Robert Blanchette Bests the $200,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™️ Sacramento

Robert Blanchette Bests the $200,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™️ Sacramento presented by 23 Wines at Murieta Equestrian Center

Robert Blanchette, Sophia Siegel and Cassio Rivetti Top the Podium

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Show jumping athletes from around the world vied for the top spot in the $200,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™️ Sacramento presented by 23 Wines at the Sacramento International World Cup Week, October 4-8 at the newly upgraded Murieta Equestrian Center.
The Sacramento International Horse Show– now in its 16th year – is a partnership between West Palms Events and Murieta Equestrian Center and was originally founded by Dale Harvey, Carol Anderson-Ward, and Rudy Leone. Throughout the years, our management team has remained committed to producing a top-quality event that welcomes the best of our sport to the beautiful Murieta Equestrian Center. This year, we proudly honored Rudy Leone with the Sacramento International Lifetime Achievement Award.
On Saturday night, a sold-out crowd held their breath as rails fell and only six riders found the key to Marina Azevedo’s technical track, consisting of 16 jumping efforts in the GGT Footing Arena. After an exciting jump off, Robert Blanchette (IRL) and Sophia Siegel (USA) were the only two riders to keep all the poles up.
It was Blanchette who had the #TimetoBeat, stopping the clock in 38.42 seconds and posting the victory aboard Chardonnay, a 12-year-old mare owned by RTS LLC.
21-year-old Siegel delivered a solid effort and jumped off clear in 45.63 seconds with her own A-Girl. The Brazilian rider, Cassio Rivetti delivered a blazing fast jump off aboard Monarch Farms LLC’s Edesa’s Vidal 8 in 39.46 seconds. However, an unfortunate rail at the final fence dropped Rivetti into the third place spot.

Blanchette with twin daughters, Sophia and Charlotte (above)

FEI Level 4 Course Designer Marina Azevedo with Blanchette

Blanchette and Chardonnay had the #TimetoBeat

Greg Vaughn (far right) of 23 Wines joins us on the red carpet for the awards presentation.

Blanchette had his eyes on the prize and decided to give it his all when it came down to the jump off. “I decided that was going to run like heck and see what happens,” the Irishman recounted. “The footing is great. You can really run in there [in the GGT Footing Arena at Murieta Equestrian Center].”

His partnership with the talented mare has gotten stronger over time. “I’ve been riding Chardonnay for three years now,” he said. “She’s better than ever. She’s a horse that loves to win– she loves to be clear and loves to go fast. She’s got it all dialed in.”

Course designer Marina Azevedo was impressed with Chardonnay’s performance around her courses. “It was amazing to see that Robert’s horse really wanted to jump and was clearly having fun,” she commented. “The horse was going forward and happy.”

To view the full results, click here.

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 North American League (NAL) heads to Washington (USA) on October 28, 2023. Stay tuned this season to find out who will be punching their ticket to the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final, April 6-20, 2024, Riyadh (KSA).

Sophia Siegel (USA) and her own A-Girl

Cassio Rivetti (BRA) and Edesa’s Vidal 8

Thank you to Greg Vaughn and 23 Wines for their continued support of the $200,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™️ Sacramento

The Man Behind It All

As a retired four-time Major League Baseball All-Star and a Silver Slugger recipient, Greg Vaughn puts into play the lessons learned from his years on the diamond to his personal and professional life. Greg is 916-4-LIFE™ and that means he puts his energy and focus into the Sacramento community that helped him achieve his success.

Greg Vaughn’s decision to embark on this partnership and start 23 Wines was a no-brainer for him. It allowed him to blend two of his favorite passions: Enjoying wine and giving back to his community.

This new venture has given him the opportunity to now find a new way to raise awareness and continue to give back. Greg is excited to share this journey with you all and hopes everyone will join him with a glass of 23 to celebrate!

To learn more, please visit 23wines.com.

Scenes from the Evening

Palmer Kaazajian

We want to give a special thank you to Palmer Kazanjian Wohl Hodson LLP for sponsoring our entertainment from aerialist, Elizabeth Sobeck. It was a fun way to kick off a wonderful evening of show jumping!

Palmer Kazanjian Wohl Hodson LLP is a Labor and Employment Law Firm based in Sacramento, specializing in compliance, arbitration, and litigation for businesses. Palmer Kazanjian was founded in 2000 by shareholders from the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm. Partners Floyd J. Palmer and Larry M. Kazanjian hit the ground running with clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Treaver Hodson who joined Floyd and Larry as an associate became a partner in 2002. Their motto is: “We exist to serve our clients.” To learn more, visit pkwhlaw.com.

Thank you to presenting sponsor, Greg Vaughn of 23 Wines for this continued support!

We proudly honored West Palms Awards Coordinator Charlene Guarriello’s retirement.

We want to thank the members of our fantastic ring crew for all their hard work!

Rudy Leone received the Sacramento International Lifetime Acheivement Award.

Photography Information
Thank you to our Official Show Photographer, Julia B. Photography, and her team for all their hard work and fantastic images throughout both weeks of the Sacramento International Horse Show.
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