Jad Dana Scores Sweet Victory With Itchcock des Dames in the $250,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix CSI4*
The clouds parted just in time for a beautiful sunset to set the stage for the highly anticipated $250,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix CSI4* 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. 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.”
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