Moya wins $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CS15
Charmeur’s jump-offff in 37.76 seconds yields $165,000 prize money.
WELLINGTON — Sergio Alvarez Moya of Spain and Charmeur won their fifirst and biggest class at the Winter Equestrian Festival late Saturday night.
The 2016 Olympian and his 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding captured the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI5 in front of a standing-room- only crowd of 5,100 at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Moya won the jump-offff in 37.76 seconds to pocket $165,000 in prize money.
Moya was one of t wo clear rounds in the jump- off. Twotime U.S. Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward and Rothchild were also clear to fifinish second in 38.30 seconds and won $100,000. Japan’s Karen Polle and With Wings were third with four faults in 39.54 for $75,000.
“Sergio is a very fast rider; he didn’t leave much room,” Ward said.
Charmeur was flflawless in the opening round and five -r ider jump-offff with big open strides and lightning-quick turns.
“I’ve had Charmeur since a 6-year-old and I just feel very happy and very proud that we got to win a fifive- star grand prix here,” Moya said. “I have a feeling that this is the grand prix here that every rider in the circuit wants to win. I am super happy. My horse jumped amazing. I just went as fast as I could. I don’t think I left much room for the others, and it worked out well.”
It was Moya’s fifinal WEF appearance after an outstanding circuit that included a third place in the $130,000 Adequan Grand Prix, second in the $216,000 Ariat Grand Prix, third in the $380,000 Suncast Grand Prix CSI5 and third at the $380,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix CSI5.
Moya was scheduled to leave S u n d ay wi t h h i s t o p mou n t Arrayan for the FEI World Cup Jumping Final at CenturyLink Center in Omaha, which begins Wednesday, before continuing his season in Europe.
“For me, this is one of the best shows in the world,” Moya said. “Most of the best and most competitive riders in the world are here at WEF.”
Also on Saturday, U.S. Olympian Kent Farrington and 10-year-old German Sport Horse Dublin won the $130,000 Suncast 1.50-meter Jumper Classic in 69.99 seconds to collect $42,900 in prize money. St. Andrew’s alum Ali Wolffff and Quirie 2 were fourth with double clears and 48.93 jump-offff to pocket $13,000.
“I am really excited, I thought the horse went great today,” Farrington said. “I thought both my horses did. To fifinish offff with them both going clear was a great accomplishment. The win was a bonus.”
Ward hung on for sixth and seventh places with his two mounts to clinch the overall Suncast 1.50meter Series title for 2017.
Margie Engle of West Palm Beach won the Leading L ady Rider Award for Week 11.
On Sunday, Olympic silver medalist Beat Mandli of Switzerland and 11-year-old Simba, preparing for the European tour, won the 50,000 Engel & Volkers Grand Prix CSI2 with the fastest clear round in 43.66 seconds. In events earlier in the week: ■ Amy Millar and Heros won the $35,000 1.45-meter with double clears and fastest jump-offff in 39.822, the only rider to crack 40 seconds.
■ El Salvador’s Paulo Santana and Taloubet, a 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, won the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 with double clear rounds and 37.47-second jump-offff.
■ Jessica Springsteen and her Belgian Warmblood Davendy S won the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45-meter CSI5 in