Luis Fernando Larrazabal doubles down in Wellington Grand Prix
Entering the derby field in Wellington to go last in the jump off, Luis Fernando Larrazabal was already a winner of the $24,999 Grand Prix. The opening round of the jump off saw Luis post an uncatchable time aboard Baroness. The Venezuelan then doubled down to add runners up to the day’s winnings with his upcoming mare, Ribery.
Luis was back in Wellington, his home for 15 years, to spend a brief summer hiatus at ESP Summer III before heading north to the Hampton Classic Horse Show.
“This was just a warm-up before the Hamptons next week,” he said, as he and 10-year old Westphalian mare Baroness prepare to compete in their first five-star competition. “The owner Leeann Ablin and I are very excited for this,” said Luis. “I’m very happy with the way she [Baroness] performed Friday and today. She felt very relaxed, very comfortable. Normally when you go first, you do your plan and hopefully you’re lucky enough to stay in pole position and today I think it was my lucky day in that aspect.”
Luis and Baroness’ time of 36.12 seconds set the bar for the remaining six contenders in the jump off, the last of which saw Luis competing against himself and landing second place with Ribery in a time of 38.87 seconds. It was the second podium finish of the week for Luis and Ribery, who won the 1.35m Open Stake the day before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
“She’s a special horse,” he said of the eight-year old Belgian Warmblood mare, owned by Sabrina Lefebvre. “I started riding her when she was six. I think we’re going to keep her a little bit at this level to get more experienced, get more comfortable and then hopefully by the end of the year we’re going to jump at an international level.”
Luis will return full time to Wellington in the Fall and he is looking forward to the new look of the home of the Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF], Wellington International, which has undergone significant refurbishment and development this summer. New GGT textile footing has been put down in the International Arena among a list of upgrades throughout the showground. “I’m very excited for what they’re doing for WEF this coming year,” said Luis. “I’m looking forward to that.”
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