Last Updated on March 10, 2024 by adminahb
Luciana Lossio (BRA) found out she would jump her first-ever five-star last Sunday night. Just under a week later, she stood atop the podium of the $385,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix during the ninth week of international competition at Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival. In front of a buzzing ‘Saturday Night Lights’ crowd, the 49-year-old rider guided long-time partner Lady Louise Jmen to a win she never dreamed of having.
“This is unbelievable for me; I’ve been with this mare for six years and in the beginning, I just wanted to jump 1.20m, but we became so much more,” said Lossio of her 14-year-old mare. “We went higher and higher, and today I’m here in my first five-star and winning alongside these riders that I just enjoy watching.
“She’s so confident; she doesn’t change from day to night or from the grass to the sand; she’s perfect,” continued Lossio of Lady Louise Jmen.
Lossio returned in the penultimate position in a four-horse jump-off over courses masterfully designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade. To cheers from her family on the sidelines — many of whom traveled from Brazil to watch her compete — Lossio bested the current leading time of Nayel Nassar (EGY) by fourth tenths of a second.
“Friday was International Women’s Day, so I think they may have let me win because of that,” said Lossio, an amateur who works full time as a lawyer in Brazil. “Tonight was our night. In the warmup, she was telling me, ‘I want to go.’ She’s very strong and I have to be there trying to keep her in my hands because she really likes to jump.”
Jimmy Torano and Laskano Keep Winning Record in $25k USHJA International Derby
Hunters returned to their roots on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village on Saturday for the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Bainbridge Companies. In a hunt & go format, 44 horse-and-rider combinations took to the single-round derby course designed by Andy Christiansen (ECU).
Fences one through eight represented the “classic” portion of the course, while fences nine through 14 offered a “handy” track. The day’s top scores went to Wellington’s Jimmy Torano and Laskano, owned by Isalou, Inc. The pair took home blue with a classic round score of 92 and a handy score of 91.5 for a hard-to-catch total of 183.5.
“I would call him a derby specialist,” said Torano. “I can count on him every time. He never ever spooks at a jump. I can count on him for every inside turn, every handy landing, and I think we have a relationship where I know him like the back of my hand. If I call on him, he’s there for me.”
Caitlin Boyle and Navaar Make Winning WEF Debut in $62,500 Helgstrand Jewellery CSI2* Grand Prix
The peak of the week’s two-star action took place on Saturday afternoon with the $62,500 Helgstrand Jewellery CSI2* Grand Prix. Forty-five riders qualified from earlier in the week took to the Alan Wade (IRL) designed track to claim the top two-star title, with Caitlin Boyle (USA) and Navaar (Tonixe x Deauville van T&L), owned by Beyaert Farm Inc, taking it home.
Boyle rode double clear and quick across both courses, besting the field of 12 who returned for the jump-off. With a winning time of 36.95 seconds, the top pair knocked two seconds off the time to beat of 38.79 seconds set by runner up, Philip McGuane (IRL) and Linguini De La Pomme (Marius Cladius x Tinka’s Boy), owned by Evergate Stables.
“Navaar is such a talented horse; he’s not just fast, but also very game. He’s always looking to do the right thing,” said Boyle of the 11-year-old gelding. “Our partnership is a little bit new; I’ve been riding him since November. I’m also new to the international level of competition; I’d say this is only my fifth FEI week.”
Wellington International
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