British rider Jessica Mendoza won her second class of the Barcelona show Friday, taking the $349,000 5-star grand prix with In the Air.
In the Air was timed in 46.94 seconds for a fault-free trip as the top 12 in the class of 37 entries faced off for the final round. Second was Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa on Major Tom in 47.06. The 1.60-meter route was laid out under the lights by Spanish designer Santiago Varela and his team.
“It got a little hairy out there to be honest,” said Jessica before the prize-giving ceremony. Of In the Air, the U.S.-based rider declared, “She’s the best horse I probably ever had and ever will have.”
On Thursday, Jessica and In the Air won another 5-star grand prix, this time taking the Estrella Damm trophy for a 1.50 meter test. The mare is owned by Jessica in conjunction with U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Chairman, President and CEO Kristi Mitchem, Georgia Kipp, Melissa Skowlund and Pernilla Amman.
The highlight of the show is Sunday’s final of the Longines League of Nations series, for which there were four qualifiers during the season. Jessica, who is married to U.S. show jumper Nick Dello Joio, will ride Summerhouse in that class for the British team, which is the defending champion. She calls 11–year-old Summerhouse In the Air’s “brother,” even though they have different sires and the mare is a KWPN and Summerhouse is a Zangersheide. But both are out of the same mare, Selva by Indoctro, which makes Summerhouse 13-year-old In the Air’s half-brother. They were purchased together on the same day at the same location.
Click here for results of the Barcelona Grand Prix.