Wellington, FL – June 13, 2021 – The June portion of the ESP Summer Series came to a close with the $25,000 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix, which saw 26 contenders take on the course designed by Héctor Loyola (PUR) on Sunday. Riding to the top of the standings as the fastest in the jump-off, Brazil’s Joao Eduardo Ferreira de Carvalho and Volt Du Thot were the big winners of the week as they claimed the largest share of the prize money. The victory was especially rewarding for Ferreira de Carvalho considering he had topped the USHJA National Hunter Derby earlier in the week, making for a weekend of wins in the hunter and jumper rings.
Following the conclusion of the ESP June II show, the 2021 ESP Summer Series will take a break before picking up again with ESP Summer II from August 19-22, 2021. The circuit will then continue through the final event that concludes on October 3. To view the ESP Summer Series Prize List, please click HERE.
Ferreira de Carvalho, who claimed a victory in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Friday, was elated to claim the top prize in the week’s highlight jumper class, as well. “I was really happy with the results in the hunters, and I put in my mind that it would be really nice to win in the hunters and the jumpers, so it was a great day and a great weekend.”
While Ferreira de Carvalho’s mount in the derby was newer to him, he and the 12-year-old Selle Français gelding, owned by Karina Rocha Mello, which he rode on Sunday have been together for six years. “He’s my top horse,” Ferreira de Carvalho shared. “I’ve competed with him in a couple of Grand Prix classes in Europe and some here, as well.”
As the second to go in the jump-off, Ferreira de Carvalho and Volt Du Thot set the bar high after clearing the course in a blazing time of 47.01 seconds. Although 11 subsequent pairs contested the shortened track, no one could eclipse the initial frontrunners’ time without faults. “I think he put the pressure on the rest of the class, and his turns were very accurate and smooth,” commented Mary McKenzie, who started assisting Ferreira de Carvalho this summer. “It’s great that we have sponsors supporting these classes, and Joao and I would both like to thank Bainbridge Companies. We will be back later this summer!”
Landing in second place was American rider Liza Finsness and her own entry, Shiver, in a double-clear time of 48.60 seconds. Daniel Cyphert, representing the USA, claimed the third spot on the podium riding Alma Z, owned by Heathman Farm, LLC, with a fault-free time of 49.94 seconds.
On Friday, Hailey Royce of Wellington, FL, and her own Sonic Boom dominated in the $10,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Open Stake to win the class as the only double-clear pair. Going eleventh in the order, Royce and Sonic Boom mastered Loyola’s first-round track, then completed their immediate jump-off in a fault-free time of 47.63 seconds to capture the early lead. Though the rest of the pack chased them down, none were able to come close. Colombia’s Juan Manuel Gallego and Adalberto Audi Scappino, owned by Eduardo Sanchez Navarro, were the only other duo to advance to the jump-off, but incurred eight faults to settle for second place. The fastest of the four-faulters, Marilyn Little of Frederick, MD, and RF Most Wanted, owned by Raylyn Farms, captured third position.
Thursday’s Vita Flex 1.35m Stake saw Gabriel de Matos Machado of Wellington, FL, top the leaderboard with RF Casablanca, owned by Raylyn Farms, Inc. Riding twelfth in the order, the pair overtook the initial frontrunners, Daniel Cyphert and Rockstar, by barely a second with a fault-free jump-off time of 41.89 seconds. Cyphert of Argyle, TX, and Rockstar, owned by Thea Stinnett, secured second-place honors in a double-clear time of 42.84 seconds. Landing in third place with a clear jump-off time of 47.87 seconds was Valentina Maury of Wellington, FL, and her own entry, Quentin.
In the Junior/Amateur-Owner Medium Jumper Classic, presented by Equiline, Ansley Wright of Wellington, FL, and Castlewood Farms’ Diamanto JT Z narrowly grabbed victory by fractions of a second. Competing over 1.30m fences, Wright and Diamanto JT Z were the speediest of four pairs that qualified for the jump-off thanks to their double-clear time of 49.03 seconds. Just off the pace, Blythe Masters of Wellington, FL, and her own Eriana tripped the timers in 49.47 seconds without any faults to earn second place, while third place went to owner-rider Stephanie Melodie Motter and Phoenix with a fault-free time of 52.17 seconds.
