The 2026 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit came to an electrifying close during the Ocala Championship, capped by Saturday’s $60,000 HITS Grand Prix on March 21. In a thrilling finale, Portugal’s Luis Sabino Gonçalves delivered a standout performance aboard Gallaxia de Ferval Z, rising to the top in unforgettable fashion.
A field of 29 elite horse-and-rider combinations took on a demanding track designed by renowned course builder Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER). With careful verticals, scope-testing oxers, and technical rollback turns throughout, the course required precision from start to finish. Fourteen duos advanced to the jump-off, setting the stage for a competitive race against the clock. When the dust settled, it was Sabino Gonçalves who produced the round that mattered most.
“I really didn’t expect to win, because there were so many clear rounds,” admitted Sabino Gonçalves. “My horses are young, and there were so many good riders and good horses in the class.”
Piloting two mounts into the jump-off, Sabino Gonçalves returned in the latter half of the order as rails began to fall. He delivered the first double-clear effort aboard Quicksilver C in 49.284 seconds, but the time was soon bested by Sharn Wordley (NZL), who stopped the clock in 47.657 seconds, raising the stakes further. As the last to return, all eyes turned to Gallaxia de Ferval Z, and Sabino Gonçalves rose to the occasion.
“I didn’t get to see Sharn go, but he was teasing me, telling me to ‘Go, go!’” laughed Sabino Gonçalves. “I told him he’s playing with fire!”
When Gallaxia de Ferval Z and Sabino Gonçalves raced through the timers and the clock showed 44.403 seconds, Wordley ended up having to settle for second aboard Hagelin, Della Wordley’s 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Stolzenberg x Stakkato). Sabino Gonçalves also secured third with his first ride, Quicksilver C, Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc.’s 10-year-old German Warmblood gelding (Cicero Z van Paemel x Carthago).
The star of the day, Gallaxia de Ferval Z, the nine-year-old Zangersheide mare (George Z x Nabab de Reve), owned by Sigma Stables LLC, is a relatively new partner for Sabino Gonçalves, who acquired her in May 2025 with an eye toward the future.
“She doesn’t have all the experience yet, but she has all the scope and quality,” he said. “I actually bought her off a video from France, but I’ve loved her from the moment I sat on her. The first jumps with her were just unbelievable.”
Sabino Gonçalves also praised the venue, adding, “I love being here at HITS. The facility keeps getting better every week — the team is great, the course builders are super, and the jumps are fantastic.”
With the 2026 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit officially wrapped, riders and fans are reflecting on a standout season of top-tier sport and unforgettable moments. As the equestrian community looks ahead, anticipation is already building for the Classic Company’s Spring Classic Series, which kicks off on Wednesday, March 25, bringing three weeks of hunter/jumper competition to the venue. From there, the season continues across HITS’s spring and summer circuits, including Chicago, Culpeper, Del Mar, Hudson Valley, and Vermont.
For more information, visit HITSShows.com.
