Cassio Rivetti and Vulcana Get Their Win in $30,000 1.40m Open Classic
Cassio Rivetti had to settle for second place Thursday in the $10,000 1.35m Welcome Speed with Vulcana, after leading the class nearly the whole way. But Sunday the duo got their victory, plus increased prize money, in the $30,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.40m Open Classic to close week 1 of the National Sunshine Series.
“My plan on Wednesday was to do a nice round and not go too crazy, but she did really well,” he said of Delaney Batter’s mare and how she performed in the opening class of the week back on Thursday. Coming back confident in her ability, he topped a 21-horse jump-off Sunday morning in the competitive 1.40m class and claimed the win.
Cassio Rivetti and Vulcana in their winning presentation. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“We bought her almost two years ago,” Rivetti said of the 11-year-old Westphalian mare. “Delaney was riding her and jumped very good grand prixs on her last year, and now she’s in Madrid doing school so I’m riding her a little bit just keeping the mare fit for Delaney. She’s a grand prix horse so this is kind of light for her. She’s so brave and scopey. Always wants to do the job, and that’s a good quality.”
The only pair that came close to threatening Rivetti’s lead was his own student Elisa Broz aboard Tinkerbell.
“Today Elisa was second so it was a perfect day,” Rivetti said of the result. “I was hoping she would be faster than me. I always like to be second to my students. But I really like to teach and produce young riders for the top level. I really enjoy that. They’re doing well, jumping grand prixs and World Cups.”
Based not far away in San Diego, Rivetti and his entire team are grateful to have DIHP so close. With a strong roster of clients in the higher levels, Rivetti is able to place both himself and each of his students in the various divisions each week offers, balancing their schedules and building confidence for both horse and rider.
“It’s so nice because we can go home; it’s very close,” he said of DIHP. “We show at a high level of sport. In December we have two five-stars. For us it’s amazing, and we need shows like this in California to keep the people here. This facility is doing a great job, the footing is great. Everything we need for a five-star show level. For me and my clients we’re so happy to stay in California and don’t have to move across the states or to Europe to show.”
See full results from the $30,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.40m Open Classic here.
Week 2 of the National Sunshine Series features repeat editions of the major jumper events, including the $10,000 1.35m BarnWalkers Welcome Speed, the $30,000 1.45m FarmVet Open Classic, the $100,000 Marshall & Sterling Grand Prix, and the $30,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.40m Open Classic.
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