OCALA. Fla.--Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain on In The Air won the $200,000 Grand Prix over a field of 32 at the World Equestrian Center and Erynn Ballard of Canada on De Flor 111 Z SantaRosa won the $62,500 1.50m Top 12 at the Winteer Equestrian Festival on Sunday, Feb. 8,
Jessica Mendoza on In The Air (Photo by Andew Ryback Photography)At WEC, seven went clean to go on to the jump-off over the course set by Canada’s Peter Grant, with only two going clean again.
Ashley Vogel on Otis Blue was the first to return in the jump-off, going clean in 49.57 seconds to set the early target.
“I was third to go with some fast riders behind me, and I knew I had to go for it,” said Mendoza. “I didn’t plan on doing that inside turn, but the person in front of me did it, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t know I needed to do that.’ But she’s so athletic. I know I can do that turn on her, and she’d be right there with me.”
Mendoza finished clean in 45.87 seconds, a time that ultimately proved unbeatable.
“I’ve had In The Air for about two years now," said Mendoza. "She’s always been amazing, but she’s turned into this superstar of a horse. She loves jumping, and I honestly couldn’t be more grateful to have her. I actually have her brother, too, so that’s pretty special. He also does five-stars. They’re a pretty good family. I got them at the same time from the same breeder; they both have the same mom. They’re completely opposite animals, but they’re both very, very special.”
“I THINK it’s her heart," she said. "She’s obviously very talented in a lot of ways, but she just gets in there and wants to give it her absolute best all the time. She’s always trying for me.”
Ireland’s Daniel Coyle on Farrel, fresh off a victory in the Grand Prix CSI2*, also returned for the jump-off and laid down an even quicker time of 45.70 seconds, but a rail at the first fence dropped the pair into third place.
Callie SChott on Garant was fourth, eight faults in 45.61, with Jad Dana of Lebanon on Itchcock des Dames fifth, 12 faults in 46.51, Shane Sweetnam of Ireland on Gilona AO, sixth, 15 faults in 63.88 and Natalie Dean on Fornett d"Emeraude seventh, 18 faults in 62.95.
At WEF, 12 went into round two under the Top Round format, only four of which had gone clean in round one.
Two returned with four faults, four returned with two time faults and two with one time fault.
Of the four that had gone clean in round one, only two were clean again.
Ballard on De Flor 111 Z Santa Rosa was clean in 45,90 to win with Rene Dittmer of Germany on Cody 139 clean in 50,43 to place second.
Tom Watchman of Ireland on Ghenghis Khan was clean in 49,78 to stay on one fault and finish third, while Cian O'Connor of Ireland on Canbella Blue P.S. was clean in 47.21 to stay on two faults and place fourth.
Michael Duffy of Ireland on Mister Qerly Z was clean in round two in 47.96 to stay on two faults and place fifth, with Mark Bluman of Colombia on Phelina de Septon was clean in 42.33 to stay on four faults and finish sixth.
