Aaron Vale & Helios du Moulin. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala, edited by World of Showjumping
The highlight event of Week X of the 2026 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) brought 38 horse-and-rider combinations representing 14 nations to the WEC Grand Arena to contest the $120,000 Alltech Grand Prix CSI3*. After a challenging track and an exciting jump-off, it was Aaron Vale (USA) who secured the victory aboard Helios du Moulin (Untouchable x Quidam de Revel).
The 1.50m track designed by FEI Level III course designer Catsy Cruz (USA) proved to be quite the test, with rails falling throughout the course. Ultimately, only seven combinations managed to find the path to a clear first round to advance to the jump-off.
The first two riders to return, Robert Blanchette (IRL) with Chardonnay (Comme Il Faut x Jus de Pomme) and Vaclav Stanek (CZE) with Langley (Lansdowne x Andiamo), gave the shortened track a valiant effort, but each fell victim to a pair of rails.
Eight-time Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) rose to the challenge, riding Prins Van’t Eigenlo to the only other clear effort for second place. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Spain’s Francisco Goyoga Mollet was next to challenge the clock aboard Sigma Stables LLC’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Pst de Muze (Vigo D’arsouilles Stx x Clinton). The pair crossed the timers in a speedy 41.86 seconds but had one unlucky rail along the way.
Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) and Quadrado (Comme Il Faut x Diamant de Semilly) also gave the track a strong effort but finished with four faults, leaving the door open for the final three riders in the order. Eight-time Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) rose to the challenge, guiding Rio Equestrian’s Prins van’t Eigenlo (Vigo D’arsouilles Stx x Zandor Z), an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, to a smooth clear round in 43.39 seconds to take over the lead.
Ocala’s own Aaron Vale entered the arena next aboard The Helios du Moulin Group’s small but mighty mount. Vale knew he still needed to give it just enough with Helios du Moulin, as one extremely fast combination remained to go.
Spain’s Francisco Goyoga Mollet laid down a quick effort riding Pst de Muze to ultimately round out the podium. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
“I didn’t feel super fast in the beginning,” Vale shared. “Toward the end, I caught a big angle to the vertical and made a really tight turn back to the second-to-last fence, so I got quicker as the course went on.”
The pair stopped the clock in 39.99 seconds to take over the top spot on the leaderboard, moving Pessoa into second and Goyoga Mollet into third.
Vale spoke about the coming nine-year-old Selle Français gelding: “I bought him in France the summer before last, so we’ve had him a little over a year now, almost a year and a half. Not all nine-year-olds are jumping classes like this. He’s a brave, game, little horse, and he’s doing it well.”
Aaron Vale & Helios du Moulin. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
In just two weeks, Vale will return to the WEC Grand Arena to compete in the Longines League of Nations™ Ocala, March 17–22, where he will represent the United States alongside McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, and Lillie Keenan. Vale is looking forward to the competition’s return.
“The League of Nations is a great team format,” he said. “There’s a little extra pressure because only three riders come back in the second round. It’s a very big-money team class, and it’s extremely competitive because everyone sends their best riders.”
The five-star week will also feature CSI2* competition, highlighted by two marquee CSIO5* events: the $350,000 J.P. Morgan Grand Prix CSIO5-LLN* on Thursday, March 19, and the $770,000 Longines League of Nations™ Ocala on Saturday, March 21.
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