Lauren Balcomb Proves Untouchable in the $120,000 CSI3* WEC Ocala Grand Prix

Australia's Lauren Balcomb and Verdini D'houtveld Z, the 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding, won the CSI3* $120,000 Ascenté Aviation Grand Prix on Saturday under the lights at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Ocala. Balcomb was one of four horse-and-rider pairs to advance to the jump-off among a field of 27 during week four of the Winter Spectacular.

Finishing second and third

American Charlotte Jacobs placed second with Instrumental, an 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare who was her second ride in the first round. The duo was the second of two double clears in the jump-off.

Canadian Sean Jobin and the 10-year-old mare Grande Dame DK finished third, after winning the $62,500 CSI3* Grand Prix Qualifier on Thursday. They were the last to go in the first round and came up with the fourth and final double clear trip in that round.

Balcomb's trips to the top of the class

Balcomb, who was third in the order of go in the first round, was the first to jump double clear, first to go in the jump-off, and first overall in the 1.50 meter class. After 10 trips in the first round, Balcomb was the only double clear. Jacobs, who was first to go in the first round with Thomascourt Ballypatrick, jumped clear but incurred two time faults. By the time she rode Instrumental toward the end of the first half in the first round, she knew she had to pick up the pace, and she did, posting the second double clear before the drag break.

Aaron Vale and the 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding Helios Du Moulin provided the third double clear in the first round. Vale had a spectacular win in last Saturday's CSI4* Grand Prix with Carissimo 25.

First round difficulties

Time allowed in the first round proved difficult. In addition, the last fence, a Liverpool oxer, added four faults to a few riders who were clear until this point. The oxer was maxed out, with a 1.65-meter spread, coming off a turn and with riders pressing to make the time allowed.

Also in the first round, at least one element of the triple combination came down for several riders, especially the B element and especially in the second half of the class.

Top Eight Results

1 Lauren Balcomb (Australia) - VERDINI D'HOUTVELD Z -0/0/44.91

2 Charlotte Jacobs (USA) - INSTRUMENTAL - 0/0/46.00

3 Sean Jobin (Canada) - GRANDE DAME DK - 0/4/46.93

4 Aaron Vale (USA) - HELIOS DU MOULIN - 0/4/47.87

5 Paul O'Shea (Ireland) - IMERALD VAN'T VOORHOF - 1/72.08

6 Charlotte Jacobs (USA) - THOMASCOURT BALLLYPATRICK - 2/74.00

7 Samantha Schaefer (USA) - FRASIER - 4/67.60

8 Sergio Alvarez Moya (Spain) - CALL ME - 4/69.53