elite horse-and-rider combinations from 13 nations vied for the top prize, but it was Olympian Beat Mändli (SUI) who emerged victorious aboard Grant Road Partners LLC’s Dijon Terdoorn Z (Diamant De Semilly x Lord Z) after an electrifying three-horse jump-off.
FEI Level IV course designer Marina Azevedo (BRA) crafted a technical first-round track with a tight time allowed and demanding lines. Only three riders managed to deliver clear rounds, setting the stage for a thrilling jump-off featuring competitors from Ireland, Switzerland, and Spain.
Reflecting on the first round, Mändli remarked, “It walked pretty difficult toward the end of the course, which is always a bit tricky for us as riders. The time allowed was so short, so we had to go fast and open the horses up to start with, but as the course went on, faults came by the end. It ended up working out for me.”
Robert Blanchette (IRL) and Chardonnay (Comme II Faut 5 x Jus De Pomme), owned by Ridersmith LLC, were first to tackle the jump-off. The naturally quick 14-year-old Westphalian mare showed impressive speed, but an unlucky rail left them with a time of 38.83 seconds and third place.
Mändli followed with Dijon Terdoorn Z and adjusted his plan after seeing Blanchette’s result. “I knew we had some fast riders in the jump-off, but I wasn’t sure of my tactics. Then I saw Robert had a rail down and thought, let’s just put the pressure on the last one, and it worked out perfectly.” With a clear and speedy time of 38.37 seconds, the pair took the top spot on the leaderboard.
“To be honest, I never walk the jump-off course,” Mändli admitted. “I’m not a classical rider. I just go off my feelings and what the horse needs at that time. I want to try to be the fastest, so I go with what my horse is telling me to do.”
Mändli also spoke highly about Dijon Terdoorn Z, sharing, “He’s a very careful horse. He’s Katherine Dinan’s horse, but she let me bring him because I’m a bit short on horses right now. I’ve known him since he was seven. Tonight, he made my life really easy. He was right on from the first to the last jump, and I’m super happy with him.”
Last to go was Gonzalo Busca (ESP), last week’s winner of the $65,000 YETI Grand Prix CSI2*, aboard the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Cristiano Obolensky (Cornet Obolensky x Stakkato). They delivered another clear round in a quick 39.02 seconds, earning a strong second-place finish.
$120,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix CSI3* Results
1 DIJON TERDOORN Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Lord Z
Beat Mändli (SUI), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/0/38.37
2 CRISTIANO OBOLENSKY: 2015 Hanoverian gelding by Cornet Obolensky x Stakkato
Gonzalo Busca (ESP), Gonzalo Busca: 0/0/39.02
3 CHARDONNAY: 2011 Westphalian mare by Comme II Faut 5 x Jus De Pomme
Robert Blanchette (IRL), Ridersmith LLC: 0/4/38.83
4 TIFFANY DE OLID: 2012 Selle Français mare by Huppydam Des Horts x Centauer Z
Samuel Parot (CHI), Samuel Parot: 3/86.89
5 GRAY’S INN: 2014 Warmblood gelding by Cannavaro x Oscar
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 4/78.66
6 ODIEL VDM: 2014 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Vigo D Arsouilles Stx
Juan Pablo Gaspar (MEX), Five Pines Equestrian LLC: 4/79.31
7 KAY GREY: 2015 Italian Sport Horse mare by Vigo D Arsouilles Stx x Corland
Beat Mändli (SUI), Grant Road Partners LLC: 4/81.38
8 HALCON: 2015 Argentinian Sport Horse stallion by Con Air 7 x Cardento 933
Richard Spooner (USA), Molly Ohrstrom: 4/82.33
9 PINOT GRIS DI FER: 2015 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Cardento 933 x Baloubet Du Rouet
Gonzalo Busca (ESP), Steven Bluman: 4/82.61
10 CAPITALE 6: 2011 Holsteiner stallion by San Patrignano Cassini x For Pleasure
Charlie Jones (GBR), Morning Star Sporthorses, LLC: 5/84.09
Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
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