Spain's Gonzalo Busca Roca Wins Wellington CSI3* Grand Prix
$140,000 2026 Opening Saturday Night Lights
January 10, 2026 at 11:55 PMBy k.braddick
Spain's Gonzalo Busca Roca won the CSI3* opening $140,000 Saturday Night Lights Grand Prix at Wellington.
Gonzalo and Cristiano Obolensky, the Hanoverian gelding that he has brought along from a seven-year-old and is now 12, was one of five combinations to go double clear which the pair did in 41.7 secs.
It was the first Saturday night under lights for the rider who described the course as a "little bit delicate." American riders Marilyn Little on La Contessa and Tanner Korotkin on Kinmar Quality Hero were also clear and tied for second on 42.77 secs.
France's Nina Malleveay, an Under-25 rider newly elevated to No. 8 in the world's senior ranks, was by far the fastest on Destine To Be in the jump off in 39.6 secs. but toppled the final rail.
The class included top 10 ranked riders Ben Maher of Britain as well as Laura Kraut and McLean Ward of the United States who had faults in the first round.
Gonzalo, who now makes his home in Wellington, described his horse as "a real warrior."
With a lot of fast riders behind him in the jump off, he said, "I had to give it a try. I tried to go as fast as I can, and it worked well.
"Since the beginning, he was a real fighter and super, super careful. So I just had to figure out and make the rideability nice. And I knew he was going to be a good one. For sure, he's very special."
Results:
$140,000 Palm Beach County Sports Commission Grand Prix
1. CRISTIANO OBOLENSKY/GONZALO BUSCA ROCA ESP 0 41.7
2T. LA CONTESSAMARILYN LITTLE USA 0 42.77
2T. KINMAR QUALITY HERO/TANNER KOROTKIN USA 0 42.77
4. LUMIERE BH/MIMI GOCHMAN USA 0 43.46
5. DEAAL ES/CHRIS PRATT CAN 0 43.66
6. DESTINE TO BE/NINA MALLEVAEY FRA 4 39.6
7. LEONARDO S/SIMON McCARTHY IRL 8 46.79 40 Trips
Photo: Gonzalo Busca Roca of Spain on Cristiano Obolensky in the first Saturday Night Lights CSI3* Grand Prix of 2026 at Wellington's Winter Equestrian Festival. © 2026 Ken Braddick/Jumper-News.US
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