OCALA, Fla.--Aaron Vale on Helios du Moulin won the $120,000 Alltech Grand Prix CSI3* over a field of 38 on Sunday, March 6 at the World Equestrian Center.
Aaron Vale on Helios du Moulin (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Seven went clean over the 1.50m course designed by Catsy Cruz, with only two going clean in the jump-off.
Vale was clean in 39.99 to win over Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Prins van't Eigenlo who placed second, clean in 43.39, and Spain’s Francisco Goyoga Mollet on Pst de Muze was the fastest of the four-faulters in 42.86 to place third.
"He’s a brave, game little horse, and he’s doing it well,” said Vale.
“I didn’t feel super fast in the beginning,” Vale said. “Toward the end, I caught a big angle to the vertical and made a really tight turn back to the second-to-last fence, so I got quicker as the course went on.”
“I bought him in France the summer before last, so we’ve had him a little over a year now, almost a year and a half," said Vale. "Not all 9 year olds are jumping classes like this. He’s a brave, game little horse, and he’s doing it well.”
IN TWO weeks, Vale will return to WEC to compete in the Longines League of Nations, Ocala, March 17–22, where he will represent the United States along with McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, and Lillie Keenan.
“The League of Nations is a great team format,” he said. “There’s a little extra pressure because only three riders come back in the second round. It’s a very big-money team class, and it’s extremely competitive because everyone sends their best riders.”
The five-star week will feature the $350,000 Grand Prix CSIO5-LLN* on Thursday, March 19, and the $770,000 Longines League of Nations Ocala on Saturday, March 21.
