Aaron Vale and I Adermie R 4 Capture $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix at WEC – Ocala
The $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix was the highlight event of week III during the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Chilly temperatures couldn’t freeze out the crowd or competition as the stands were packed to watch a strong field of the world’s best compete for the lion’s share of the prize money under the lights in the WEC Grand Arena. Aaron Vale saved the best for last as he piloted Lori Osterstock’s I Adermie R 4 (Den Ham Blue R x W.Adermie 1) to triumph.
An international field of 32 horse-and-rider combinations representing nine different nations competed over a course set by world-renowned FEI Level III course designer Ben Townley of Great Britain. Nine were able to find the path to a clear first round to qualify for the jump-off.
“The first round was nice. There were a few tricky fences spread throughout the track, that caught quite a good number of riders. The combination away from the ingate and the Antares vertical coming home had the most down. Overall, I think it ended with the perfect number for the jump-off,” expressed Vale.
Olympian Santiago Lambre (BRA) and his own 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare J’Adore Van Het Klinkhof (Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x Tequilla Van Het Noordeneind) were the first pair to return for the jump-off becoming early pacesetters posting a time to beat of 39.433 seconds.
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