Sophie Hinners (GER) and Viva Las Vegas W won the CSI2* $85,000 The Dutta Corp. Grand Prix on Sunday, March 23, to close out the Longines League of Nations™ Ocala CSIO5*-LLN at WEC – Ocala in Ocala, FL. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Edited press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala
Victory on the final day of the Longines League of Nations™ Ocala CSIO5*-LLN belonged to young German talent Sophie Hinners and Viva Las Vegas W. The pair topped a starting field of 40 entries to win the CSI2* $85,000 The Dutta Corp. Grand Prix on Sunday, March 23, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) in Ocala, FL (USA).
The final day of competition saw an interesting mix of veteran campaigners and young up-and-comers take on the 1.45m course set by Irish course designer Alan Wade. A total of seven athletes representing six different nations posted a clear first-round effort to qualify for the jump-off.
The first double clear was posted by Charlie Jones (GBR) riding Montserrat OS, a 10-year-old Anglo European gelding (Care For x Del Piero P B) owned by the Chad family’s Stone Ridge Farms LLC. The pair was efficient in a time of 37.56 seconds but were quickly overtaken by the next rider to enter the WEC Grand Arena, Kara Chad (CAN). Also riding for Stone Ridge Farms LLC, Chad shaved a full second off the time set by Jones. She stopped the clock in 36.57 seconds aboard Corinna Z, a nine-year-old Belgian-bred mare (Cornet Obolensky x Kannan).
Chad was followed in the order by Sophie Hinners (GER) and the lead changed hands once again when the 27-year-old guided Viva Las Vegas W to a clear round in 35.23 seconds. None who followed were able to jump clear, with past Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) being the fastest of the four-fault rounds to place fourth riding Ester de Maugre (Vigo Cece x Ogano Sitte) while world number one Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) took fifth with Steely Dan (Hardrock Z x Cardento).
Sophie Hinners (GER) aboard Viva Las Vegas W is presented as the winner of the CSI2* $85,000 The Dutta Corp. Grand Prix by Bettina and Paul Schockemöhle representing The Dutta Corp., and Jim Wolf (far right) of World Equestrian Center. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
“The jump-off was really cool with her; she’s really thinking with me,” said Hinners of the nine-year-old Holsteiner mare (Vagabond de la Pomme x Cancara) owned by Matthias Wittke. “We have had Viva Las Vegas since she was five years old. I started to ride her when she was seven, so I have already had a long partnership with her. She has a beautiful character, and she has such good rideability. Since she was five, she was always very well balanced and beautiful to ride. She always gave a good jump. She’s one of the very easy horses that always does a lovely job in the ring, and we are totally happy to have her in the stable.”
Hinners’ boyfriend and Longines League of Nations™ Ocala teammate, Richard Vogel, rode the horse on the Florida circuit this winter before handing the reins back to Hinners. “I came here to show for this week, and she jumped all three two-star classes clear and picked up a ribbon in every class. To now win the grand prix is pretty amazing,” said Hinners, who anchored the German team to a second-place finish in the Longines League of Nations™ Ocala riding Iron Dames Singclair.
Of her WEC debut, Hinners said, “It was a very great week for me. My horses jumped great. It’s an absolutely fantastic facility. It’s so nice and beautiful and great conditions, so I hope I can be back next year. I really love it here.”
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