France’s Nina Mallevaey and her partner Destine To Be topped the $62,500 Arthramid by Contura Vet CSI3* Grand Prix Qualifier on Friday, the final week of fall competition during Wellington International’s Annual Series in Wellington, Fla.
The Annual Series at Wellington International runs through December, featuring hunter, jumper and equitation competition ahead of the 50th anniversary season of the famed Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), launching on January 6.
As international competition returned to the main ring at Wellington International, 116 horses trotted up for three-star competition this week. Fifty-seven made up Friday’s start list over courses set by Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil.
Destine To Be, a 10-year-old Anglo-European gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Grandilot) owned by the Rein Family, was the penultimate contender in a competitive jump-off that saw 13 double-clear rounds. Putting her gelding’s natural speed to good use, Mallevaey — current world no. 8 — stopped the clock at 37.56 seconds to secure their 12th international victory together.
“The speed has always been there, but as our partnership has developed, I’ve learned how to use it better. He is incredibly fast across the ground, and doesn’t waste much time in the air, which makes him very competitive,” said Mallevaey, who has had the ride on Destine To Be since the start of 2024, and earned a CSIO5* Nations Cup win this summer in Gassin-St. Tropez.
“He has given me some incredible moments,” continued Mallevaey. “He did his first five-star season this year and placed in almost all grands prix he did. He’s definitely a very special horse, and I’m incredibly grateful to have him.”
World no. 10 Daniel Bluman (ISR) rode Kester de Nyze Z, owned together with Over The Top Stables, to second in 38.04 seconds. Venezuelan Olympian Luis Fernando Larrazabal and his 2023 Pan American Games mount Baroness took third in 38.21 seconds for owners Jack Alan and Leeann Ablin.
International competition opened on Thursday with Michael Murphy (USA) riding Kaida CM, owned by South Coast, to win the $32,000 JTWG, Inc. CSI3* 1.45m Two-Phase, and Irish Olympian Darragh Kenny topping the Bainbridge Companies CSI3* 1.40m Two-Phase riding Magnolia WS for owner Carol Sollak. Three-star action peaks on Sunday in the $120,000 Equine Tack & Nutritionals CSI3* Grand Prix.
For complete results from the $62,500 Arthramid by Contura Vet CSI3* Grand Prix Qualifier, click HERE.
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