The Spanish rider Sergio Alvarez Moya was the big winner of the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington. He took the win with his KWPN horse Charmeur (Numero Uno out of Tronia by Emilion, breeder H. Schonewille from Nieuw-Amsterdam). The pair was just a fraction quicker than McLain Ward with Rothchild. Third place was for Japanese rider Karen Polle riding With Wings S (Larino from Doici keur sport-sgw sport-spr prest by L.Ronald, breeder G. Arts from IJsselsteijn). She was the quickest four-faulter in the jump-off that counted a total of five riders. After her ride Moya and Charmeur took off, and set a time of 37.76 seconds. Jeroen Dubbeldam and SFN Zenith (Rash R out of Sascha keur prest s.Fuego du Prelet, breeder Herman Voort from Den Ham) got ninth, just ahead of Tiffany Foster with Cadalora P (out of Venetia s.Furore, breeder E. Poelman from Opende).

“I am super happy. My horse jumped amazing,” Moya said about his ten year old Charmeur. “I just went as fast as I could. I saw Karen go, and then I knew I had to start fast from jump one, and keep going to the end. My plan was to go one more stride to the combination, but I had a good eight strides, and I just trusted my horse. Then to the next oxer I had a good gap as well, so I could go and keep on pushing. I actually saw one stride less to the next vertical, but I thought that was maybe too much. I don’t think I left much room for the others, and it worked out well.”

“The horse does not have so much experience at this level,” Moya continued. “He just got better and better here at this show. I think it is a great place to bring horses up, and obviously to jump such a grand prix they have to be really ready. I think from here on, we can go anywhere in the world.”

Charmeur won the bronze medal at the Isah Cup fors ix-year-olds in 2013under rider Wendy Veldman.

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(Source and picture FEI)