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.