October 14, 2005 – Las Vegas, Nevada – There is a reason Rodrigo Pessoa is the odds-on favorite to win the $750,000 Las Vegas World Invitational Grand Prix, and he proved it with his victory in the $75,000 Martin Collins ‘Let It Ride’ Grand Prix on Friday night at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV.

The top 25 riders in the world are competing for a rare purse of $1 million dollars in the Las Vegas World Invitational of Show Jumping running October 14 and October 15. Designated as a CSI5* event by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the two-day competition is one of the richest show jumping events in equestrian sports.

A total of 15 riders were able to master the first round test set by German course designer Olaf Petersen to return for the jump-off. American hopes were high at the beginning of the second round when lead-off rider McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, posted a clear round in a time of 28.98 seconds riding Oasis. Fellow American Anne Kursinski then moved into top spot when she and the agile mare, Roxana, stopped the timers in 28.88 seconds.

The fans knew her lead was in jeopardy when current Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil entered the arena on his long-time partner, Baloubet de Rouet. True to form, the pair shaved every possible inch off of each twist and turn of the shortened jump-off course, and posted an incredibly fast time of 27.06 seconds.

Marcus Ehning of Germany was smooth as silk as he and Gitania flowed over the course in a time of 28.08 seconds, a time that would leave them in eventual third. Irish contender Jessica Kurten and Quibell gave it their best shot, losing a shoe along the way, but their time of 27.84 seconds was not quick enough to catch Pessoa. The final contender, eight-time Olympian Ian Millar of Canada, also mounted a valiant challenge with In Style, but 28.38 seconds placed him fourth overall.

“It was good, he jumped well,” said Pessoa of his 16-year-old selle francais gelding. “He was a little strong in the first round, but he really jumped good.”

And so, Pessoa pocketed $25,000 for the win and confirmed to the Las Vegas bookmakers that he was indeed the hot favorite to win Saturday’s $750,000 Las Vegas World Invitational Grand Prix.


Georgina Bloomberg Races to Victory

The exciting $50,000 Knockout saw 16 riders going head to head, racing over identical courses until only two riders remained for the final match-up. Rodrigo Pessoa and Ludo Philippaerts both made it through to the semi-finals, but in the end, British veteran Michael Whitaker faced off against 22-year-old American rookie Georgina Bloomberg. The two show jumping stars started out neck and neck, but when Whitaker and his mount, Iqbal des Hayettes, crashed through the fourth fence, he left the door wide open for Bloomberg. Cheered on by the crowd, the New York City native did not hesitate, urging Nadia over the fences and through the timers to claim victory and $16,000 in prize money.

“I was very pleased with her round,” said Bloomberg, a New York University student who has made a spectacular entry into the Grand Prix ranks. “I have had the mare since she was six years old, and she is a great speed horse.”

Competition continues on Saturday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The $65,000 Ride and Drive will offer a car to the rider that completes a jumping course, followed by a driving course, in the fastest time. The evening concludes with the long-awaited $750,000 Las Vegas World Invitational Grand Prix, offering a winner’s purse of $250,000. For the first time in the United States, fans can wager on the outcome as the Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook® has set the odds. Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil has become the favorite at 5-2 while Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum of Germany is now at 7-2 odds to win. Michael Whitaker of Great Britain is at 4-1.

CBS Sports will broadcast the Las Vegas World Invitational on New Year’s Eve, December 31. For more information on the CSI5* Las Vegas Invitational and to purchase tickets, please visit www.lasvegasworldinvitational.com. Full results can be found at www.scg-nl.nl.

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Rider Country Horse Faults Time
1. Rodrigo Pessoa Brazil Baloubet de Rouet 0:0 27.06
2. Jessica Kurten Ireland Quibell 0:0 27.84
3. Marcus Ehning Germany Gitania 0:0 28.08
4. Ian Millar Canada In Style 0:0 28.38
5. Anne Kursinski Frenchtown, NJ Roxana 0:0 28.88