Thermal, CA – February 6, 2025 – Desert Circuit 5, presented by Fobi, marks Lane Clarke’s first week competing at the Desert International Horse Park for 2025, but the Australian rider wasted no time in making his way to the winner’s circle. On Thursday, February 6, he piloted Diva de la Tour Vidal to victory in the $30,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic.
“[Diva de la Tour Vidal] is really incredible,” said Clarke of the 12-year-old Selle Français mare, owned by KAS High Jumpers and purchased for him to ride less than a year ago. “She has a lot of scope, a lot of heart – which I think is really important – and she really has a desire to be careful. I love a horse that first wants to do it. You point her at a tree or a car or lava, it doesn’t matter, she’s going. She just has the heart of a lion.”
Diva de la Tour Vidal showed that heart as she tackled the course set on the Grass Field and designed by Peter Holmes. When Clarke took to the grass as the 15th to jump, the time to beat had been set at 62.941 seconds by Simon Schroeder and Calco de Trivera, but Clarke let “Diva” gallop just enough to clinch the win with a time of 62.634 seconds.
Schroeder and Calco de Trivera, owned by David Bustillos, took home second place, and Michelle Parker and Easy Does It rounded out the top three.
“I’ve only let [Diva] really gallop twice,” explained Clarke. “The first time, I had one down in the jump-off, my mistake, and then this is the second real time…She’s got even more in there. She’s really slick.”
Clarke continued, “The truth is, she has all the ability. So, if she keeps progressing, she can do the 1.50m, 1.60ms; she can do anything. She’s just learning how to settle, cool her jets a little bit. We spent most of last year just showing her that, ‘Hey, we know you want to do it. Just take it down one notch.’”
Next up, Clarke will point the mare at Saturday night’s $75,000 Fobi Grand Prix, to also be held on the Grass Field.
“The grass is beautiful here,” concluded Clarke. “It’s spongy, it’s nice; the jumps are great. It’s always beautiful to jump on grass, but sometimes the grass can be a bit hard and a bit slick, but here it’s not. It’s great.”
For a full schedule of other featured events on the Grass Field and throughout DIHP, click here, and for full results of the $30,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic, click here.
