Temecula, Calif. – Oct 21, 2021 – Closing out competition Thursday afternoon in the Grand Prix Arena was the $20,000 1.40m Speed Classic, sponsored by Equifit, at Galway Downs for Nilforushan Equisport Events’ Temecula Valley National Fall Week II. All seven classes held in the expansive arena were set in the USEF Table II Section I format, encouraging riders to go pedal to the medal for a clear round to earn the win. With only one shot in the ring to claim victory, the riders battled it out, leaving nothing on the table. The atmosphere was lively with spectators gathering to watch the field of top competitors vie for top honors. In the end, it was Cassio Rivetti and Kandella who topped the leaderboard with the quickest clear round.
Course designer Peter Grant (CAN) set forth a track fit for the 1.40m Speed Classic competition, offering a 14-obstacle course that utilized the entire arena, giving horse-and-rider combinations room to take tight turns and gallop long distances. Though built specifically for speed, Grant’s track proved deceptively difficult with the addition of multiple rollbacks and two combination lines. Riders with a rail could still take the prize if they were fast enough, but Rivetti and Kandella found the balance of speed and agility to take the spot at the top of the leaderboard.
While speed proved to be no issue for the competitors, rails plagued the pack as they rushed for the blue ribbon. Rivetti entered the ring aboard Kandella, an eight-year-old Warmblood mare owned by Delaney Batter. The pair navigated the course using tight turns and rollbacks to put in a fault-free round in a time of 69.604 seconds. Rivetti and Kandella’s strong partnership played in their favor as they remained unbeaten for the entirety of the class, ultimately taking home the lion’s share of earnings for the day.
Simonne Berg and Cooper, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Berg Equestrian Enterprises LLC, gave their best efforts, opting to take slightly wider turns than their fellow competitors and approaching jumps with caution. The pair’s technique to the twists and turns of the demanding course paid off, stopping the timers in just 70.292 seconds with no faults. Though Berg’s tactful efforts would not be enough to push her to the lead, the time would be enough to secure her the second place position on the leaderboard.
As the competition neared the end of the line-up, Jeffrey Fields and Sherlina Ale, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Sahana Ganesan, came in eager to earn a top spot on the podium. The pair kicked it into high gear, seamlessly navigating the course with ease. They sliced and diced their way through the course, stopping the clock at a faultless 70.616 seconds, just shy of the coveted winning time, settling them into the third-place spot.
Competition at the final week of the Temecula Valley National Fall Series takes a fun and exciting turn Friday, October 22, with the $5,000 NEE Hunter/Jumper Team Challenge, which will be held in the Grand Prix Arena in full costume. Top show jumping competition comes to a dramatic conclusion Saturday with the $10,000 NEEd for Speed Derby, sponsored by Multi Radiance Super Pulsed Lasers, and the highlight event of the week, the $50,000 Grand Prix, sponsored by First National Bank of Pasco, held concurrently with the $1,000 U25 Jumper Classic, sponsored by Equine Discounts.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Cassio Rivetti – $20,000 1.40m Speed Classic winner
On the course:
“When we walked, there were a lot of options to go inside. [Kandea] is a little bit young; she’s only eight years old. My plan was to be fast around everything. She has a really fast canter so my strategy was just to go really fast around [the course.] Going into the first double, I went really sideline and then to the last line she turned really quick.”
On Kandella:
“We’ve been partnered for three months now. She won a grand prix in September and now this class. She’s doing really well.”
On future plans:
“I’m going to [the Desert International Horse Park (DIHP)] for two weeks, then to Vegas, and will finish [at the DIHP]again with the CSI5* classes there and then some holidays.”
On Nilforushan Equisport Events:
“It’s really nice and I love the show. The facility is beautiful. Ali [Nilforushan] is doing such a great job. We can do a five-star here because there is everything. [Ali] always welcomes us so much that I will always continue to come here.”
RESULTS
$20,000 1.40m Speed Classic
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Country / Faults | Time
1. Kandella / Cassio Rivetti / Delaney Batter / BRA / 0 | 69.60
2. Cooper / Simonne Berg / Berg Equestrian Enterprises LLC / USA / 0 | 70.29
3. Sherlina Ale / Jeffrey Fields / Sahana Ganesan / NZL / 0 | 70.61
4. FR Yandoo Pennsylvania / Matthew Williams / Finch Ridge Farm / USA / 0 | 71.42
5. Skipio K / Patrick Seaston / Patrick Seaton / GBR / 0 | 73.79
6. Bisou / Keri Potter / Tres Palomas / USA / 0 | 74.17
7. Ariell La Sirene / Keri Potter / Hannah Loly / USA / 0 | 77.32
8. Isaac / Ashley Stannard / Ashbrook Farm L.L.C. / USA / 0 | 80.00
9. Florencio / Francie Nilforushan / Ali Nilforushan / USA / 0 | 80.40
10. Cocoliche of Greenhill Z / Jamie Taylor / Ali Nilforushan / USA / 4 | 69.06
11. Chaman Semilly / Jamie Taylor / Ali Nilforushan / USA / 4 | 73.05
12. Tizian 79 / Eric Navet / Signe Ostby / FRA / 4 | 73.39