18 March '25
H5 Porthos Maestro Wh Z wins the CSI4* Grand Prix of Wellington
© Sportfot
It was another busy day on US soil last weekend, with international action scheduled at no less than four venues. That included Wellington International, which hosted the tenth week of the renowned Winter Equestrian Festival. The highlight of the weekend there was the CSI4* Grand Prix on Saturday evening and in it, victory coloured blue and yellow for the second week in a row.
Following US rider Jacqueline Ruyle and 14-year-old grey mare Cyramo Z's Grand Prix victory the week before, it was Mexican rider Carlos Hank Guerreiro and his 11-year-old gelding H5 Porthos Maestro Wh Z who managed to secure a resounding Grand Prix victory last Saturday! Hank Guerreiro and H5 Porthos Maestro Wh Z, a son of Picasso Z and Ogano Sitte from the breeding farm of Frank Fory and Christophe Wouters, stayed clear in the basic round and were thus among the 14 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off. In it, they managed to repeat that flawless performance and with a finishing time of 39.98 seconds, they were more than half a second ahead of the rest of the field of competitors.
Carlos Hank Guerreiro: "Porthos has been a great horse from day one. I have had him since he was seven and last year he took me to fulfil my childhood dream of going to the Olympics. This was only his first grand prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival this season, and I didn't expect much from it as he is only coming back from rest. However, he surprised us all and gave everything."
Hank Guerreiro and H5 Porthos Maestro Wh Z were not the only ones who managed to ensure Zangersheide success at this CSI4* Grand Prix, however, as there were also two other Z horses who managed to top the standings. Thus, 5th place was reserved for Irish rider Cian O'Connor and the 12-year-old grey gelding Iron Man, a son of Charisma Z and Mr. Blue who was born as C-Iron Z at Stoeterij Duysel's Hof in the Netherlands. O'Connor and Iron Man also managed to go clear again in the jump-off, but it took them 41.34 seconds to complete their round. Colombia's Roberto Teran Tafur and the 10-year-old grey stallion Iron Maiden (ex Cadans van de Ijzervallei Z - Clarimo ASK x Kashmir Van Schuttershof - B: Titus Vereecke were then again good for 6th place. They reached the finishing line in 41.97 seconds after a clear jump-off.
On Friday there was also a victory in Wellington thanks to Mexican rider Eugenio Garza Perez and the now 17-year-old gelding Victer Finn DH Z, a son of Va Vite and Stakkato from the breeding farm of De Dwerse Hagen BVBA. In the 1.50m speed class, Garza Perez and Victer Finn DH Z sped to the finish in a convincing 58.40 seconds, making them the only combination to manage to keep the chrono under 60 seconds.
Also in this 1.50m class, American rider Blythe Karolyi was one of the prize winners with the 14-year-old gelding Theo Duc T&L Z, a breeding product of Luc Tilleman of T&L NV who combined the blood of Toulon with that of Nabab de Rêve. Karolyi and Theo Duc T&L Z crossed the finish line in 64.16 seconds, giving them 6th place in the rankings.
In the 1.50m main class on Sunday, American rider Alex Granato managed to claim a top 5 ranking with the 10-year-old gelding Marciano MVF, a son of Stakkato and Libero H who was born as Swing de Landetta Z at Stoeterij Landetta. In both the first round and the Winning Round, Granato and Marciano MVF did not make a single mistake and this performance earned them 4th place in the standings.
Last but not least, American rider Jessica Springsteen also managed to jump into the prizes with the 10-year-old stallion Cayman de Poteau Z, a son of Cayado and Casall ASK bred by PGMBH Hammes. During the 1.50m class on Thursday, Springsteen and Cayman de Poteau Z neatly kept it clear twice, finishing in 5th place.