Wynn Medinger[portfolio_slideshow id=9998]
The energy was electric on Saturday night in Del Mar, California for the $100,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Del Mar presented by EQ International Real Estate. It wasn’t until 22nd in the order that the first clear round was posted—by Eduardo Menezes of Brazil—and the crowd went absolutely wild for him and the subsequent three more clear rounds ridden by Zazou Hoffman, Georgina Bloomberg, and Nicole Shahinian-Simpson.
The jump off of the Marina Azevedo-designed course consisted of only those four, but each horse and rider pair brought their A-game, blazing around the short course. When the smoke cleared, Zazou Hoffman came out on top aboard Samson II, a bay 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Woodacres Stables.
“I just have a lot of amazing things to say about the horse and how lucky I am to have him,” said Hoffman, 26. “He gave great efforts and helped me out everywhere he needed to be…he was just incredible.” Hoffman has had the ride on Samson for two years.
Hoffman said she after she watched Eduardo Menezes’ round, she knew she’d have to step on the gas. “I hadn’t really considered how fast or not I was going to go, but after watching [Menezes] I knew I was going to have to be quite quick,” said Hoffman. After tonight’s win in Del Mar, Hoffman has moved to first place in the North American Western Sub-League rankings.
Eduardo Menezes came in a close second place on H5 Quintol, and Georgina Bloomberg and Chameur took third place honors in the competitive class.