Two for Two! Luis Sabino Gonçalves & Vick du Croisy are Victorious Again in $139,000 Coca-Cola® Grand Prix CSI 3*

By Jumper News on 17 17America/Sao_Paulo October 17America/Sao_Paulo 2022

Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA – October 15, 2022 – The $139,000 Coca-Cola® Grand Prix CSI 3* winner was Luis Sabino Gonçalves (POR) and Sigma Stables LLC’s Vick du Croisy at the Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC).

Peter Grant’s (CAN) course was contested by 38 entries, with only six going clear to progress to the jump-off. Sabino Gonçalves and the 2009 Selle Français mare Vick du Croisy (Lord Carthago x Vondeen) were able to win the class by almost two seconds, being timed in 36.590 seconds at the end of their jump-off performance.

Callie Schott (USA) and Southern Arches LLC’s 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding Garant (Warrant x Verdi TN) were able to take the second place position with a time of 38.91 seconds.

**Lauren Balcomb** (AUS) & **Verdini D’Houtveld Z**

Third place was Lauren Balcomb (AUS) and hers and Sharn Wordley’s 2011 Zangersheide gelding Verdini D’Houtveld Z (Verdi TN x Caretino 2) with a time of 38.99 seconds.

It’s great [to win twice]… unbelievable,” Sabino Gonçalves marveled. “This horse is one that I have had for maybe six months. She is an amazing mare: she’s very clever, really smart and fast.”

Sabino Gonçalves was impressed by his quick-footed mare’s first-round performance, and decided that his best course of action in the jump-off was to stay out of her way and let her shine:

“Today she did a super first round, and was within the time. In the jump-off, I thought to myself, ‘I should not disturb her.’ I was just on her, in like surfing. It was perfect.”

The duo also found advantage in the mare’s scope, and the track they took after the double combination, Sabino Gonçalves assessed. “I think [we won at] the skinny, because a few people tried to take care of it [and slowed down]. But she’s so careful, so she took care of it. And after the double to the yellow one I took a shot.

“I love to be here,” he concluded. “I was here for the first time in 2018 in the WEG [World Equestrian Games]. The second time was last year, with other horses, and I came back again because I like to be here.”

**Callie Schott** (USA) and the presenting sponsors of the Leading Lady Award, Marthaler Jewelers: Tonya, Andy, and Matthew Marthaler, Joe Cottrell, Sean Berkheiser and Luke Hargrove.

The Leading Lady Award presented by Marthaler Jewelers was awarded to Callie Schott as the highest placed female rider in the Grand Prix. “This is the first time I’ve won a Leading Lady award,” Schott exclaimed. “The necklace is absolutely stunning, so I’m really excited!”