Thermal, Calif. – Nov. 4, 2021 – FEI CSI3* competition, presented by Marshall & Sterling, kicked off on Thursday at the Desert International Horse Park. The highlight event of the second day of competition during the National Sunshine Series was the $9,100 1.40m, sponsored by Vita Flex, where 32 horse and rider combinations vied for the winning honors in the two-phase competition. Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti proved to be the best with Alanine De Vains, edging out Jamie Taylor and Cocoliche of Greenhill Z by just 3/10ths of second to take home the top prize.
The first part of Alan Wade’s (IRL) two-phase course began with a long bending line followed by a vertical-double combination. The athletes that mastered the first phase advanced to the second phase, where they had to pick up the pace through several turns before finishing over an oxer-vertical double combination ahead of the final Vita Flex oxer.
As tenth in the order, Australia’s Matt Williams set the early pace to beat aboard his own Yandoo Pennsylvania, breaking the beam in a double-clear 26.78 seconds, which would hold up for an eventual fourth place finish. Klee Hellerman (USA) was the first to best his time, stopping the clock in a fault-free 26.52 seconds with BP Wakita, owned by Trefoil Farm LLC.
They would not hold on to the lead for long though as Rivetti galloped into the ring with Lindemann Barnett Sporthorses’ Alanine De Vains. The 11-year-old Selle Francais mare let out several bucks through the first phase, but her full focus was on speeding through the second phase, easily clearing the track and galloping through the timers in 24.63 seconds.
The only combination that came close to catching Rivetti was Taylor riding Spyglass Hill’s Cocoliche of Greenhill Z. They were clear over all of the fences, but just 3/10ths of a second too slow to take the lead. Rivetti would lead the lap of honor, while Taylor placed second and Hellerman rounded out the top three.
Alanine De Vains is normally ridden by Violet Lindemann Barnett, but she is currently away at college so Rivetti took over the ride this week. He was not looking to win the class, but the fast mare proved she was more than capable of speeding over the track. Rivetti is now looking ahead to Friday’s $36,600 1.50m, sponsored by Sun Air Jets, and Sunday’s $101,000 1.55m, sponsored by Marshall & Sterling.
Earlier in the day, the national athletes competed in the $15,000 1.40m Open Classic, sponsored by Great American Insurance. Ireland’s Conor Swail earned the top two spots, winning the class aboard Fina Dowley’s Errol with a clear jump-off time of 27.281 seconds. He was also faultless aboard Dalco LTD’s Koss Van Heiste, clocking in at 27.707 seconds for the second place award. Jamie Sailor rounded out the top three after clearing the tiebreaker in 27.900 seconds with Carolyn Mittler’s Fire Flash Toltien.
FEI CSI3* competition, presented by Marshall & Sterling, will continue on Friday with the $36,600 1.50m, sponsored by Sun Air Jets. Saturday’s highlight event will be the $36,600 1.45m, sponsored by Silver Rock/Talus, and FEI competition will conclude on Sunday with the $101,000 1.55m, sponsored by Marshall & Sterling.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Cassio Rivetti – $9,100 Vita Flex 1.40m CSI3* Winner
On Alanine De Vains:
“This horse is from one of my student’s: Violet Barnett. She did the Young Riders with her and was individual bronze. This is my first show with her because Violet is at college. It is a fantastic horse, amazing, so fun to ride her.”
On his round:
“Today, I didn’t plan to win. She jumps bigger. I was going nice and she’s so naturally fast and the turns were right there. She turned really tight for the last line. When I jumped in I saw the vertical and it was right there and it was a very smooth turn. She’s a fast mare. Her canter is very quick, so I didn’t have to try to go fast. She’s ready for tomorrow and Sunday.”
On the Desert International Horse Park Improvements:
“I am really happy about it – I love it here. Congratulations to the owners and Steve [Hankin]. This is a great improvement for us. The footing especially; it’s perfect. They are really trying hard and I believe it’s going to be one of the best shows in America.”
RESULTS
$9,100 1.40m, sponsored by Vita Flex
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | Time
1. Alanine De Vains / Cassio Rivetti / BRA / Lindemann Barnett Sporthorses / 0|33.11 / 0|24.63
2. Cocoliche of Greenhill Z / Jamie Taylor / USA / Spyglass Hill / 0|30.66 / 0|24.98
3. BP Wakita / Klee Hellerman / USA / Trefoil Farm LLC / 0|31.4 / 0|26.52
4. Yandoo Pennsylvania / Matt Williams / AUS / Matt Williams / 0|31.15 / 0|26.78
5. Gerko Iii Van De Zeilhoek / Charlie Jones / USA / Lindsay Maxwell / 0| 30.36 / 0|26.83
6. Coupis / Robert Blanchette / IRL / Robert Blanchette / 0|29.99 / 0|26.85
7. Daisy 920 / Cassio Rivetti / BRA / Delaney Batter / 0| 32.39 / 0|27.33
8. Quintago Va / Uma O’Neill / NZL / O’Neill Show Jumping LLC / 0|29.35 / 0|27.60
9. Incitatus / Vani Khosla / USA / Vani Khosla / 0|31.77 / 0|28.03
10. Grand Desert / Nicholas Choi / USA / Nicholas Choi / 0|33.56 / 0|28.84