Victory on the grass derby field on Sunday, February 18, in the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix went to 17-year-old Madison Goetzmann (USA) riding Prestigious at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
On the grass derby field on Sunday, 50 entries competed over a course designed by Ana Catalina Cruz-Harris (MEX), and ten of those were clear to advance to the jump-off. Lacey Gilbertson (USA) and Seabrook LLC’s Baloppi set the early winning pace in 41.97 seconds with no faults, which would hold up for second place.
Next into the ring for the jump-off was Ailish Cunniffe (USA) on Baloucento 2, owned by Whipstick Farm Ltd. They finished in 42.16 seconds and placed third.
Five trips later, the winning time was lowered to 41.53 seconds when Goetzmann and her own Prestigious finished the jump-off. Three additional rounds were unable to catch Goetzmann’s time and stay clear through the course.
Madison Goetzmann and Prestigious. Photo by Sportfot Photography
It was the second win in a row for Goetzmann, who also captured Saturday’s $10,000 Hermès U25 Welcome with Prestigious.
“I think yesterday’s round really set me up for today,” said Goetzmann. “I got my horse’s rideability really nice yesterday and patting off the ground with the short turns and efficient track. Coming in today, I knew he was going to be set for the long strides and galloping in the jump-off.
“Going into the jump-off, I knew that I could trust him to gallop up in the first line and maybe do one less (stride) than the others,” she continued about her second round. “He came right back after that and really was just perfect through the rest of the jump-off. He really saved me to the last jump; I was a little deep and he covered it right up. I trust him in that and he was really perfect. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Goetzmann and Prestigious, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding by Con Cento x Corofino, have been strong competitors in the U25 division leading up to this winter, having won the silver medal at the USEF U25 Show Jumping National Championship in November.
“He’s a horse that I want to move up to the bigger level – 1.50m, three-star, four-star eventually,” she said.
Madison Goetzmann and Prestigious in their winning presentation with James Sardelli, Hermès Senior Equestrian Account Executive, and ringmaster Steve Rector. Photo by Sportfot Photography
Watch the winning jump-off ride for Madison and Prestigious!
Gilbertson, 24, describes Baloppi, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, as “pretty simple” and “good in all sorts of rings.”
Gilbertson has been extremely consistent throughout the Hermès U25 series thus far, having won the week 2 grand prix in the WEF International Arena and recording a clear round in the team event in week 4 under the lights in the Global International Arena.
“It’s an advantage for us for her to be able to stay consistent throughout the series when we have to do so many different arenas,” said Gilbertson. “I think it’s really cool. It makes it really exciting and it doesn’t get boring. For them, it keeps them sharper and fresher and ready for what’s coming next.”
Lacey Gilbertson and Baloppi. Photo by Sportfot Photography
Cunniffe and Baloucento 2 have been paired together a year and the “energizer bunny,” according to Cunniffe, wasn’t tired at all after competing two days in a row.
“All of our horses are kind of on the hotter side and it’s really hot out today,” said the 20-year-old student at Southern Methodist University. “They had to work hard yesterday and without a day off in between. It was to our advantage that our horses are on the hotter side.”
Ailish Cunniffe and Baloucento 2. Photo by Sportfot Photography
WEF 8 hosts the next Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix class, with the $35,000 Semi-Final on Friday, March 2, under the lights at 7 p.m. in the WEF International Arena.
Final Results: $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix
1 PRESTIGIOUS: 2007 Westphalian gelding by Con Cento x Corofino
MADISON GOETZMANN (USA), Madison Goetzmann: 0/0/41.53
2 BALOPPI: 2007 Danish Warmblood mare
LACEY GILBERTSON (USA), Seabrook LLC: 0/0/41.97
3 BALOUCENTO 2: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Cento
AILISH CUNNIFFE (USA), Whipstick Farm Ltd: 0/0/42.16
4 B ONCE Z: 2004 Zangersheide mare by Baloubet du Rouet x Lavaletto
LUCAS PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch: 0/0/42.64
5 IRCO VAN KLAPSCHEUT: 2008 BWP gelding by Radco d’Houtveld
ROGELIO PELLERANO (DOM), Rogelio Pellerano: 0/0/43.37
6 DUROSA W: 2008 KWPN mare by B Zirocco Blue VDL x Manhattan
MCKAYLA LANGMEIER (USA), Linda Langmeier: 0/4/39.33
7 MAE: 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare by Vegas x Topas
NOEL FAUNTLEROY (USA), Noel Fauntleroy: 0/4/42.37
8 CONCARDO: 2006 German Sport Horse gelding by Consul x Levisto
SUMMER HILL (USA), Andrea Simpson: 0/4/42.40
9 GASPER VAN DEN DOORN: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Calvaro x Larome
TEDDY VLOCK (USA), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/4/44.63
10 GREAT WHITE: 2008 Holsteiner gelding by Cumano x Julio Mariner
DAISY FARISH (USA), Daisy Farish: 0/19/64.36
11 JERSEY V.D. HUNTERS: 2009 BWP mare by Scendix x Canadian River
NICOLE BELLISSIMO (USA), Bellissimo LLC: 1/85.54
12 LIKE A DREAM: 2002 Westphalian gelding by Larenco x Pilot
ALI BOONE (USA), Sterling Equestrian: 1/86.97