Ocala, Florida, USA – June 23, 2022 – International show jumping resumed Thursday night at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala with the $50,000 Lugano Diamonds FEI Welcome Prix CSI 3*. Thirty elite international competitors representing twelve nations contested Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) first round. An even fourteen of the starting field were able to produce a fault-free effort and six managed to be double clear, but it was Aaron Vale (USA) and Thinkslikeahorse’s Prescott that proved invincible.

Vale wasn’t shocked by the number of horses that went clear in the first round, “The course was hard enough and the jumps were big enough, but the conditions here are just too good. The footing is perfect, the jumps are bright and the atmosphere is so electrifying that the horses thrive.”

Each duo gave the short course their best effort, but Brazil’s Santiago Lambre and his own 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Cetano Van Aspergem Z, (Clinton x Ahron Z) had an effortless round with a time of 37.80 seconds.

However, the victory was not yet guaranteed, and Vale proved his aptitude with an incredible round on the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Lordanos, shaving more than a second off the previous leading time in 36.31 seconds.

“I watched Santiago go and I had a ride around the short course on Cristo Beech, so I knew how the course rode. Prescott is a big horse, but he is able to get across the ground quick, so I figured if I was able to get the strides that everyone else was doing, we could be quicker. I did end up really taking a chance to the Lugano Diamonds vertical and left one out, but he kept it up and almost won by two full seconds,” said Vale.

Lambre held on to the runner-up position, while Peter Petschenig (AUT) soared into the third place spot. Petschenig and his own It’s The Senator 111, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Der Senaat 111 x Ohio Van De Padenborre, were just behind second place with a final time of 38.00 seconds.

Finals Results: $50,000 Lugano Diamonds Welcome Prix CSI 3*

1) Aaron Vale (USA) & Prescott: 2012 Holsteiner gelding by Lordanos, Thinkslikeahorse – 0 / 0 – 36.31

2) Santiago Lambre (BRA) & Cetano van Aspergem Z: 2009 Zangersheide gelding by Clinton x Ahorn Z, Santiago Lambre: 0 / 0 – 37.80

3) Peter Petschenig (AUT) & It’s the Senator 111: 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Der Senaat 111 x Ohio Van De Padenborre, Peter Petschenig: 0/0/38.00

4) Evan M. Coluccio (USA) & Valdes Z: 2013 Zangersheide gelding by Vigo D’arsouilles x Ircolando, Hampton Green Farm LLC: 0/0/38.09

5 Richard Spooner (USA) & Chatinus: 2007 Hanoverian gelding by Chacco-blue x Argentinus, Richard Spooner: 0/0/38.12

6) Sophia Siegel (USA) & A-Girl: 2010 Swedish Warmblood mare by A-dur x Careful , Sophia Siegel: 0/0/44.69

7) Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Risen: 2006 KWPN gelding by Utopie x Indroctro, Bull Run Jumpers, Inc. 0/4/38.91

8) Aaron Vale (USA) & Cristo Beech: 2011 Warmblood gelding Its The Business x Cantero, Thinkslikeahorse: 0/4/40.50

9) Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) & Aamstrong de Moyon: 2010 Selle Francais gelding by Rock’n Roll Semilly x Calypso De Moyon, Sigma Stables LLC: 0/4/41.41

10) Luis Larrazabal (VEN) & Sligo Bay Balou: 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Balou De Rouet x Caletto I, Luis Larrazabal: 0/8/37.21

11) Santiago Lambre (BRA) & Comtess 202: 2011 Westphalian mare by Comme II Faut 5 x Pilot, Santiago Lambre: 0/8/38.74

12) Alberto Michan (ISR) & Nabal de Trivera: 2010 Warmblood gelding by Nabab De Reve, Alberto Michan: 0/8/40.43

Source: Press Release from Jump Media for WEC – World Equestrian Center Ocala

Photos: © WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography