HorseBuff Magazine – Showjumping, Winter Equestrian Festival, WEF
The sixth week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) closed with victories for Mexico’s Carlos Hank Guerreiro in the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix and Peter Lutz (USA) in the $25,000 CP Grand Prix, on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village (home to the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival) on Sunday, February 16.
WEF continues through March 29 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The seventh week of competition runs February 19-23, is sponsored by Lugano Diamonds, and includes the $391,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5* during “Saturday Night Lights”.
Fifty of the future stars of show jumping took to the grass Derby Field with nine jumping double-clear over a course designed by Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz Harris (MEX). It was 19-year-old Guerreiro who bested the competition with nearly two seconds to spare riding H5 Quantador 3, owned by H5 Stables.
“I love this field,” said Guerreiro, who trains with Brazilian Olympian Eduardo Menezes and has been competing in the Under 25 division for four years. “I find that it’s a bit of different feeling, but I grew up riding on a lot of grass arenas, so I really like big, open spaces. I love this week!”
Guerreiro has had the ride on H5 Quantador 3 since the 12-year-old Westphalian gelding’s seven-year-old season. “Paul Schockemöhle sent him to me to be sold, but in the end, they let me keep him,” recalled Guerreiro. “I always say, it’s the best deal I have ever had. He’s always been really talented. His mind took a bit to get together, but I really love him. He shines in the jump-offs, so the faster the better.”
Guerreiro and his speedy mount stopped the clock at an unbeatable 36.18 seconds for the win.
Of the Under 25 division, Guerreiro said, “I think it’s really a crucial division to have as a step between the big 5* or international classes and the amateur or juniors divisions. It really brings together a lot of different levels. It’s very useful for the experienced riders and the younger generation.”
After Guerreiro, less than a second separated the next four riders, led by Zoe Conter (BEL) in second place with a time of 38.27 seconds riding H-Cassino, owned by Stephex Stables. Third went to Charlise Casas (USA) on Diamond M, owned by Always Faithful Equine LLC. Mexico’s Tanimara Macari finished fourth on Feminka for Jorge Macari, and Emilie Conter (BEL) capped the top five aboard Legolas Ter Wilgen, owned by Stephex Stables.
Final Results: $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix
1 H5 QUANTADOR 3: 2008 Westphalian gelding by Quinta Real x Cornet Obolensky
CARLOS HANK GUERREIRO (MEX), H5 Stables: 0/0/36.18
2 H-CASSINO: 2007 BWP gelding by Torino x Nevelhorn
ZOE CONTER (BEL), Stephex Stables: 0/0/38.27
3 DIAMOND M: 2008 KWPN gelding by Numero Uno x Luicor
CHARLISE CASAS (USA), Always Faithful Equine LLC: 0/0/38.36
4 FEMINKA: 2010 KWPN mare by Verdi TN x Numero Uno
TANIMARA MACARI (MEX), Jorge Macari: 0/0/38.70
5 LEGOLAS TER WILGEN: BWP stallion by Emmerton x Chin Chin
EMILIE CONTER (BEL), Stephex Stables: 0/0/38.96
6 CON PLEASURE 5: 2009 Westphalian gelding by Contendro 1 x Funny Fasion
FLO NORRIS (GBR), Cisca Norris: 0/0/39.55
7 MILAN IV: 2005 Holsteiner gelding by (Lasino x Quinar)
DELANEY FLYNN (USA), Grace Jacobsen: 0/0/39.93
8 DIAMANTS AURORA: 2010 Hanoverian mare by Dirado x Chacco Blue
JESSICA MENDOZA (GBR), Jessica Mendoza: 0/0/40.12
9 DREAMER DES BERGERIES: 2009 Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Ugano Sitte x Oberon du Molin
SAMANTHA WIGHT (USA), Melissa Wight: 0/0/45.72
10 FAMOUS: 2010 KWPN gelding by Aerobic x Kojak
KATHERINE STRAUSS (USA), Katherine Strauss LLC: 0/4/39.31
11 VOYOU DU BOBOIS: 2009 Selle Français gelding by Calvaro F.C. x Tresor de Cheux
FLORE GIRAUD (FRA), Delphine Giraud: 0/4/39.35
12 CALVIN VAN’T AMELDONK Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Chippendale Z x Nababb de Reve
DONOVAN ROSS (USA), Halo Capital: 0/4/43.23
Photo credit: Photos © Sportfot
Major reporting contributions for this article were received from the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington FL. and Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. Please visit Palm Beach International Equestrian Center at pbiec.coth.com or call (561) 793-5867, or email info@equestriansport.com. Please visit Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. at jenniferwoodmedia.com or email info@jenniferwoodmedia.com.
