Edited Press Release
The finale of the 2022 Fall Classic Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington came to an exhilarating close as 23 horse-and-rider combinations took to the Sanctuary Arena to compete for the lion’s share of the prize money in the $75,000 WEC Grand Prix. Santiago Lambre (BRA) continues to prove unstoppable as he rode his own Chacco Blue II (Chacco-blue x Naiti Rouge) to a fourth grand prix victory of the five-week series.
FEI Level III course designer Anderson Lima (MEX) crafted the elaborate track that featured a challenging triple combination which caught several riders throughout the first round. A total of ten pairs qualified for the jump-off and seven managed a double clean effort. Competition was fierce in the jump-off, with the leader being swapped numerous times, until Santiago Lambre and Chacco Blue II posted a time that was simply uncatchable.
Lambre and the 15-year-old Oldenburg stallion were the fifth pair to return to the jump-off. “It was a fast class, so I knew I was going to have to be as quick as possible,” he said. “[Chacco Blue II] has a big step, so he covered a lot of ground quickly and I was very tidy back to the vertical after the double combination.”
Lambre and Chacco Blue II soared to the top of the standards over the final fence stopping the clock at an unbeatable 33.715 seconds.
“When you show at any World Equestrian Center venue, you have to be as fast as possible,” Lambre said. “I am very proud of the horses for jumping so well the past couple of weeks. I think this was the perfect show to prep for the National Horse Show and I think Chacco Blue II and Casey are ready for the World Cup™.”
Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Barbara Disko’s Sovereign (Frontal x Galledent) scored the second place spot on the leaderboard. They raced around the remainder of the course in 34.338 seconds, which landed them in the reserve spot.
Katherine Anne Brewer (USA) and her own Casido 2 (Cosido x Nele II) found the third fastest time, stopping the timers at 34.935 seconds.
$75,000 WEC Grand Prix Results:
1 Chacco Blue II, Santiago Lambre, Santiago Lambre: 0 | 0 | 33.715
2 Sovereign, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Barbara Disko: 0 | 0 | 34.338
3 Casido 2, Katherine Anne Brewer, Katherine Anne Brewer: 0 | 0 | 34.935
4 Nazarine Vd Axelhoeve, Sabine Cooper, Sabine Cooper: 0 | 0 | 35.976
5 Fiper, Colin Syquia, Eurasia Inc.: 0 | 0 | 36.674
6 Ivaro N, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Barbara Disko: 0 | 0 | 37.119
7 La Belle SCF, Summer Hill, Andrea Simpson: 0 | 0 | 37.973
8 Big Girl Z, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg: 0 | 4 | 37.703
9 Cadir 5, Katherine Anne Brewer, Brewport Stables LLC: 0 | 21 | 66.713
10 Casey, Santiago Lambre, Santiago Lambre: 0 | RT
