Toni Leviste, on board her 19-year old Swedish Warmbllod mare – Globe Platinum Just Jewels – won in style in the recent Malaysian Open held at the 3Q Equestrian grounds in Kuang, Malaysia.

Toni Leviste, on board her 19-year old Swedish Warmbllod mare – Globe Platinum Just Jewels – won in style in the recent Malaysian Open held at the 3Q Equestrian grounds in Kuang, Malaysia.

Leviste negotiated the first round of the course designed by German course builder Werner Deeg with no time faults en route to winning the event over a tough field of riders from 13 countries, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and other Asian nations.

Entering second to last in the jump-off round, Leviste steered Just Jewels in a heart stopping, high-speed time of 43.28 seconds, clearly running away with the first prize.

“I am just so happy to be out in the field competing for the country again,” said Leviste, who has taken a 12-month sabbatical from international competitions, until her training resumed in Belgium early this year.

Her victory bodes well to her title campaign in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China this November.

Leviste said she was inspired by Charice’s hit song ‘Pyramid.’

“Whenever I hear it playing on the radio, it inspires me how a kababayan is making our country proud abroad. Of course, whenever I can, and in my own little way, I’d also like to do the same,” she said.