OCALA, Fla.--Luis Sabino Goncalves of Portugal on Vick Du Croisy won the $100,000 Grand Prix at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.
Luis Sabino Goncalves on Vick du Croisy (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Course designer Leopoldo Palacios set the track for 38 contestants from 10 nations, and seven returned for the jump-off.
“I went toward the beginning of the order, so I didn’t have time to watch the class," said Goncalves. "I had to go with my plan of how I thought the course would ride when I walked. Most of the riders were saying that the line was going to be short after the triple bar to the double combination, but it ended up being a bit more open, so people were having the back rail down of oxer going in. In the last line, everyone thought it was going to be a holding five after the triple combination, but it ended up being a very going five. It was such a big combination with the arch walls right next to the VIP area, so the horses were backed off.”
Goncalves stopped the clock at an unbeatable 37.592 seconds.
“The question was to do the six or the seven from one to two, but I was first in, so I wanted to put the pressure on so the rest would have to go after me," said Goncalves. "She walked down the six and we found everything else forward. The double combination was big, but my mare is so careful, I trusted her quality and she proved herself. To the last, I just went for it. I am not even sure how many I did to the last fence. I even asked my team, and they couldn’t even tell me because they were all just focused on the clock.”
AARON VALE on Cristo Beech were in next, but had a rail down along the way to eventually place fifth.
Olympic gold medalist William Simpson on Chacco P was next and finished just shy of Goncalves’ time in 38.552 seconds to place second.
Richard Spooner on Quirado RC finished in 43.054 seconds to ultimately earn fourth.
Lisa Goldman-Smolen on Ivaro N was the final rider and finished in 40.279 seconds which was good for third place.
An additional $5,000 was awarded to the fastest four-faulter of the $100,000 Grand Prix, won by Santiago Lambre on Pampero for a time of 80.507 seconds with one down.
