Press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala, edited by World of Showjumping

The clouds parted just in time for a beautiful sunset to set the stage for the highly anticipated CSI4* $250,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix during Week V of the 2026 Summer Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). Exhibitors and spectators packed the stands to watch a star-studded field representing 10 nations battle for the victory, but it was Jad Dana (LBN) who added another marquee victory to his impressive 2026 Summer Series campaign aboard The Itchy Group’s Itchcock des Dames (Marius Claudius x Calvaro F.C.).

FEI Level IV course designer Marina Azevedo (BRA) built a technical 1.55m track that proved to be a true test, with most combinations falling victim to a rail. Of the 19 horse-and-rider combinations, only five managed to produce fault-free first rounds to advance to the jump-off, representing Venezuela, the United States, Lebanon and Portugal.

Pablo Barrios (VEN) was first to return aboard his own Don D’alme C Z (Don Diablo x Contact Vd Heffinck). An unfortunate rail left the pair on four faults in 47.90 seconds to set the early benchmark.

Ocala’s own Aaron Vale (USA) was next to return with The Carissimo Group’s Carissimo 25 (Cascadello x Clinton). Fresh off a successful European tour, the pair blazed through the timers in 42.03 seconds to take over the lead.

Vale explained the decisions that shaped his jump-off track. “My plan was to go wide from one to two in seven. Even going wide, the seven was still quite slow for me. I was very deep at fence two, which made my eight strides to number three very fast. In the course walk, I thought I might have been able to get eight back to the wall, but I was a little far off the oxer, so I ended up doing nine.”

Vale’s time looked difficult to catch, but Dana was next to enter the ring.

Heading into the jump-off, Dana knew he was chasing one of the fastest riders in the sport, with another speed specialist still waiting in the wings. “I mean, I’m competing against Luis [Sabino Goncalves] and Aaron Vale. They were absolutely amazing, so I knew it was going to be hard to beat them for sure.”

Dana knew matching Vale’s leave-out wasn’t realistic for his mount, so he leaned into Itchcock des Dames’ strengths. “I know Aaron did one less from the second to the third jump, but it’s not a realistic number for my horse. So I did the seven in the first line. My horse can go right very well, so I just put a really nice, direct, fast line and did nine strides to the third jump. His weakness, I would say, in the jump-off is the left turn. So I would say the turn to the wall, and after the wall I was just a bit slow. Luckily, after that I could go really fast, and I think that’s where I really made my time.”

Dana and Itchcock des Dames flew through the timers in 41.95 seconds, edging Vale by just eight hundredths of a second to take the win.

The victory carried extra meaning for Dana, whose owner made the trip specifically to watch the class. “It feels amazing. It really does. I remember last year when I won, it was probably the biggest win in my career so far, and now, to do it again, it feels amazing. My horse’s owner, she’s here. She came here for one day to watch him today, and to come out with the win is very, very rewarding.”

Dana also praised WEC – Ocala for the opportunities it provides throughout the year. “Having WEC and all the classes they offer has really changed our whole show schedule because this is where we want to be in the winter and in the summer. In the winter, there are plenty of FEI classes, plenty of national classes, and we are, as riders, very, very thankful that we have a place like this that offers that many classes with that much money in FEI and in national.”

Thursday’s winner of the Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4*, Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), was the final rider to return aboard Sigma Stables LLC’s Scoop de Septon Z (Hunters Scendro x Echo van ‘t Spieveld). Looking to overtake the leaders, Goncalves put together another quick jump-off, but an unfortunate rail left the pair with four faults in 43.84 seconds to finish third.

“On Thursday, I tried to do well enough that others had to take more risks. This time, I tried to beat Jad and Aaron, so I took risks. It’s the sport,” expressed Goncalves.