Sean Jobin & Grande Dame DK Take Off towards Victory in the $62,500 Ascenté Aviation Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 3*

By Jumper News on 2026-01-22

Ocala, United States – January 22, 2026 – Three-star competition returned to World Equestrian Center – Ocala as a top field of riders took to the WEC Grand Arena to contest the $62,500 Ascenté Aviation Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 3* during Week IV of the 2026 Winter Spectacular Show Series. In the end, Canada’s Sean Jobin (CAN) claimed the win aboard his new partner, Grande Dame DK (By Ceira D’ick x Kannan), owned by Antrim Equestrian.

World-renowned course designer Olaf Petersen (GER) set the track, which tested athletes throughout the class. Ten combinations found the path to a clear first round, but only five managed to produce double-clear efforts.

Sara Segal (USA) was first to return and set the early pace with a clear round in 44.64 seconds aboard Boreale de Fondcombe. Luis Sabino Gonçalves (POR) followed with a strong effort but had one unlucky rail in 44.00 seconds riding Katniss du Val Geer.

Ireland’s Philip McGuane (IRL) was next to go with Evergate Stables’ Coronado (San Patrignano Cassini x Acord II). Piloting the 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding, McGuane delivered a speedy round, shaving several seconds off the clock to stop it in 41.74 seconds to take over the lead. Several athletes attempted to catch McGuane’s time, but none were able to do so as the order began to wind down.

**Sean Jobin** (CAN) & **Grande Dame DK**

That was until Sean Jobin (CAN) entered the ring with Grande Dame DK. “You always have a uniquely good opportunity going later in the jump-off,” Jobin expressed. “I watched Philip go, and after watching, my goal was to go really tight to the second-to-last oxer and be as tidy as I could everywhere else, and it paid off.”

The pair edged into the lead by fractions of a second, stopping the clock at 41.29 seconds to secure the win.

**Rachel Long** (USA) & **Olympic van de Meyhoeve**

Last to go, Rachel Long (USA) secured third place on the leaderboard aboard Michael Kvistad’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Olympic van de Meyhoeve (Nabab De Reve x Upgrade), delivering a quick and clear round in 43.39 seconds.

Jobin also spoke about his developing partnership with the special 10-year-old Selle Français mare. “I’ve had her for about a year now. We got her in France. When I went to look at her, I just loved the feeling I got from her. She has a nice, big, open step and has that nice French style of going. She fits really well in the string we have,” he shared. “We have been taking the development slowly with her, because she has such a strong heart, and she’s so smart and eager. I think she has quite the future ahead of her.”