Out of the 50 entries that contested Guilherme Jorge’s speed course in the $36,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Classic CSI 5*, 15 were able to go clear and put the pedal to the metal to find the quickest round. Of those 15, the fastest was Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa (BRA), who rode Catch Me Imperio Egipcio for owner Daniel Aguiar Morelli to the win. They posted a time of 62.20 seconds, more than two seconds faster than the next competitor.\
Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa and Catch Me Imperio Egipcio. Photo © Sportfot
Second place went to Catherine Tyree (USA) riding Mary Tyree’s BEC Lorenzo in a time of 64.24 seconds. Margie Engle (USA) and Dicas, owned by Stome Ridge Show Horses, Garber & Gladewinds, placed third in 64.33 seconds. Wednesday’s five-star winners, Lucas Porter (USA) and Sleepy P Ranch’s Diamonte Darco, were fourth in 65.43 seconds, while Emil Hallundbaek (DEN) and his own Dazermie were fifth.
Musa, who is based in Belgium when he’s not in Wellington, and “Catch Me” went 17th in the order and after watching combinations at the start of the class, Musa made a plan for his ride.
“I tried to do less strides and turn quicker. In the middle of the course, all horses had to do the same strides. I think I was faster at the start of the course,” he said.
Musa has been riding Catch Me, an 11-year-old Hanoverian mare, for one year. While she is usually his top horse to compete in grand prix classes, his new horse has stepped up to compete in Saturday’s $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix while she got to do “the fun class” on Friday.
Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa with ringmaster Steve Rector and Bainbridge Chairman and CEO Richard Schechter. Photo © Sportfot
“Now she has a little bit more experience,” he said of the mare he found in Germany that was ridden by Holger Wulschner. “She’s 11 years old now and a good, good horse. She’s very, very easy and she has top technique. She’s a pleasure to ride.”
Musa won four FEI ranking classes at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival, including one five-star class, but this is his first win in 2019.
“I win classes in two-star and three-star, and it’s good, but to win in the five-star is much better!” he said with a smile. “There are many, many top riders in this class, and it’s great to win.”
Final Results: $36,000 Bainbridge 1.45m Classic
1 CATCH ME IMPERIO EGIPCIO: 2008 Hanoverian mare by Contagio x Werther
FRANCISCO JOSE MESQUITA MUSA (BRA), Daniel Aguiar Morelli: 0/62.20
2 BEC LORENZO: 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Livello x Guidam
CATHERINE TYREE (USA), Mary Tyree: 0/64.24
3 DICAS: 2009 Rheinlander gelding by Diarado x Cassini I
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Storm Ridge Capital LLC, Show Horses, Garber & Gladewinds Partners LLC: 0/64.33
4 DIAMONTE DARCO: 2005 GBSH mare by Unbelievable Darco x Unknown
LUCAS PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/65.43
5 DAZERMIE: 2008 KWPN mare by Asemie x Hamlet
EMIL HALLUNDBAEK (DEN), Emil Hallundbaek: 0/65.56
6 AMSTERDAM 27: 2010 Holsteiner gelding by Catoki x Acord II
MARIO DESLAURIERS (CAN), Wishing Well Farm LLC: 0/66.78
7 IKEA: 2008 BWP mare by Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Burggraaf
LILLIE KEENAN (USA), Chansonette Farm LLC: 0/67.82
8 CORRADA: 2007 KWPN mare by Oklund x Loriston
HARRIE SMOLDERS (NED), Copernicus Stables LLC:
9 USA NORMANDE: 2008 Selle Francais mare by Made in Semilly x Urbain du Monnai
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Paillot Equestrian & Gladwinds Farm Inc.: 0/68.28
10 OASIS SPIRIT: 2010 Irish Sport Horse mare by Cobra
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE (GBR), Gochman Sport Horses LLC: 0/68.78
11 SKARA GLEN’S FLORENCIA: 2010 NRPS mare by Guidam’s Willow x Esprit
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Skara Glen Stables: 0/69.16
12 SKARA GLEN’S CHANCELLORESS: 2009 KWPN mare by Chacco Blue x Balou du Rouet
PAUL O’SHEA (IRL), Skara Glen Stables: 0/70.64