Tanimara Macari & Feminka Top $25,000 Gold Coast Feed Grand Prix at Wellington

By Jumper News on 29 29America/Sao_Paulo August 29America/Sao_Paulo 2021

Wellington, Florida, USA – August 29, 2021 – The $25,000 Gold Coast Feed Summer Grand Prix served as the grand finale of the ESP Summer III horse show at Equestrian Village on Sunday. The four-day competition produced winners at all levels, but the premiere victors of the week were Tanimara Macari (MEX) and Feminka thanks to their quick double-clear efforts over course designer Héctor Loyola’s (PUR) tracks that earned them the top spot on the leaderboard in Sunday grand prix class.

The 2021 ESP Summer Series will continue at Equestrian Village with ESP Labor Day, which takes place from September 2-5, 2021. Three more events will follow, concluding with the Rita & Irish Flynn Memorial from October 1-3, 2021, ahead of the ESP Fall Series. To view the ESP Summer Series Prize List, please click HERE.

“I have had Feminka since she was seven years old and now she is eleven, so she is my one and only. We know each other so well, and she is amazing. She has a big heart. This is our first class after our summer break, and she was great. I can’t complain!” remarked Macari after her win. “We know each other inside and out. I know her strengths and weaknesses, so I used that knowledge in the course. She also knows me, so she helped me out.”

Following the first round of riding, six pairs representing five countries had earned a spot in the jump-off, with Gabriel de Matos Machado (BRA) possessing the greatest odds of victory with two horses still in contention. The time-allowed proved to be a factor, keeping six more duos out of the jump-off after they left all the rails up but incurred time faults. Trimmed down to nine fences, Machado and Clearwater, owned by Karen O’Connor, set the standard as the first to go in a fault-free time of 46.25 seconds.

“The time was really short, so it played a big role today. My trainer, Diego Vivero, went early and actually had two faults for time, so he told me I’d need to speed it up,” reflected Macari. “In the jump-off, we were fifth, so almost last, and that worked in our favor. We just went as fast as we could and it panned out for us today.”

With Machado and Clearwater still the frontrunners, Macari and her own Feminka took their turn as the fifth in the returning order and swiftly made their way around the course, tripping the timers without penalty in 45.26 seconds to take the lead. Mchado attempted to retake the top spot on his second horse as the final pair to go, but dropped a rail to accrue four faults, solidifying Macari and Feminka as the victors.

“Feminka has had a few wins in U25 classes and National classes, but this is her first National Grand Prix win here in Wellington. It is hopefully the first of many. We will be competing more during the Summer Series, as well as the rest of the year and then the Winter Equestrian Festival,” commented Macari.

Behind Macari and Feminka, Machado and Clearwater maintained the second-place spot thanks to their double-clear time. Owner-rider Liza Finsness of Wellington, FL, and longtime partner Shiver rounded out the podium with the final double-clear ride in 47.86 seconds.