Jess Mendoza flies to a 4* Grand Prix win with In The Air in the Florida sun
Monday 09 February 2026
Jess Mendoza delivered in spades to land the $200,000 Marines Corps Heritage Foundation 4* Grand Prix with In The Air at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.
Thirty-two riders representing 12 nations came forward over the 1.55m track with course-designer Peter Grant asking questions of balance, pace and precision. Seven riders found the key to advance into the nail-biting and equally challenging jump-off. The USA’s Ashley Vogel set the target in the opening round on Otis Blue.
Jess entered the ring shortly afterwards, but had to quickly revise her original plans.
“I was third to go with some fast riders behind me, and I knew I had to go for it,” said Jess. “I didn’t plan on doing an inside turn, but the person in front of me did it, and I was like, ‘OMG, I didn’t know I needed to do that!’ But she’s so athletic. I know I can do that turn on her, and she’d be right there with me.”
The pair finished 0.70 seconds in front. It proved the only other double clear as following riders challenged but faulted, handing Jess the $60,000 win with the 13-year-old Air Jordan Z x VDL Indoctro mare.
“I’ve had her for about two years now. She’s always been amazing, but she’s turned into this superstar of a horse. She loves jumping, and I honestly couldn’t be more grateful to have her. I actually have her brother [Summerhouse] too, so that’s pretty special. He also does five-stars. They’re a pretty good family. I got them at the same time from the same breeder; they both have the same mom. They’re completely opposite animals, but they’re both very, very special.”
According to Jess, In The Air’s “heart” is her most special attribute – “I think it’s her heart. She’s obviously very talented in a lot of ways, but she just gets in there and wants to give it her absolute best all the time. She’s always trying for me.”
Ben Maher narrowly misses out on a major Grand Prix victory at Wellington International
Ben Maher missed out on victory in the feature Fidelity Investments 5* Grand Prix by a fraction at the Wellington International in Palm Beach, Florida, with Enjeu De Grisien, as three of the World’s top 10 battled for supremacy to fill the podium places.
This marked the first of the four five-star weeks at the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival 2026 with the Grand Prix conducted under the now traditional highlight Saturday Night Lights. Thirty-nine riders faced a 1.60m track designed by 2024 Paris Olympic Games course-designer Gregory Bodo (FRA), eight mastering the track to advance to the jump-off with initial clear rounds.
Ben, currently World Number 3, on Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s Enjeu De Grisien matched the leader Germany’s Richard Vogel riding Gangster Montdesir stride for stride following a similar route, but the German had the edge on the final gallop to the last oxer. Ben couldn’t quite catch the winning time and settled for second 0.30 seconds in arrears. France’s Nina Mallevaey finished third with Dynastie De Beaufour.
“I’ve had him since he was seven years old, so we’ve grown up together,” said Ben of the Selle Francais 12-year-old Enjeu De Grisien (Toulon x Andiamo that also finished second to Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir in Lyon. “He’s always been in the shadows of some of the other horses, and he’s had to step up in previous months, but he’s really taken the role on well. He’s been a little unlucky here and there, but he’s a very sharp, high-energy horse, and he’s an incredible learner – that’s been his biggest asset; he really wants to be a great horse.”
Chad Fellows takes second in the Kuwait 3* World Cup
Chad Fellows clinched second place in the CSI3*-W KIB The Stadium World Cup with Creevyquinn Pearl in Kuwait.
Seventeen competitors faced a 12-fence, 15-effort 1.50m track designed by Austria’s Andreas Stoiber with the top five advancing towards round two over a different 10-fence course. The three clears were joined by the two fastest four-faulters carrying their faults, Chad one of them.
He made no mistake second time out, guiding the 12-year-old Cardento 933 daughter Creevyquinn Pearl into a fast clear. Nonetheless, he was relegated to second place by KSA’s Abdullah Al-Sharbatly as Skorphults Baloutendro hit a fence in the jump-off but stopped the clock with 1.50 seconds in hand.
Chad had picked up two podium places earlier in the week. Twenty-two competitors contended the 3* 1.45m speed, Chad guiding Creevyquinn Pearl into second with the 10-year-old Continent 7 in third, again finishing behind Abdullah and Skorphults Baloutendro, this time by 0.94 seconds.
Pippa Goddard is a three-time winner on the Spanish Sunshine Tour
Pippa Goddard started the Andalucia Sunshine Tour in style, notching up a hat-trick of wins in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.
Tom Williams’ consistent PDV Constanza handed Pippa a double, heading Friday’s 49-strong 4* Small tour 1.40m speed by a handsome 3.56 seconds before stepping up to the 4* Small 1.45m. Twelve of the original 52 starters reached the jump-off, Pippa and the eight-year-old mare (Cornet Obolensky x Casall) flying into the top spot with 1.10 seconds to spare.
Pippa also headed a competitive Seven-year-old 1.30m speed, Tom Williams’ Miss Contoulonia PS (Messenger x Conthargos) clinching the win over 79 rivals with 3.38 seconds in hand. Fellow Brit Gemma Stevens came closest for second on Kanndy’s Lollipop.
Holly Smith touted a victory double as she began her campaign in Spain. Sing Z galloped to the top of the 4* Big tour 1.45m two-phase under Holly’s skilful guidance with 1.01 seconds over the 28 contenders. Chloe Winchester slipped the 11-year-old Casallco daughter CasacentaPetra PS into third.
Holly also seized victory in a 4* Medium tour 1.30m speed with a handsome 4.55 seconds to spare in the 27-horse class riding the Up To Date 10-year-old Lochan D. Van Altrido.
William Rekert secured second place in an early 24-horse 4* 1.50m speed, the Cellestial x Carolus II 12-year-old Fifty Shades of Grey – another owned by Tom Williams – only 0.18 seconds behind the winning time. William also headed a 67-entry Six-year-old 1.20m speed on Corinio Z (Columbus Z x Stakkato Gold) with more than four seconds to spare over Alfie Bradstocks’s Prime Time ZL.
Josh Hutchins topped the hotly contended initial Seven-year-old 1.30m two-phase, beating 97 challengers by 0.07 seconds with Oploo (Zambesi TN x Numero Uno).
Image: Andrew Ryback Photography
