Nick Gegen aboard Arc De Triomphe, owned by Neaulani Farms emerged victorious in Saturday’s $50,000 Spring Classic III Grand Prix Presented by Equ Lifestyle Boutique.
Nick Gegen and his team from Neaulani Farms with representatives from EQU Lifestyle Boutique and Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports. Photo by McCool Photography
Course Designer Peter Holmes created a technical 1.50m track on The Oaks International Grand Prix Field. Holmes shared his thoughts about the course, “It’s a 1.50m Grand Prix this week, up from a 1.45m. It’s going to require a great deal of precision. Blenheim EquiSports is really trying to set a standard. They want to see that scope; close to the international level. It’s great to see some competitors that are stepping up and bringing some of the best horses to a great competition.
An energetic crowd cheered on twenty horse/rider combinations as they navigated the first round track. Time was not a major factor, however, half the field fell victim to the second or third element of the challenging triple combination.
Cassio Rivetti was the first to go clear and would eventually see both of his horses make it through to the second round. He was joined by Gegen and two other riders, resulting in a five-horse jump off.
Nick Gegen and Arc De Triomphe. Photo by McCool Photography
The jump-off course proved equally challenging. In the end, only Gegen and Arc De Triumph were able to navigate it fault-free in a time of 47.594 seconds. Cassio Rivetti aboard his second horse, Kaiser Van Het Lambroeck edged out the four-faulters with a time of 42.589, narrowly crossing the wire ahead of Mattias Ekeroth and Dacarlos with a time of 42.629.
RESULTS
$50,000 Spring Classic III Grand Prix Presented by
Equ Lifestyle Boutique
Place –Number – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1. 624 – Arc De Triomphe – Nick Gegen – Neaulani Farms – 0/0/47.594
2. 812 – KaiSer Van Het Lambroeck – Cassio Rivetti – Neil Jones Equestrian Inc – 0/4/42.589
3. 272 -Dacarlos – Mattias Ekeroth – Mattias Ekeroth – 0/4/42.629
4. 197 – Billy Mexico – Vani Khosla – Vani Khosla -0/4/43.870
5. 813 – Emilie De Fremis – Cassio Rivetti -Neil Jones Equestrian Inc – 0/4/46.168
6. 583 – Cicomein VDL – Shawn Casady – HKC Collection LLC – 4/69.050
7. 628 – Skara Glen’s Presence – Zazou Hoffman – Skara Glen’s Stables – 4/72.675
8. 335 – Dexceminka – Gabriela Pattinson – Danielle Lean – 4/73.068
9. 725 – Escapado S – Katelyn Edwards – Mountain View West Farm LLC – 4/73.276
10. 759 – Interline H – Kaitlin Campbell – SWS Training – 4/73.300
11. 576 – Ceasar – Tina Yates – Ace Equestrian -4/73.698
12. 582 – Interactive Mortgage 07 – Tina Yates – Evette & Gregg Delong – 4/75.139