WELLINGTON, Fla.--Richie Vogel of Germany on Michael Jackson W won the $32,000 CSI5* Two phase on Wednesday, March 25 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Richie Vogel on Michael Jackson W (Photo by Sportfot)Vogel had just flown back from Europe after winning the Dutch Masters to win the first class of the final week of tWEF.
Vogel finished clean in 33.60 over the course set by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil.
France’s Julian Anquetin on Beau de Laubry Z was clean in 33.92 to place second, with Kyle Timm on Glamour du Chanu third in 33.95 seconds.
“He’s a very exciting horse; a lot of fun to ride, super fast and always motivated,” said Vogel, who just recently returned from his Rolex Grand Prix win in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. “He has shown how quick and efficient he can be, and it was a very fast class, so I’m even more happy that I could be at the top.”
The finale of this last week is the Rolex Series $1,000,000 Grand Prix.
“It’s something we’re all looking out for, and we get excited for it," he said. "We plan our string of horses around this week, and everyone wants to be on top of their game. That’s what makes it even more exciting, it’s a guarantee of top sport. The classes are faster and the course designers build a little more, because everyone is in top form.”
The Rolex Series includes seven events, beginning in Wellington and culminating in Brussels, with the world’s top riders competing for the podium.
The $1m Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix begins the series during Saturday Night Lights on March 28.
“Our sport is a lot about confidence, and at the moment, I have a super string of horses,” said Vogel. “That obviously gives you, as a rider, a lot of confidence. I couldn’t be thankful enough for all the super horses I have, and that’s already a big puzzle piece towards success.”
