Speed demon Nayel Nassar of Egypt and his trusty steed, Lucifer V, claimed Friday’s highlight event, racing to victory in the Longines Speed Challenge 1.50m Masters One.
Using the same speed track at the Paris and Hong Kong editions of the Longines Masters, course designer Frank Rothenberger gave competitors numerous options for inside turns and short cuts for those brave enough to chance their luck.
Despite knocking one rail down for a two-second time penalty, Nassar moved to the top of the leaderboard with an adjusted time of 58.45 seconds and stayed there. Nassar sat on the podium – and on pins and needles – watching the remaining competitors attempt to catch his time. Kristen Vanderveen of the United States came the closest but still finished more than two seconds off the winning pace with a time of 61.07 seconds, demonstrating just how fast Nassar had been.
“He’s naturally a really quick horse,” said Nassar of Lucifer V, a 13-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Evergate Stables LLC. “I knew that if I got on a bit of a lick and kept it the whole way around, we would be in a pretty good spot.
“It’s Jenn’s birthday today and I told her that I wanted to win one for her so I was really glad that I was able to get it done even with the rail,” continued Nassar in reference to his girlfriend’s, Jennifer Gates, 23rd birthday. “It’s pretty crazy that we were still able to win the class even with a fence down.”
Nassar, 28, is no stranger to the unique Longines Speed Challenge, the fastest class in show jumping sport. In 2016, he claimed victory in the same event riding Lordan during the Los Angeles edition before the U.S. leg of the Longines Masters moved east in 2018.
“I really love this Longines Masters Series,” said Nassar. “It’s a great venue, great footing, good ring. It provides really good sport and the horses have been jumping really well all week. I’ve been to Paris and L.A. and now here in New York.”
Finishing behind runner-up Vanderveen and her mount, Bull’s Run Faustino de Tili, was Olivier Philippaerts. The young Belgian left all the rails in place and raced through the timers in 61.33 seconds riding Insolente des Dix Bonniers. Switzerland’s Beat Mändli took fourth riding Galan S to a time of 61.70 seconds while Israel’s Daniel Bluman rounded out the top five with Cartouche in a close time of 61.88 seconds.
Adrienne Sternlicht Makes it Two in a Row
For the second day in a row, Adrienne Sternlicht stood atop the podium at the Longines Masters of New York. Hot off her win in Thursday’s Masters One EQ Exchange 1.45m riding Fantast, the 2018 World Equestrian Games team gold medalist returned to the NYCB Live coliseum to guide Toulago to victory in the Masters One Prestige Italia 1.55m.
Saving the best for last, Sternlicht of nearby Greenwich, CT, was the final competitor to challenge the jump-off track set by Germany’s Frank Rothenberger. Knowing exactly what it would take to win, the 25-year-old put her foot on the gas pedal and raced to victory in a time of 33.96 seconds, leaving fellow American Beezie Madden and her mount, Breitling LS, winners of the 2018 Longines World Cup Final, in second place with a time of 34.17 seconds.
“I have an amazing partnership with my horse,” said Sternlicht of Toulago, her partner of three years. “I think that is a testament not only to my closeness with the horse but also my grooms who shower him with love. He really fights for me as a result of that. He has a heart of gold and anytime he competes like that it makes me really proud. He loves it!”
Stopping the clock in 34.30 seconds, Olivier Philippaerts of Belgium took third riding H&M Cue Channa 42. The pair had enjoyed a win in the Longines Masters series in February, claiming the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy 1.50m. Another Belgian competitor, Pieter Clemens, also jumped double clear to place fourth riding Icarus in a time of 35.41 seconds.
Champagne Showers for Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa
Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa, individual gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, proved why he’s a champion by winning the Masters Two Champagne Barons de Rothschild 1.45m on Friday afternoon in his Longines Masters of New York debut.
Pessoa enjoyed an easy win, cruising to victory in a time of 57.61 seconds compared to the 60.42 seconds posted by Madison Goetzmann who took second place riding Prestigious. His winning mount, Farrero, is a nine-year-old Dutch-bred gelding owned by his student, 18-year-old Coco Fath, who is also contesting the Longines Masters of New York this week.
“They have used the infrastructure really nicely here,” said Pessoa in praise of the four-day international show jumping event held at NYCB LIVE, home ice for the New York Islanders NHL hockey team. “The arena is nice. It’s small and everything comes up quick, but that’s indoor show jumping. It’s great to promote show jumping in the area and encourage people to maybe start riding.”
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