Portugal’s Luis Sabino Goncalves Dominates the $100,000 UF Health Grand Prix at WEC – Ocala

Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) and Bemol des Champs, owned by Sigma Stables LLC, secured the win in the $100,000 UF Health Grand Prix on Saturday, January 28, 2023, during the fourth week of the Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in Ocala, FL. The class consisted of 32 horse-and-rider combinations representing 12 different countries. Kenny Krome (USA) designed a complicated track where 12 competitors managed a clear first round to qualify for the jump-off. Goncalves and the 12-year-old Selle Français gelding produced a second fault-free effort with a blazing time of 37.424 seconds to take home the top prize by just over one second.

“Normally, [Vick Du Croisy] is faster because Bemol des Champs is just starting to do the bigger classes,” explained Gonclaves of his two mounts. “I just tried to leave out strides wherever I could, turn short and let him show his quality. He jumped so well tonight and was a real fighter in the arena.”

Armando Hassey (MEX) piloted his own Lomax to a second-place finish with a time of 38.445 seconds. Gonclaves also claimed third place aboard Vick du Croisy, owned by Sigma Stables LLC, after stopping the clock at 38.517 seconds.

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$100,000 UF Health Grand Prix Results:

1. Bemol des Champs, Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 37.424
2. Lomax, Armando Hassey (MEX), Armando Hassey: 0 | 0 | 38.445
3. Vick du Croisy, Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 38.517
4. Wellington Grey Goose, Rowan Willis (AUS), Rowan Wills: 0 | 0 | 38.680
5. Eddie Blue, Devin Ryan (USA), LL Show Jumpers, LLC: 0 | 0 | 38.884
6. Valentine Car, Sharn Wordley (NZL), Fernando Cardenas Jr.: 0 | 0 | 39.595
7. Rustica LS La Silla, Vicente Guillen (VEN), Tranquility Farm: 0 | 0 | 40.762
8. Gatsby, Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 0 | 0 | 42.557
9. Skara Glen’s Para Bellum, Tom Foley (IRL), NRG Farm LLC: 0 | 0 | 50.208
10. Eastern Jam, Hunter Holloway (USA), Hays Investment Corp.: 0 | 4 | 40.556

Back-to-Back Wins for Jelmer Hoekstra in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix at WEC – Ocala

For the second week in a row, Jelmer Hoekstra (NED) was victorious in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix, this time with his own Origi Van’t Roosaker on Friday, January 27, 2023. A competitive field of 44 riders representing 10 different countries competed over the track set by Kenny Krome (USA) in the WEC Grand Arena under the lights. Only nine horse-and-rider combinations successfully produced a fault-free first round to advance to the jump-off. Hoekstra and the nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding navigated the jump-off track with ease to stop the timers at 31.778 seconds, which proved to be unbeatable.

“Origi Van’t Roosaker’s mentality is unbelievable, and the quality is great,” said Hoekstra. “Every time we go into the ring, he’s such a fighter and makes my job easy because he takes you to every jump.”

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$15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:

1. Origi Van’t Roosaker, Jelmer Hoekstra (NED), Jelmer Hoekstra: 0 | 0 | 31.778
2. Halifax KDW Z, Carly Campbell Cooper (CAN), John Jamieson: 0 | 0 | 32.390
3. Ircos IV, Thomas Rebotton (FRA), Signe Ostby: 0 | 0 | 32.914
4. MTM Through The Looking Glass, Dorothy Douglas (USA), Davenport Farms: 0 | 0 | 33.662
5. Harold, Jelmer Hoekstra (NED), Eyckenhoeve Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.227
6. Havanna, Beth Goodwin Franco (USA), 158 North St LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.239
7. En Fuego ES, Dorothy Douglas (USA), Brittney Elliot: 0 | 0 | 35.067
8. Cencorinue PS, Scott Keach (AUS), Kandor Farm LLC: 0 | 0 | 36.500
9. VDL Mewando, Chasen Boggio (USA), Chasen Boggio: 0 | 0 | 37.235
10. Eton, Jared Petersen (USA), Mary Meghann Huitt: 4 | 76.219