Luciana Lossio (BRA) found out she would jump her first-ever five-star last Sunday night. Just under a week later, she stood atop the podium of the $385,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix during the ninth week of international competition at Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival. In front of a buzzing 'Saturday Night Lights’ crowd, the 49-year-old rider guided long-time partner Lady Louise Jmen to a win she never dreamed of having.
“This is unbelievable for me; I've been with this mare for six years and in the beginning I just wanted to jump 1.20m, but we became so much more,” said Lossio of her 14-year-old mare. “We went higher and higher, and today I'm here in my first five-star and winning alongside these riders that I just enjoy watching.
“She's so confident; she doesn’t change from day to night or from the grass to the sand; she’s perfect,” continued Lossio of Lady Louise Jmen.
Lossio returned in the penultimate position in a four-horse jump-off over courses masterfully designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade. To cheers from her family on the sidelines—many of whom traveled from Brazil to watch her compete—Lossio bested the current leading time of Nayel Nassar (EGY) by fourth tenths of a second.
“Friday was International Women's Day, so I think they may have let me win because of that,” said Lossio, an amateur who works full time as a lawyer in Brazil. “Tonight was our night. In the warmup, she was telling me, ‘I want to go.’ She’s very strong and I have to be there trying to keep her in my hands because she really likes to jump.”
Nassar settled for second riding Igor van de Wittemoere (Cooper van de Heffinck x Oralando) for owner Evergate Stables. Nassar and the mount he took to the Tokyo Olympic Games clocked in at 39.57 seconds behind Lossio’s 39.15.
“I think we can all agree when we walked the course tonight that it was quite a meaty track; a lot of oxers at the end of the course and the triple combination at fence 10,” said Nayel. “It was tough, but Alan does a great job opening up the horses and then asking them to close.
“We know each other inside out, but at the same time I still feel like I'm learning more about him every round,” continued Nayel about his longtime partnership with Igor van de Wittemoere. “We're tweaking our training, tweaking the bridle, always just trying to find the right connection because he is such an active, buzzy horse. Every round this circuit he's gotten better, and he felt fantastic tonight. When they're 16-years-old and you feel like that was one of the best rounds they've jumped, it's something we take a lot of pride in.”
Leading off over the short course, U.S. Pan American Games rider Karl Cook and Kalink van’t Zorgvliet (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve), owned by Helen Signe Ostby, stopped the timers at 39.9 second for third. Riders from three different countries filled the top-three positions, showcasing the depth of competition at WEF during the 2024 season.
“It's always interesting going first in the jump-off because it's a different dynamic than when you go later,” said Cook, who posted the exact same placing in this five-star grand prix during the 2023 season as he built his horse up to shine at the end of the winter circuit. “You obviously know you want to go as fast as possible, but you haven't seen anyone go yet so the smartest thing to do is to go as quick as you can without being reckless. Kalinka was laser focused tonight and I could feel that.”
Finishing just off the podium in fourth with Otis Blue, Shane Sweetnam earned the Martha Jolicoeur Leading International Rider Award, presented together with Michael and Wendy Smith. His consistency throughout the week included a top-ten finish in the Adequan® WEF challenge Cup qualifier on Thursday with James Kann Cruz.
To cap the evening, Lossio’s groom and Lady Louise Jmen’s caregiver, Ronan Silveir, was presented with the $500 Grooms Award by Double H Farm. Additionally, as winners of the Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix, Lossio and Lady Luise Jmen were presented with the Herman ‘Kappy’ Kaplan Perpetual Memorial Trophy.
Richard Schechter, Chairman and CEO of the Bainbridge Companies, was on hand to congratulate all the night’s competitors, saying, “We had a tremendous number of fabulous riders and horses, but only four were able to go clear. The jump-off was exceptional. We love this show. As far as I'm concerned, if it went 20 weeks, we’d be here all 20. We're extremely happy that we can help out in any way. It's a great event with great riders and horses.”
Top Five Results: $385,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix
- Luciana Lossio (BRA) & Lady Louise Jmen: 2010 mareOwner: Luciana Lossio
- Nayel Nassar (EGY) & Igor van de Wittemoere: 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cooper van de Heffinck x Oralando)
Owner: Evergate Stables - Karl Cook (USA) & Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet: 2010 Belgian Warmblood mare (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve)
Owner: Helen Signe Ostby - Shane Sweetnam (IRL) & Otis Blue: 2014 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Jaguar van Paemel x Numero Uno)
Owner: Voquest, LLC - Kyle Timm (CAN) & Casino Calvin: 2013 Oldenburg gelding (Casino Berlin OLD x Calvin)
Owner: The Rein Family
Jimmy Torano and Laskano Keep Winning Record in $25,000 USHJA International Derby, Presented by Bainbridge Companies
Hunters returned to their roots on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village on Saturday for the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Bainbridge Companies. In a hunt & go format, 44 horse-and-rider combinations took to the single-round derby course designed by Andy Christiansen (ECU).
Fences one through eight represented the “classic” portion of the course, while fences nine through 14 offered a “handy” track. The day’s top scores went to Wellington’s Jimmy Torano, and Laskano, owned by Isalou, Inc. The pair took home blue with a classic round score of 92 and a handy score of 91.5 for a hard-to-catch total of 183.5.
No stranger to the derby podium, Torano and Laskano have claimed numerous wins throughout their career together, including derbies throughout their tenure at WEF like the International Derby held during Premiere Week earlier this season.
“I would call him a derby specialist,” said Torano. “I can count on him every time. He never ever spooks at a jump. I can count on him for every inside turn, every handy landing, and I think we have a relationship where I know him like the back of my hand. If I call on him he's there for me.”
Torano certainly called on the 12-year-old Westphalian gelding, as the pair was the only one to score a total in the 180s. Coming in second was Kate Conover, of Pipersville, PA, and Caristo, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC. The pair earned scores of 90.75 and 88.5 for a total of 179.25. Closing out the podium was Greg Crolick, of Clarkston, MI, and Chappy, owned by Carole Chase. As the first to go in the ring, the pair held podium scores of 91 and 88 for a total of 179, finishing third.
“I was thinking really bold everywhere,” shared Torano. “In the handy, there weren't a lot of places to be really handy, but I turned back tight on that straw jump, angled the double and I let him gallop to the big jump home. The nice thing about a big open field is that it allows for a good gallop out here and again with that horse you really don't have to protect anything, he’ll be there for you.”
As for Laskano, he’ll make a return for more derby action during WEF 11, but in the meantime will continue to show under the direction of Torano’s son, JJ, in the junior hunter ranks.
“They're accumulating a lot of points, and the goal is to make it to Devon in the junior hunters,” revealed Torano. “The horse has been everywhere he's seen everything so I think he's lucky. He's well-mounted in general but to have this horse for his first junior hunter season is really exciting. Now we both owe a lot of gratitude to Isalou for letting us continue to ride such an incredible animal.”
Caitlin Boyle and Navaar Make Winning WEF Debut in $62,500 Helgstrand Jewellery CSI2* Grand Prix
The peak of the week’s two-star action took place on Saturday afternoon with the $62,500 Helgstrand Jewellery CSI2* Grand Prix. Forty-five riders qualified from earlier in the week took to the Alan Wade (IRL) designed track to claim the top two-star title, with Caitlin Boyle (USA) and Navaar (Tonixe x Deauville van T&L), owned by Beyaert Farm Inc, taking it home.
Boyle rode double clear and quick across both courses, besting the field of 12 who returned for the jump-off. With a winning time of 36.95 seconds, the top pair knocked two seconds off the time to beat of 38.79 seconds set by runner up, Philip McGuane (IRL) and Linguini De La Pomme (Marius Cladius x Tinka’s Boy), owned by Evergate Stables.
“Navaar is such a talented horse, he's not just fast, but also very game. He's always looking to do the right thing,” said Boyle of the 11-year-old gelding. “Our partnership is a little bit new, I've been riding him since November. I'm also new to the international level of competition, I'd say this is only my fifth FEI week.”
Quickly making her mark at WEF and in the FEI placings, Boyle not only won Saturday’s grand prix, but also took Navaar to the top in Wednesday’s 2* 1.40m. Boyle began her winter season in Sarasota, FL, building up her FEI points in preparation for her international level debut at WEF.
“It's special to show here as a newbie, and to come out with a win is pretty awesome,” said Boyle, 27. “It was a great experience to get in there and it was lovely to be able to do both my horses in the qualifying round and in the grand prix. It's more experience for me and more time in the ring for them.”
Closing out the two-star podium was Wilton Porter (USA) and Sternmarke 3 (Stakkato x Escudo I), owned by Sleepy P Ranch BV. The pair jumped double-clear, finishing the short course in a time of 39.69 seconds.
In addition to winning the blue, Navaar was also honored with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award, presented by Laura Fetterman.
