Wellington International: Kevin Mealiff Can’t be Caught in $25,000 Parlanti Grand Prix

Kevin Mealiff & Lodewijk are presented as winners of the $25,000 Parlanti Grand Prix. Photo © Cassidy Klein

The $10,000 1.40m Open Jumper Stake, sponsored by Bainbridge Companies, commenced competition on Friday morning for ESP June II, featuring 17 horse-and-rider pairs at the Derby Field in Equestrian Village. Twelve pairs advanced to the immediate jump-off, with USA’s Alannah Wagstaff setting the pace aboard Great Thing, owned by Mill Pond Farm, Inc, with a swift time of 34.517 seconds. Frankie Chesler (CAN) clinched the second-place title with Ibalius SMH, owned by Sher-Al Farm Inc, with a time of 35.045 seconds. Rounding out the podium was Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) with a time of 35.646 seconds aboard Baroness, owned by Leeann Ablin. 

Following Friday’s highlight jumper class, hunters displayed exceptional skill in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby (Hunt & Go), sponsored by Parlanti. This premier hunter event was the first of two hosted on Equestrian Village’s grass Derby Annex Field. The competition followed a “Hunt and Go” format, with the initial part of the course judged as the classic round and the latter part as the handy phase. Marcus Au (USA) and Desiigner, owned by Continental Stables LLC, clinched the blue ribbon with a total score of 178. Keri Kampsen (USA) and RSH Kalman, owned by Kate Sieveking, placed second with a score of 174, while Jorge Zamudio (ARG) secured third place with a score of 171 aboard his own entry, Quigano. 

Saturday morning, the $5,000 1.35m Open Jumper Stake, sponsored by Vita Flex, featured 14 horse-and-rider pairs. Eight pairs delivered fault-free rounds, advancing to the immediate jump-off. Leading the field was Cristina Padilla (PUR) on her own entry, VDL Kirado, with a time of 39.984 seconds. USA’s Anneliese Gattoni claimed second aboard AMG Barn Girls LLC’s Etania VA, finishing in 42.545 seconds. Natalie Thornell (USA) secured third place on Jamiroquai, owned by Loveland Equine Investments, with a clear time of 43.919 seconds. 

Hunter competitors demonstrated perfect partnerships in Saturday’s $1,000 2’6”/2’9” Hunter Derby (Hunt & Go), sponsored by ProElite. Marus Au (USA) took top honors on Wishful, owned by Quail Run Partnerships, with a combined score of 177. USA’s Kimberly Biegel earned the second-place ribbon with a score of 161 aboard QI Jetson OMR, while third place was secured by Canada’s Frankie Chesler and Chubakko Puce, owned by Melissa Bilodeau, scoring 153. 

Ireland’s Kevin Mealiff closed out ESP June II with an impressive victory in the $25,000 Parlanti Grand Prix. The week’s main event featured 21 horse-and-rider combinations competing on the Derby Field on a course designed by Héctor J Loyola (PUR). 

Mealiff and his own entry, Lodewijk, achieved the fastest clear round with a time of 36.315 seconds, securing the top position on the leaderboard. Fellow Irishman, Senan Hayes followed closely, riding his own, Kaytaro, to a clear time of 37.917 seconds. Andres Julio Soto Pena (DOM) and Optimus Blue, owned by Alisa Butska, rounded out the podium with a time of 38.72 seconds. 

Competitions will take a hiatus until the ESP Summer II show, which will take place from August 15-18 to begin the latter portion of the Summer Series. Explore prize lists and schedules HERE, and prepare for exciting summer competitions with our newly released Summer Series Prize List. 

To view full results from ESP June II, please click HERE.   

To view full champion results from ESP June II, please click HERE.

Wellington International press release