Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti on Chagall de Toscane Won the $62,500 CSI2* Grand Prix Over Conor Swail at Blenheim

Details: April 9, 2024; By Staff Writers

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.--Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti on Chagall de Toscane won the $62,500 CSI2* Grand Prix at the Blenheim Spring Classic over a starting field of 24.

Brazils Cassio Rivetti on Chgall deToscane McCool Photography Brazil's Cassio Rivetti on Chgall deToscane (Photo by McCool Photography)Seven were clean to advance to the jump-off designed by Jaime Morillo and set on the Oaks International Grand Prix Field at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.

Rivetti was the fourth to go in the jump-off, and was the first to go clean, finishing in what would be an uncatchable time of 33.34 seconds.

Ireland’s Conor Swail on Count Me In was next to go and came the closest to catching Rivetti, clean in 33.53 seconds, less than two-tenths of a second off Rivetti’s time.

Nicole Haunert on My Lady Lavista was third.

“The first two jumps on the course were big,” said Rivetti. “It was a nice jump-off with good riders, and very fast. It was a nice course to jump.”

Rivetti’s winning mount, Chagall de Toscane, is owned by HF Farms LLC and is most often ridden by Rivetti’s student, amateur rider Laura Hite, but with Hite away from the show for the week, Rivetti took the ride.

“I TOOK the chance to ride him a bit,” said Rivetti of the 12-year-old Selle Français stallion. “He’s an amazing horse. He has all the scope, so much quality, and it's just a really good feeling to ride him.”

No matter the mount, Rivetti is no stranger to success at Blenheim EquiSports, and as a frequent competitor at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, he spoke highly of the ongoing upgrades that the Blenheim team is currently undertaking.

“I love this place; it's so good to be here,” said Rivetti. “The new ring looks amazing. We’re always excited to be here, and I love this grass. The new ebb-and-flow system is perfect; we needed it! It's a beautiful place for us to ride the older horses but also produce the younger ones.”

Rivetti will be among the riders that return to Blenheim EquiSports this upcoming week for the Blenheim Spring Classic 2 CSI3* competition, featuring the $117,000 CSI3* Blenheim Spring Classic 2 Grand Prix on Sunday, April 15.