Is it too early to start making World Cup Final predictions? Absolutely.
But Major Tom, a horse that three-time World Cup Final champion Rodrigo Pessoa says is “one of the best” he’s ever had, started writing the storyline last night in Washington.
Previously campaigned by Ireland’s Michael Duffy, the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Vagabond de la Pomme x Heartbreaker) has been partnered with Pessoa since 2020, but was shown lightly as a 9-year-old at the 1.60m height.
“He’s always been amazing since the first day we got him,” said Pessoa. “He’s a very sensitive horse and very delicate, so we really had to take our time with him. But I feel that now as some years have gone by, he’s really starting to mature and really be able to express himself the way that we always hoped.”
Over the past two seasons, they’ve become a staple on the Brazilian team. The pair represented their nation at both the 2023 Pan American Games, helping the team to a bronze medal, and at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
They’ve had their most success, however, on the Nations Cup circuit.
In four starts for the Brazilian team in 2023, they posted an 80% clear rate (Jumpr stats), jumping double clear at the Nations Cups in St Gallen and La Baule and 4/0 at the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona. In 2024, they jumped the Longines League of Nations teams at Ocala and Rotterdam, posting a clear in the first round of the latter.
Now Pessoa is testing their winning formula on the World Cup circuit. The pair made their season start at Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), the second of seven legs on the North American League (NAL) calendar.
Five pairs advanced to Nick Granat’s jump off in what was the strongest field in WIHS history. As the pathfinder, Pessoa and Major Tom set the time to beat with an efficient clear in 38.77 seconds. Only Katie Dinan (USA) and Out of the Blue SCF managed to match their clear effort, albeit a second and half slower in 40.27
“I’m really thrilled with his performance tonight. He was pretty impeccable,” said Pessoa, who now sits fifth in the NAL standings with 20 points. A rider’s best four results count to their total.
It’s early days for the NAL, but if Pessoa can keep up the consistent results, Major Tom could be his best shot at a World Cup title since he logged three consecutive wins and six back-to-back podium finishes in 1998–2003 with the late and great Baloubet du Rouet.
Kent Farrington tops the NAL standings with 30 points, followed by Daniel Bluman (ISR) on 27 and Kristen Vanderveen (USA) on 24.
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup next stops in Toronto, November 5–9.