Ocala, Florida, United States – November 08, 2025 – World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) was abuzz with excitement this weekend as Grand Prix competition returned under the lights of the WEC Grand Arena. The $75,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix served as the highlight event of Week I of the 2025 November Show Series, which coincided with the Ocala Food & Wine Festival, a three-day culinary celebration. A total of 33 horse-and-rider combinations competed for top honors on Saturday night, but it was Ireland’s Robert Blanchette (IRL) and Ridersmith’s Chardonnay (Comme II Faut 5 x Quinni Van Het Rozenhof) who proved unbeatable, galloping away with the win.

World-renowned course designer Peter Grant (CAN) set the winding tracks for Saturday night’s class, which proved to be a true test for the field. Blanchette was the only athlete to jump clear before the mid-way drag, but then the clear rounds started to accumulate, with a total of 10 riders ultimately advancing to the jump-off.

“I think it’s a good course design when the rails come down in different places. The third jump was tricky. I made sure to show her that. It was not an easy track, but she jumped it easily,” shared Blanchette.

Blanchette was first to return for the jump-off and wanted to focus on Chardonnay’s natural speed. “I was worried about number one for some reason; it was an un-intimidating vertical. It’s easy to not respect those. Richard Spooner said I should have ridden that better,” he laughed. “I wanted to just go her natural speed and not take too many risks because I really wanted to be clear, but fast enough to put the pressure on.”

The pair did just that and stopped the clock in a quick 39.831 seconds, a time that ultimately proved uncatchable.

Blanchette spoke fondly of his longtime partner, saying, “We got her when she was nine and she is 14 now. Every step of the way, she’s stepped up and done more than we imagined her to do. Every time we challenge her more, she’s just gotten better. She loves what she does and honestly, tonight, she jumped as well as she’s ever jumped.”

Coming closest to Blanchette’s time was Australia’s Rowan Willis (AUS) aboard Patricio Pasquel’s Cape Town, stopping the clock just half a second behind in 40.405 seconds.

Richard Spooner (USA) rounded out the podium with Serenity Spring Farm’s Belle Esprit (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Lafite DI Fer). The talented nine-year-old Zangersheide mare impressed in her first Grand Prix under the lights, finishing just three-tenths of a second off Willis’ time in 40.802 seconds to take third place.

Dominique Damico (USA) and Cava earned the Fastest Four-Faulter Award with a quick first-round time of 73.371 seconds and one rail down. 

Chloe Desjarlais claimed the ‘Luck of the Draw’ award.

Final Results – $75,000 Wheels Up Grand Prix

1) Robert Blanchette (IRL) & Chardonnay – 0 / 0 – 39.831

2) Rowan Willis (AUS) & Cape Town – 0 / 0 – 40.405

3) Richard Spooner (USA) & Belle Esprit – 0 / 0 – 40.802

Source: Press Release from World Equestrian Center

Photos: © WEC / Andrew Ryback Photography

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