WELLINGTON, Fla.--Egypt's Nayal Nasser on ESI Ali just edged out McLain Ward on High Star Hero to win his first-ever ‘Saturday Night Lights’ $140,000, CSI3* Grand Prix during week one of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Nayal Nasser on ESI Ali (Photo by Sportfot)“This one feels great,” said Nassar. “It's always special to win here, and I've come close a few times but never won under the lights. This was my horse's first time jumping at night, so I didn't know what to expect but he impressed us all.”
Nasser had the advantage of going after Ward, who had finished in the very fast time of 37.92, but while Nasser left out all the same strides as Ward, he was just slightly faster across the ground to finish in 37.35 for the win.
After winning the $30,000 National Grand Prix earlier in the afternoon, Colombia’s Mark Bluman ended the day with a third place finish on Concare PS , clean in 38.24 seconds.
Fron the starting field of 45, 14 advanced to the jump-off over a course set by Nick Granat.
“In the jump-off, I try to set my pace early, and once you put him in gear, you don't have to do a whole lot,” said Nassar of the horse that was found for him as an 8-year-old by former world no. 1 Harrie Smolders. “I came out of the ring and everyone told me he didn't look that fast, but he has an amazing way of covering the ground and a natural rhythm that once you set him off, you just have to steer and avoid the jumps. If I can match everyone else's strides, he comes out a little bit quicker."
“I only caught part of Mclain's jump-off on the screen but he's always so fast,” said Nassar. “The eight to the last was a must and luckily we were able to get it done.”
MOST RECENTLY, Nassar and ESI Ali won a two-star grand prix this summer and have been taking their time climbing the ranks.
McLain Ward on High Star Hero (Photo by Sportfot)“We've been bringing him along slowly,”said Nassar. “The horse always had so much quality, but he did need some basics put into him, so we took our time to do that for the first year. Last season he started to step up into some 1.50m classes and was always competitive. He gave us the feeling that he was ready for a bigger ask and that's what we gave him tonight.”
“He's 10, so this is the first year I start to ask them a little bit more," said Nasser. "I try not to do too much with them as nine-year-olds and hope that it lengthens their career. We're listening to him telling us what he's ready for and we'll keep placing him where we think he can be successful.”
Despite a wave of low temperatures covering south Florida, fans turned out with enthusiasm for the first ‘Saturday Night Lights’ grand prix of the season.
“I think this venue is so special in the way that you feel the community come out to support,” said Nassar. “Especially ‘Saturday Night Lights’. It's buzzing, and I think great horses feel it and they rise to the occasion. They know that this isn't just another class.”
Six of the 14 in the jump-off were clean, with Charlotte Jacobs on Playboy JT Z fourth in 39.31, Lillie Keenan on Le Louvre fifth in 39.98 and Hallie Grimes on Chaccato PS sixth in 42.78.
The Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award for WEF 1 was presented to 20-year-old Caroline Mawhinney, who finished within the top 10 on Saturday riding Carsey Z.