Brazil Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa wins Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix in Wellington
WELLINGTON — On a chilly evening, three-time Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil won the "Saturday Night Lights" $50,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
The 2004 Athens Olympic gold medalist and Gonzalo went double clear rounds of 72.064 and 38.421 seconds to win the 11-rider jump-off and pocket $15,000.
Ireland's Darragh Kenny and 12-year-old Eddy Blue were second with double clears of 74.018 and 38.574 ($11,000), and Spain's Gonzalo Busca and 9-year-old Cristiano Obolensky had double clears of 74.680 and 39.386 ($6,500).
Pessoa, 51, said he is showing the 13-year-old gelding until its owner and his student, Rachel Penner, recovers from an injury.
"Unfortunately, Rachel had an injury so I’ve been keeping the horses running until she’s back," Pessoa said. "We got Gonzalo last summer, and have been pleased with him so far, especially tonight.
"He’s 13-years-old now and has a lot of experience, so it was no mystery to us what he could do. We wanted to put him under the lights tonight for possibilities later in the season when he goes back to Rachel."
Pessoa said Gonzalo had the experience of competing under the lights.
"He had a bit of an advantage tonight as he has jumped under these circumstances before but it’s nice to have classes like this at the beginning of the circuit,” Pessoa said. "It allows riders to bring out younger horses, not jump too big, and give them a round with this atmosphere.
"Whether it’s a national grand prix, two-star or five-star the competition is always tough here, and people come to win so it keeps you on your toes no matter what level."
The field featured 45 riders, a mixed group of experienced and young for the second consecutive week. Many riders were getting their young horses accustomed to the lights and lit banners along the arena before the bigger classes.
Roberto Teran Tafur of Colombia and Iron Maiden withdrew from the competition after he was tossed off his young 9-year-old horse. Tafur escaped injury. There were several 9-year-olds competing for the first time under the lights.
More: Reigning Olympic gold medalist Ben Maher wins first grand prix at Winter Equestrian Festival
On Sunday on the windswept grass derby field at Equestrian Village, Germany's Richard Vogel topped a field of 44 riders and eight in the jump-off to win the $140,000 FEI 3 KeyFlow Feeds USA Grand Prix. Vogel was one of only two international riders in the jump-off.
McLain Ward, HH Azur honored as 2023 Equestrian, Horse of the Year
McLain Ward, 48, of Wellington and Brewster, N.Y., and HH Azur were honored by the U.S. Equestrian Federation. Ward was named the 2023 International Equestrian of the Year and HH Azur the International Horse of the Year. The former teammates were honored during the recent SmartPak/USEF Horse of the Year Awards Dinner during the USEF Annual Meeting in Louisville.
"When I think back to 2023 for this incredible mare, this incredible partner, and a friend of ours, to receive this honor when I think she only jumped five or six FEI classes, it just shows what an impact she had on the sport, obviously in my life and my career, as well as all of us who are involved with her,” said Ward, who accepted International Horse of the Year on behalf of HH Azur.
More: Battle of the Sexes: Men top Women riders at season-opening 'Saturday Night Lights'
WEF continues through March 31. This week's highlight is the Saturday Night Lights' $215,000 FEI 4 NetJets Grand Prix at 7 p.m. and Sunday morning's $62,500 FEI 2 Florida Coast Equipment Grand Prix.
General admission is free. Parking is $20 per car. The venue is located at 3400 Equestrian Club Drive, just off South Shore and Pierson Road. For information call 561-793-5867.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Brazil Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa wins Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix
