The brisk California evening called for extraordinary speed in the Grand Prix Arena at Galway Downs for the second week of Nilforushan Equisport Events’ Temecula Valley National Horse Show. The $25,000 1.40m Speed Classic sponsored by Hygain welcomed 33 horse-and-athlete combinations to step on the gas pedal and race for the prize. With the quickest time on the clock, Cassio Rivetti and Vulcana dominated the field.
Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) delicate track, including multiple new colorful jumps in the Grand Prix Arena, impressed the horses with its technicality and particularly quick turns. Consisting of two gymnastic elements and airy verticals, riders were often left with four jumping faults as they struggled to catch up to Rivetti’s blazing fast time. The gray and white two stride combination just out of a turn, going away from the in-gate, presented a constant struggle for horse-and-athlete combinations as it was set for an open stride, expecting athletes to ride up to the base of the square oxer and cover the ground to the base of the vertical. Both elements left riders out of the ribbons consistently throughout the class.
Though the course proved challenging to most of the riders, Denmark’s Bjorn Ikast and Top Castino were up for the task pioneering the course as the the first to go in the order and the first to go clear, taking an immediate lead with a time of 72.487. Though, he did not hang onto it for long as the competitors anted up in hopes of taking the lion’s share of the prize and one of the last qualifying opportunities to make it into the National Equestrian Tournament finals. Entering the ring in full force, Brazilian show jumper Rivetti was eager to take his first ever win aboard his new partner Vulcana. The 10-year-old Westphalian mare is no stranger to speed previously being campaigned by Mavis Spencer with great success particularly in speed classes and most recently on the Major League Show Jumping Tour at the CSI2* level. Rivetti utilized the mare’s nimble nature to pivot around the tight turns in course to lay down the most efficient track of the day. The mare, who is still owned by Spencer, had not a single rub, leaving each jump intact and easily carrying Rivetti to an early lead with a time of 65.517 seconds. Having just started their partnership in the beginning of 2022, the duo clicked immediately taking a second place finish in the FEI $37,000 1.45m at the Desert Circuit III, adding their first win together under his belt, Rivetti plans to show Vulcana at the grand prix level this summer.
Jose Maria Quintana and his very own Catoki Boy tried their hand at the track shortly after Rivetti in an attempt to race against the clock to top the leaderboard. Maria Quintana is familiar with the winner’s circle at the Nilforushan Equisport Events’ Spring Series as he topped the $10,000 1.35m NEEd for Speed Derby just four weeks ago aboard Catoki Boy. In a swift attempt to maintain his winning reputation, the 12-year-old Holsteiner stallion mastered the course, eating up the track with his expansive stride. The duo showcased their proper form and expert riding through the tight turns and trying combinations. They jumped an impressive time of 65.994 seconds, but were just shy of the leading time, ultimately securing their red ribbon.
Rounding out the podium was Angel Karolyi aboard Marnell Sport Horses MSH Dream Girl. The 12-year-old KWPN mare was certainly dreamy under the California sunset as she demonstrated her talent and heart through the difficult track. The newly acquainted pair evidently came to conquer the field, not questioning the difficult turns and leaving out strides in the unrelated lines. As competitive as they proved to be, it was not quite quick enough to beat Rivetti’s time. Karoyli and MSH Dream Girl finished in a time of 66.417 seconds to put them in third place. No stranger to the spotlight in Temecula, Karolyi was the winner of the $10,000 1.35m Welcome during the Temecula Valley National I.
RESULTS
$25,000 1.40m Speed Classic
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time
- Vulcana / Cassio Rivetti / Mavis Spencer / 0 | 65.517
- Catoki Boy / Jose Maria Quintana / Jose Maria Quintana / 0 | 65.994
- MSH Dream Girl / Angel Karolyi / Marnell Sport Horses / 0 | 66.417
- For Gold / Alec Lawler / Alec Lawler / 0 | 67.549
- Billy Nala / McKenna Norris / McKenna Norris / 0 | 69.871
- Cristal De Menardiere / Cassio Rivetti / Delaney Batter / 0 | 70.036
- Lutalo / Michelle Parker / Dana B Nemeth / 0 | 71.066
- Top Castino / Bjorn Ikast / Bjorn Ikast / 0 | 72.487
- Chaccala / Michelle Parker / Cross Creek Farms, Inc. / 0 | 74.355
- Chicharito LS / Bjorn Ikast / Skylark Equestrian LLC / 0 | 74.967
- Unique Star / Hanna Mauritzson / Ritz Fuente LLC / 0 | 74.976
- Da Vinci / Clea Caddell / Spyglass Hill / 0 | 76.30