The first competition day of the ESP Pre-Charity Show CSI3*, the final installment of the ESP Fall Series, brought international partnerships back to the main stage at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Thursday. Held in the International Arena, the $6,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic 1.45m CSI3* kicked off the morning, featuring the likes of heavy-hitters such as Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA), Nayel Nassar (EGY), Laura Kraut (USA) and Lillie Keenan (USA), among others. Ultimately, Israel’s Alberto Michan sealed victory aboard Marie Antonette Leviste’s Loribri, an 11-year-old Norwegian Warmblood mare.
“I think it was a nice start to the week!” commented Michan. “It was a bigger class today [because it was] FEI but still not a ranking class. It was a nice class for speed horses or horses that are training a little bit for the ranking class tomorrow or Sunday. The mare I rode, Loribri, is a very nice speed horse so the plan was to compete today and then the [$12,000 CCTV Agent 1.45m Speed CSI3*] on Saturday. She’s very fast naturally, so if we can keep the jumps up we’ll have a good chance.”
Out of the starting lineup, 17 pairs turned in clear initial trips over course designer Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) track for the 1.45m contest. Michan and Loribri (Kingsland SM x Primas) turned out to be the final fault-free pair in the first round, giving them the advantage of riding last in the jump-off. They used that advantage wisely, turning in the quickest trip over the short course in 26.588 seconds with all the rails still in their cups to capture the top honors. Ashley Vogel (USA) earned second on her own Bellissimo Z in a clear time of 27.275 seconds, and Kraut rounded out the podium in a foot-perfect 27.679 seconds riding Fleurette, owned by St. Bride’s Farm.
On the return of international competition to the PBIEC grounds in Wellington, Michan said, “This is always a very important venue, and I think we’re all very excited to be back. I think they’ve done a great job with all the safety measures to allow us to keep the sport running, and I think we’re all very aware of that. [We are being] very responsible and following the rules so this can keep going and we can have nice shows.”
