Sérgio Campos brilliant in the Hits Ocala GP

Brazilian rider Sergio Campos dominated the field during the first of seven weeks of show jumping competition at the 2006 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Campos aced to victory in Sunday´s $25,000 Grand Prix with his lightning-fast nine-year-old mare Shakira Do Jacare. This was Campos´ second win of the week aboard Shakira, the pair also won Friday´s $15,000 Mini Prix. In both competitions Campos edged out Aaron Vale to snatch the win. Clocking in with a faster time than Aaron Vale was a personal triumph for Sergio Campos.

A total of twenty-two horse/rider combinations competed over Timmy Hott´s first round course, and seven saw their way clear to advance to the jump-off.

Aaron Vale was up next with Gentleman George owned by Solitude Farm. With four horses still to jump, Vale set out at a blistering pace, cutting the corners to finish with 48.12 seconds on the clock. The time to beat was set and Sergio Campos and Shakira Do Jocare rose to thechallenge.

Sergio Campos described the course as being, “tough for the first week.” “There was a big triple combination that was a difficult triple, and was built for a scopey horse. The two horses I had in the Grand Prix are little (Shakira is 16´2 hand). So I was a little worried about the triple.”

Campos also rode Fadiese a 12-year-old Selles Francais gelding owned by Rodrigo Pessoa´s wife. The pair had a tenth place finish in the competition.

The 2006 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit will run for seven weeks from January 18-March 12, at HITS Post Time Farm, a beautiful 300+ acre property located
right in the heart of Ocala horse country. The circuit will feature more than 250 classes each week and will award over $1 million in prize money.

Results (22.01.06)
$25,000 HITS Ocala Grand Prix – Sunday, January 22, 2006
HITS Ocala 1 – Ocala, FL

1º Shakira Do Jacaré / Sergio Campos / 0/0 /47.60
2º Gentleman George / Aaron Vale / 0/0 /48.12
3º Enterprise / Mark Jungherr / 0/0 / 50.94
4º Shandor 41 / Patty Stovel / 0/0 /53.16
5º Heaven Bound / Derek Petersen / 0/4 / 50.48
6º On The Sly / Kristi Smith /0/Vw
7º Moritze / John Kersley / 0
8º On Line / Kate Bomgaars / 4
9º Gun Du Desfi / Libby Mckinney / 4
10º Fadiese / Sergio Campos / 4