Pablo Gómez Molina Rides Servus Ymas to Wellington CDI4* Freestyle Victory

Pablo Gómez Molina of Spain debuted the Grand Prix Freestyle on Servus Ymas to win Wellington's Global Dressage Festival CDI4* for the first Big Tour victory for the partnership.

Pablo, known as "Pau" and popular with both spectators and equestrians was awarded 74.490% on the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding that he has developed from a youngster through the levels. The pair began competing at Big Tour in 2023 but had not performed a musical ride since Small Tour five years ago.

Devon Kane of Wellington and the 14-year-old gelding Vamos owned by her family’s Diamante Farms was runner-up on 74.235%. The duo has competed on both sides of the Atlantic in two years at Big Tour.

Pau said he decided to use a freestyle that had been performed by another horse.

"And then we thought, why not? I had a little bit of doubts because the first day of the Grand Prix, he was a tiny bit spooky with the wind and rain and all that. So I was a little bit not sure about it.

"But then I have to say, once I got in the training, he was really focused, truly with me. And then actually, I have to say, I think he really enjoyed it too."

The final centerline brought chanting from spectators in time with the gaits.

He said his goal is to compete in the Nations Cup in Wellington later in the winter circuit then go to Europe to compete for a place on the Spanish team.

Geñay Vaughn

on Gino doubled up her Global Dressage Festival win with victory on a personal best score in the CDI4* Grand Prix Special a day after capturing the Grand Prix also with a personal best.

Geñay of Elk Grove, California and the 15-year-old KWPN gelding scored 71.851% in the sixth start since basing themselves in Wellington for this winter season seeking to earn one of three places for North America in the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas in April.

Geñay now adds a double victory in Florida to her record of 12 victories in CDIs on the U.S. West Coast in the past 15 months.

Results:

CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle

Rank Competitor Score

1 Pablo Gómez Molina (ESP) Servus Ymas 74.490%

2 Devon Kane (USA) Vamos 74.235%

3 Susan Dutta (USA) Don Design DC 72.985%

4 Adriane Alvord (USA) Selfmade 64.965%

CDI4* Grand Prix Special

1 Geñay Vaughn (USA) Gino 71.851%

2 Charlotte Jorst (USA) Zhaplin Langholt 70.191%

3 Meagan Davis (USA) Toronto Lightfoot 68.383%

4 Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) Haute Couture 67.128%

5 Alexandra Duncan (CAN) Hitmaker 64.787%

Photo: Pablo Gómez Molina of Spain on Servus Ymas winning Wellington CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle. © Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com