WELLINGTON, Fla.--The Winter Equestrian Festival may be over, but top riders are still competing in Wellington in the Spring Series.

Luis Sabino Goncalves on Vick du Croisy (Photo by Sportfot)Portugal’s Luis Sabino Goncalves on Vick du Croisy won over McLain Ward on L Serra in the one-round $32,000 CSI3* 1.45m, a class on the grass derby field that drew a record number of 72 competitors on Thursday, April 10.

Despite going second, Goncalves finished in 33.5, a time that couldn't be beaten.

Six-time U.S. Olympian Ward was the closest challenger and finished second in 33.80 seconds over the course set by Mexico’s Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz.

Egyptian Olympian Nayel Nassar finished third in 33.85 seconds riding Dorado de Riverland.

“When I have a lot of good riders in the field, normally I rise,” said Gongalves of the group that included a number of Olympians and five of the world’s top 15 ranked athletes. “Vick du Croisy is unconventional, she goes with her head a little bit up and back a little hollow, but she's a fighter.

 

“SHE'S LIKE a mare that’s a stallion; she has a strong character,” said Goncalves on the mare he has been riding for three years, a partnership he feels is now hitting its stride. “Last year, I made a big mistake; she’s very hot and I tried to help her with six months on hormones. She lost the blood, but she needed it to show her charm and quality. Once she was off, she was herself again."

“I love this field, this ground and this atmosphere,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Canada’s Carlie Fairty on Guilietta won the CSI3* 1.40m on the grass derby field. 

Fairy won by less than a second over Chloe Reid on Crossover 4 and German Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk on Viki Van Gogh.