Luis Sabino Goncalves Sprints to Victory

Spring sunshine and record entries set the stage on Wellington International’s grass derby field, where Portugal’s Luis Sabino Goncalves piloted the ever‑reliable Vick du Croisy to a wire‑to‑wire win in Thursday’s one‑round $32,000 Haig Landscape CSI3* 1.45. Jumping second out of a daunting 72‑horse order, the 16‑year‑old Selle Français mare blazed around Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz’s two‑phase track, stopping the speed timers in an unbeatable 33.52 seconds.

Goncalves’s early benchmark held firm against a star‑studded lineup. Six‑time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward came closest aboard La Serra, finishing in 33.80 seconds for the runner‑up spot, while Egyptian Olympian Nayel Nassar and Dorado de Riverland claimed third in 33.85 seconds for Evergate Stables.

The victory is familiar territory for Goncalves and Vick du Croisy, who notched two CSI3* triumphs on this very field in 2023. With five weeks of the Spring Series—presented by Florida Coast Equipment—running through May 11 and two CSI3* fixtures on the docket, the Portuguese pair have signaled they are once again the combination to beat on Wellington’s emerald stage.