Nineteen-Year-Old Nora Nauss Scores Spring Win in Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix
Nora Nauss of Maple Plain, Minn., took to the grass derby field at Equestrian Village for a win in the $24,999 Palm Beach Equine Clinic Grand Prix to close out the fourth week of the Wellington International Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment, riding Dorchester for owners Team Welles and Whistler Equestrian.
The Spring Series spans five weeks and runs through May 10, featuring hunter, jumper and equitation competition at Wellington International, home of the famed Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Learn more about the Spring Series HERE.
Nauss was first to return for an 11-horse jump-off over courses designed by Andy Christiansen (USA) and set an uncatchable standard.
“I love going early because I can ride my plan and I can’t overthink it that way,” said Nauss, 19, who trains with Andrew Welles at Team Welles in Wellington. “Going in, I knew I really had to go for it. I did all the leave-outs and let her do what she does best—she loves to go fast.”
Nauss set the pace and kept the pace with her 12-year-old Oldenburg mare, sired by Carembar de Muze, stopping the short course clock at 41.038 seconds. Canadian Gavin Moylan, who now calls Wellington, Fla., home, was fractions off the winning time with Lordy-P to finish second in 41.908 for owner Foxstone Equine. Ariana Marnell of Las Vegas, Nev., rounded out the podium in third, riding her own Navaar to a time of 42.215 seconds.
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