Richard Vogel wins season-finale $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix at Wellington International

WELLINGTON — Richard Vogel of Germany saved his best for last in the season-finale "Saturday Night Lights" $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix at Wellington International.

In front of a packed house of 8,000 fans, including former Tampa Bay Bucs quarterback Tom Brady, who walked the course with his children before the event, Vogel and Cepano Baloubet won the prestigious five-star grand prix.

Vogel, 26, ranked 69th in the world, earned $165,000, his biggest payday of the season. It was the 9-year-old Deutsches Sportpferd gelding's five-star debut.

"I’m overwhelmed," Vogel said. "Two weeks ago, I wasn't sure I even wanted to do this horse in this big a grand prix. But he felt really good and then we thought, ‘we’re here and he’s in very good shape so let's give it a try,’ and he was amazing.”

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Vogel and his green horse posted double-clear rounds in 40.43 seconds to top a field of 39 world-class riders, including six in the jump-off. Vogel set the time to chase from the pole position.

Colombia's Roberto Teran Tafur and 15-year-old Dutch warmblood stallion Dez' Ooktoff were second in 49.15 and won $100,000.

"He’s not a fast horse but he’s consistent in clear rounds," Teran Tafur said. "I’m ecstatic with him because we’ve been working with him for more than three years and he’s now very consistent at this level. I wasn't going to pass Richard or anyone else going fast, so I wanted to go double clear and hope for some mistakes and it worked out."

Irish Olympian Bertram Allen and 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Pacino Amiro were third and pocketed $75,000. Allen dropped a rail on the final fence.

"He jumped fantastic tonight, probably the best of the circuit, and it’s a big disappointment to get that close to winning a Rolex Grand Prix because there’s not that many chances you get to be that close," Allen said.

Cepano Baloubet recently found a new home in Vogel’s stable after Veronica and Molly Tracy purchased the gelding for him to compete.

"I first rode this horse when he was six, and not too long after the horse came to our stable with the same owner and we were able to produce him," Vogel said. "In January, they purchased the horse for me to keep it in the stable, so I'm lucky to have such good owners and so much trust in those people."

Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, Jessica Springsteen knocked out in first round

The big track with tight turns proved formidable for many of the top riders, including Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and Jessica Springsteen who all fell by the wayside in the opening round. The rain, heavy at times during the first round, played a role. Only five riders went clear in the first half and two in the second half.

"My plan was not to risk too much in the jump-off, but also to put the pressure on the ones coming after me so they had to risk a bit more to be faster and I was lucky it all worked out," Vogel said. "This horse did a great job and deserves a break, so he’s got a couple of weeks off."

Vogel finished the season with four international wins. His next event is this week's FEI World Cup Final in Omaha, Neb.

"Wellington has been very good to us, we’ve had a great season," Vogel said. "Our horses jumped very well and gained a lot of experience also so yeah it was a super season."

Winning groom and Cepano Baloubet’s caretaker, Felicia Wallen, was awarded the $500 Grooms Award, presented by Double H Farm’s Quentin Judge and Cayce Harrison.

On Sunday, WEF came to a close with the $50,000 Kingsland CSI2* Grand Prix, $50,000 Helgstrand National Grand Prix and WEF 12 Parade of Champions in the International Arena.

Canadian Nicole Walker and Atout Des Trambles won the Kingsland event with double clears, including 45.32 seconds in the jumpoff, winning $16,500. American Alex Matz and Davidson won the Helgstrand event with a 38.758 jumpoff time and won $15,000.

The ESP Spring Series begins Tuesday at Wellington International with the Children's Benefit Charity Show and runs for five weeks, ending May 14. The venue is located at 3400 Equestrian Club Drive, just off South Shore and Pierson Road. For information, call 561-793-5867.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Vogel wins $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix before 8,000, including Tom Brady