Monaco, Monte Carlo – July 3, 2013 – G&C Farm had a very successful week at the Longines Global Champions Tour (GCT) in Monaco, Monte Carlo, on June 27-29, 2013. Carolina Mirabal and G&C Leroy won the 1.30m Classic on the final day of competition to wrap up a great three days of top finishes for the horses and riders of G&C Farm. With riders on two continents, G&C Farm has been gathering great results at some of the top show jumping events in the world.
G&C Farm is owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal of Venezuela and based in Wellington, Florida. The family competes as well as supports Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), up-and-coming riders Mark Bluman (COL) and Luis Larrazabal (VEN), and professional riders Gustavo Arroyo (VEN) and Luis Miguel Martinez (VEN).
Watch a video of Carolina and G&C Leroy’s winning ride!
On the final day of the GCT in Monte Carlo, Carolina Mirabal and G&C Leroy won the 1.30m Classic. They were the fastest in the class of 39 entries and won in 50.03 seconds, more than one second faster than the second place finisher.
Mirabal said of her ride, “Leroy is a super fast and careful horse. We almost won in Cannes, and in Monaco I was more confident with him. I just let him do the his job and he was super. I planned the course with Rodrigo and followed his instruction. He told me to win it and I went for the class! I have to thank Rodrigo for pushing me and making me more competitive.”
Carolina Mirabal and G&C Leroy. Photo © Sportfot/Emmanuelle Hacker.
She continued, “I’m so happy to win a class for the G&C team. The experience to be jumping at GCT in Monaco is unique. Winning and hearing the Venezuelan national anthem while being so far from our country was very emotional.”
In addition to their win, Mirabal and G&C Leroy placed sixth in the 1.25m speed on Thursday. They were ninth in Friday’s 1.25m jump-off class. In that class, Gustavo Mirabal and G&C Omertà were fourth. At the GCT in Cannes, France, Carolina Mirabal and G&C Leroy were fifth in the CSI 1* 1.25/1.30m class.
Carolina Mirabal and G&C Leroy in their winning presentation in Monte Carlo. Photo © Sportfot/Emmanuelle Hacker.
Gustavo Mirabal said, “We are very happy to be jumping in Europe. The GCT in Cannes and Monaco were amazing with very beautiful venues in special cities, especially in summer time. It was the perfect opportunity to combine the horses and family. When Carolina won, it was a special moment for us to hear the Venezuelan national anthem. Since I founded G&C Farm, this has been my happiest time because we are back in the ring and enjoying being sponsors and riders.”
Click above to watch Gustavo Mirabal and G&C Omerta place fourth in Monte Carlo.
Mirabal thanked Rodrigo Pessoa for helping G&C Farm have the opportunity to compete at these top shows. “Rodrigo has been integral in helping our team in the past year. I’m more enthusiastic than ever about our farm and our program,” he said. “Rodrigo has been working with our new young horses and getting great results with them. We think that the way to make a strong escuderia is getting talented young prospects and waiting for them. I know that soon we will have top horses at the highest level.”
Rodrigo Pessoa and G&C Sonny competing at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show. Photo © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Pessoa has already had success with young G&C Farm horses, including G&C Sonny, who competed in the CSIO event in Lisbon and helped the Brazilian team take a third place finish in the Nations Cup. Pessoa is also bringing along G&C Bonasera, G&C Consigliere, and G&C Atlanta, who won in the Young Jumpers at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show.
Joining the G&C Farm team in Monte Carlo was Gustavo Arroyo, who has been based in Europe. Gustavo Arroyo and G&C Quitador Rochelais finished third in the Monte Carlo Invitational 1.45m and eighth in the 1.40m speed. Earlier in the summer, Arroyo and G&C Quitador Rochelais won the CSI** La Boissière Ecole Grand Prix in France and were fourth in the 1.45-1.50m Grand Prix in Sandillon, France. Arroyo will bring G&C Quitador, G&C Jartrum, and G&C Tropigold to the GCT event in Chantilly.
Watch a video of Gustavo Arroyo and G&C Quitador Rochelais placing third in Monte Carlo.
“Having all the European team together in Monte Carlo was great,” Gustavo Mirabal said. “We heard ‘Venezuela’ a lot over the three days, and we even met Venezuelan spectators at the show who loved hearing the anthem. One of my goals in 2012 was to have more of a presence for G&C Farm in Europe, and we are making great strides toward that. I have to thank Rodrigo Pessoa for that. We also owe big thanks to our team, including our top groom Karine Dalle, who is a hard worker, super competitive, and very kind. Thanks also go to Kate Forsen and Fillipo Martini di Cigala for their help. And to our team in the United States – Helio Pessoa, Manuel Machillanda, Luis Miguel Martinez, Mark Bluman, and Luis Larrazabal.”
Mark Bluman and G&C LaGran competing at the Devon Horse Show. Photo © ProEquest.
G&C Farm went to two of the United States most historic horse shows in May – the Devon Horse Show and Upperville Colt & Horse Show. Bluman and Larrazabal had great placings at both shows.
Larrazabal and G&C Sacramento were seventh and Bluman was tenth with G&C LaGran in the $75,000 Upperville Jumper Classic. Larrazabal was second in the $10,000 1.40m Jumpers aboard G&C Sacramento, and Bluman and G&C Connie finished fourth.
In Devon, Bluman and G&C LaGran was fourth and Larrazabal and G&C Sacramento finished fifth in the $20,000 Open Jumpers Gambler’s Choice 1.40 speed class. Bluman was fourth with G&C LaGran in another 1.40m speed class and rode G&C Connie to first place in the 8 Year Old Jumpers.
Luis Larrazabal and G&C Sacramento at the Devon Horse Show. Photo © ProEquest.
G&C Farm will compete next at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Chantilly, France, on July 19-21 and the Dinard CSI 3* on July 24-28, as well as the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT, on July 2-28.
For more information on G&C Farm, please visit their website at www.gandcfarm.com, like their page on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
G&C Farm brings exceptional horses and top jumper riders to the highest levels of competition. Their state-of-the-art, full-service facility is located in Wellington, FL.
The vision of G&C Farm is to improve the instruction and training of their top jumper riders and horses in order to seek a place at all high level tournaments and top competitions, including the World Equestrian Games and Olympic Games. G&C Farm sponsors Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa, as well as other up-and-coming riders.