OCALA, Fla.--Aaron Vale on Candro Van De Zuuthoeve won the $200,000 Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center over a course designed by Anderson Lima of Brazil and Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Ky., that featured technical tracks with multiple combinations.
Forty-seven entries took to the WEC Grand Arena under the lights Saturday evening, March 27 with 10 qualifying for the jump-off.
Vale set the pace with a time that would prove unbeatable.
During the 12-week Winter Spectacular at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, Vale has won four grand prix classes.
Though Vale riding Candro Van De Zuuthoeve had landed in the top few placings in grand prix classes several times throughout the season, that pair had yet to secure a win.
On Saturday evening, Vale and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding were first in the jump-off and set the pace with a quick, clear round in 41.208 seconds, which would ultimately prove unbeatable.
JUST BEHIND Vale and Candro Van De Zuuthoeve were Molly Ashe Cawley on Berdien.
Ashe Cawley and the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare had won the $20,000 WEC Welcome Prix just two days before, and Ashe Cawley was clean in this jump-off in 41.641 seconds, just four-tenths of a second behind Vale for second place.
Bryn Sadler on Showcase 81 has had top placings in grand prix and welcome prix classes throughout the season, and Saturday night he was clean in the jump-off in 43.235 seconds for third place.