HorseBuff Magazine – Showjumping, Winter Equestrian Festival, WEF #WEF2025
During the first week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), Egyptian Olympian Nayel Nassar rode ESI Ali to the top of the $140,000 Southern Arches CSI3* Grand Prix, earning his first-ever “Saturday Night Lights” triumph at Wellington International. WEF, which is highlighted by 12 weeks of straight FEI competition, runs through March 30 in Wellington, Florida.
“This one feels great,” said a beaming Nassar after his win. “It’s always special to win here, and I’ve come close a few times but never won under the lights. This was my horse’s first time jumping at night, so I didn’t know what to expect but he impressed us all.”
With a ground-covering stride and breathtaking spins, Nassar’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Stakkato Gold seemed to be up to the challenge. Nassar beat six-time U.S. Olympian Mclain Ward by less than six tenths of a second, riding a horse owned by Evergate Stables to a time of 37.35 seconds. Ward placed second thanks to Michael & Wendy Smith’s High Star Hero. At 37.92 seconds, the 12-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding (Zazu x Darco) came to a stop.
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Mark Bluman of Colombia concluded a spectacular day by finishing on the podium while riding Concare PS for owner Norma Leticia Coello Garrido, following his victory in the $30,000 CPKC National Grand Prix earlier in the afternoon. They recorded a time of 38.24 seconds.
The stage was set for an intense speed fight as 14 horses made it to the jump-off track designed by Nick Granat (USA). As the last round went on, the times grew faster and faster, but Nassar was unaffected.
“In the jump-off, I try to set my pace early—once you put him in gear, you don’t have to do a whole lot,” said Nassar of the horse that was found for him as an eight year old by fellow Evergate Stables rider and former world no. 1 Harrie Smolders. “I came out of the ring and everyone told me he didn’t look that fast, but he has an amazing way of covering the ground and a natural rhythm that once you set him off, you just have to steer and avoid the jumps. If I can match everyone else’s strides, he comes out a little bit quicker.
“I only caught part of Mclain’s jump-off on the screen but he’s always so fast,” continued Nassar. “The eight to the last was a must and luckily we were able to get it done.”
Most recently, Nassar and ESI Ali won a two-star grand prix this summer and have been taking their time climbing the ranks. “We’ve been bringing him along slowly,” explained Nassar. “The horse always had so much quality but he did need some basics put into him, so we took our time to do that for the first year. Last season he started to step up into some 1.50m classes and was always competitive. He gave us the feeling that he was ready for a bigger ask and that’s what we gave him tonight.”
When discussing what’s next for ESI Ali, Nassar said, “He’s 10 so this is the first year I start to ask them a little bit more. I try not to do too much with them as nine-year-olds and hope that it lengthens their career. We’re listening to him telling us what he’s ready for and we’ll keep placing him where we think he can be successful.”
Horse enthusiasts flocked to Wellington International for the season’s inaugural “Saturday Night Lights” grand prix despite a wave of cold weather that swept across south Florida. “I think this venue is so special in the way that you feel the community come out to support,” said Nassar of the Wellington International experience. “Especially ‘Saturday Night Lights’—it’s buzzing and I think great horses feel it and they rise to the occasion. They know that this isn’t just another class.”
Tamiles Pezzim, the groom of ESI Ali, received a $500 check for the Double H Farm Grooms Award during her first appearance at Wellington International’s “Saturday Night Lights,” capping an evening filled with firsts for Evergate Stables. “We’re nothing without the caretakers of these horses,” concluded Nassar. “The entire team is really proud of this win.”
Top Five Results: $140,000 Southern Arches CSI3* Grand Prix
- Nayel Nassar (EGY) & ESI Ali: 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Stakkato Gold)
Owner: Evergate Stables
Faults/Time: 0/0 37.35 - Mclain Ward (USA) & High Star Hero: 2013 Belgian Sport Horse gelding (Zazu x Darco)
Owners: Michael & Wendy Smith
Faults/Time: 0/0 37.92 - Mark Bluman (COL) & Concare PS: 2014 Oldenburg mare (Conthargos x Cornet Obolensky)
Owner: Norma Leticia Coello Garrido
Faults/Time: 0/0 38.24 - Charlotte Jacobs (USA) & Playboy JT Z: 2015 Zangersheide gelding (Presley Boy x Plot Blue)
Owner: North Star
Faults/Time: 0/0 39.31 - Lillie Keenan (USA) & Le Louvre 5: 2015 Westphalian gelding (Latour VDM x Class de Luxe 2)
Owner: Chansonette Farm
Faults/Time: 0/0 39.98
Major reporting contributions for this article were received from Wellington International in Wellington FL. Please visit Wellington International at https://wellingtoninternational.com.
