Claiming his first-ever ‘Saturday Night Lights’ victory at Wellington International, Egyptian Olympian Nayel Nassar topped the $140,000 Southern Arches CSI3* Grand Prix riding ESI Ali during week one of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington, FL.
“This one feels great,” said a beaming Nassar after his win. “It’s always special to win here, and I’ve come close a few times but never won under the lights. This was my horse’s first time jumping at night, so I didn’t know what to expect but he impressed us all.”
Nassar’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Stakkato Gold appeared to rise to the occasion with a ground-covering stride and heart-stopping turns. The Evergate Stables owned mount carried Nassar to a time of 37.35 seconds to pip six-time U.S. Olympian Mclain Ward by less than six tenths of a second. Michael & Wendy Smith’s High Star Hero carried Ward to the runner-up finish. The 12-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding (Zazu x Darco) stopped the clock at 37.92 seconds.
After winning the $30,000 CPKC National Grand Prix earlier in the afternoon, Colombia’s Mark Bluman ended a banner day with a podium finish under the lights riding Concare PS for owner Norma Leticia Coello Garrido. Their time clocked in at 38.24 seconds.
Fourteen horses advanced to course designer Nick Granat’s (USA) jump-off track, setting the stage for a fierce speed battle. The times got quicker and quicker as the final round progressed, but none could catch Nassar.
“In the jump-off, I try to set my pace early—once you put him in gear, you don’t have to do a whole lot,” said Nassar of the horse that was found for him as an eight year old by fellow Evergate Stables rider and former world no. 1 Harrie Smolders. “I came out of the ring and everyone told me he didn’t look that fast, but he has an amazing way of covering the ground and a natural rhythm that once you set him off, you just have to steer and avoid the jumps. If I can match everyone else’s strides, he comes out a little bit quicker.
“I only caught part of Mclain’s jump-off on the screen but he’s always so fast,” continued Nassar. “The eight to the last was a must and luckily we were able to get it done.”
Most recently, Nassar and ESI Ali won a two-star grand prix this summer and have been taking their time climbing the ranks. “We’ve been bringing him along slowly,” explained Nassar. “The horse always had so much quality but he did need some basics put into him, so we took our time to do that for the first year. Last season he started to step up into some 1.50m classes and was always competitive. He gave us the feeling that he was ready for a bigger ask and that’s what we gave him tonight.”
When discussing what’s next for ESI Ali, Nassar said, “He’s 10 so this is the first year I start to ask them a little bit more. I try not to do too much with them as nine-year-olds and hope that it lengthens their career. We’re listening to him telling us what he’s ready for and we’ll keep placing him where we think he can be successful.”
Despite a wave of low temperatures covering south Florida, horse sport fans turned out with enthusiasm for the first ‘Saturday Night Lights’ grand prix of the season at Wellington International. “I think this venue is so special in the way that you feel the community come out to support,” said Nassar of the Wellington International experience. “Especially ‘Saturday Night Lights’—it’s buzzing and I think great horses feel it and they rise to the occasion. They know that this isn’t just another class.”
Continuing an evening of firsts for Evergate Stables, ESI Ali’s groom Tamiles Pezzim was awarded a $500 check for the Double H Farm Grooms Award in her debut appearance during ‘Saturday Night Lights’ at Wellington International. “We’re nothing without the caretakers of these horses,” concluded Nassar. “The entire team is really proud of this win.”
To conclude the evening, the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award for WEF 1 was presented to 20-year-old Caroline Mawhinney (USA), who finished within the top 10 on Saturday riding Carsey Z.
FEI action during WEF 1 concludes on Sunday with the $32,000 Hermès CSI3* 150m Classic. Comprehensive livestream coverage of WEF is available at WellingtonInternational.com thanks to support from Dodd Technologies, Inc.
Top Five Results: $140,000 Southern Arches CSI3* Grand Prix
1. Nayel Nassar (EGY) & ESI Ali: 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Stakkato Gold); Owner: Evergate Stables / Faults/Time: 0/0 37.35
2. McLain Ward (USA) & High Star Hero: 2013 Belgian Sport Horse gelding (Zazu x Darco); Owners: Michael & Wendy Smith / Faults/Time: 0/0 37.92
3. Mark Bluman (COL) & Concare PS: 2014 Oldenburg mare (Conthargos x Cornet Obolensky); Owner: Norma Leticia Coello Garrido / Faults/Time: 0/0 38.24
4. Charlotte Jacobs (USA) & Playboy JT Z: 2015 Zangersheide gelding (Presley Boy x Plot Blue); Owner: North Star / Faults/Time: 0/0 39.31
5. Lillie Keenan (USA) & Le Louvre 5: 2015 Westphalian gelding (Latour VDM x Class de Luxe 2); Owner: Chansonette Farm / Faults/Time: 0/0 39.98
Full results here.
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