Ocala, FL – Another beautiful, sunny Florida day set the scene for the final international event of Week V of the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series, the $65,000 Budweiser Grand Prix CSI2*. Twenty-four horse-and-rider combinations from 10 different nations vied for the win, but it was Olympian Eduardo Menezes (BRA) who piloted his longtime partner, Calypso Des Matis (Padock Du Plessis Hn x Tresor De Cheux), to one of the quickest jump-offs yet, securing victory by more than two seconds.
Nine combinations managed to find the clear path over the first-round tracks set by FEI Level IV course designer Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) and FEI Level III course designer Peter Grant (CAN). The stage was set for a fast-paced showdown between riders representing the United States, Chile, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Ireland and Brazil.
Samuel Parot (CHI) piloted both of his mounts to the jump-off and was the first to post a clean round aboard Top Gun Z in 47.23 seconds.
Zoe Conter (BEL) and Loui LN were faster, finishing in 47.06 seconds but with an unfortunate rail. Václav Staněk (CZE) shaved several seconds off Parot’s time aboard Ariel Grange’s Jasper, stopping the clock at 43.55 seconds to set a new pace.
Samuel Hutton (GBR) was even quicker with Leeuwin Van De Moerhoeve but also had an unlucky rail, finishing in 41.23 seconds.
Next in, Michael Duffy (IRL), already coming off one international win this week aboard RMF Cinnamo (Magic Park x Avon), kept his hot streak alive. Duffy piloted the 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding to a blistering fast round in 40.24 seconds, which seemed unbeatable.
Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) came close with Sade De Rialfo Z in 41.23 seconds but fell just short.
Samuel Parot made another strong bid with his own 13-year-old Selle Français mare Tiffany De Olid (Huppydam Des Horts x Centauer Z), clocking in at 40.77 seconds to slide behind Duffy.
Duffy’s time appeared secure, but Eduardo Menezes, last to go, had full confidence in his trusted partner Calypso Des Matis. With a simple goal in mind, he said with a laugh, “Go as fast as you can and leave up the poles. I think fences one to two and two to three were far away, so I decided not to count to those and just take a good shot to number one. Then I went for five steps and looked for the distance, and that’s what I did. Fortunately, I found one—a very long one—and from there, I just kept skiing at the same speed.”
In an unbelievable 37.78 seconds, Menezes and the 13-year-old Selle Français gelding claimed their rightful spot atop the leaderboard, securing their second international victory of the week.
“I love this place. I hope other shows on the planet see this and try to copy just 20 percent of it. This is a horse place where you have space for your horses; your horses can be horses for periods of time when they are not in the ring. The footing is fantastic, the jumps are great, the arenas are amazing, the hotel is convenient, and the people are great. We love it here,” expressed Menezes.
$65,000 Budweiser Grand Prix CSI2* Results
1 CALYPSO DES MATIS: 2012 Selle Français gelding by Padock Du Plessis Hn x Tresor De Cheux
Eduardo Pereira De Menezes (BRA), Eduardo Pereira De Menezes: 0/0/37.78
2 RMF CINNAMO: 2014 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Magic Park x Avon
Michael Duffy (IRL), Rushy Marsh Farm LLC: 0/0/40.24
3 TIFFANY DE OLID: 2012 Selle Français mare by Huppydam Des Horts x Centauer Z
Samuel Parot (CHI), Samuel Parot: 0/0/40.77
4 SADE DE RIALFO Z: 2016 Zangersheide mare by Stakkato Gold
Amanda Derbyshire (GBR), Pine Hollow Farm: 0/0/41.23
5 JASPER: 2014 KWPN gelding by Falaise De Muze x Gelha’s Vdl Emilion
Václav Staněk (CZE), Ariel Grange: 0/0/43.55
6 TOP GUN Z: 2013 Zangersheide gelding by Tobago Z x Ugano Sitte
Samuel Parot (CHI), Samuel Parot: 0/0/47.23
7 LEEUWIN VAN DE MOERHOEVE: 2011 Belgian Warmblood mare by Diamant De Semilly x Voltaire 356
Samuel Hutton (GBR), As Trading Bv: 0/4/41.23
8 LOUI LN: 2014 Swedish Warmblood stallion by Kannan x Cartani
Zoe Conter (BEL), Stephex Stables: 0/4/47.06
9 WHOOP DE DOO: 2011 Warmblood mare by Mr. Whoopy
Will Simpson (USA), 5 Roosters: 0/EL
10 CASALLTANO PS: 2015 Oldenburg gelding by Casallco x Chacco-blue
Samuel Hutton (GBR), As Trading: 1/77.08
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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