Eduardo Menezes & Caruschka. Ph. Amy McCool
Brazil’s Eduardo Menezes picked up ranking points and a healthy prize money check at the beginning of his week in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, November 17, 2016. Competing at the Las Vegas National Horse Show CSI4*-W, Menezes went up against a start list of 51 in the opening, CSI rated competition at the South Point Hotel and Casino.
Better, he was first among those 50 riders in the $35,000 FEI 1.45m Blenheim Welcome Jumper Classic, presented by E2 Show Jumpers and Gallagher/Meller Sport Horses, and he tackled the track which couldn’t be beat. He galloped the 12-year-old Oldenburg mare Caruschka (Caspar x Continue) over the power and speed course, with a phase 2 time of 23.84 seconds.
The USA’s Will Simpson finished 2nd aboard The Dude in a time that was nearly three full seconds slower than Menezes, in 26.31 seconds. And Canada came 3rd, with Keean White finishing in 26.75 seconds aboard Corette. In total, 11 pairs completed the track with zero faults, and with several more days of CSI rated competition to go before Saturday evening’s Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Las Vegas, there are plenty more chances for riders to earn ranking points and qualify for that finale grand prix.
See the complete class results at this link.