THE highlight of week seven of the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International in Florida was the $385,000 Lugano Diamonds CSI5* Grand Prix, held during ‘Saturday Night Lights’ on February 24th.

A total of 39 horse and rider combinations started over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s (USA) first round course in the International Arena, with only four of them managing to keep all the fences standing – two of those being Irishmen. Germany’s Richard Vogel and USA’s McLain Ward were joined by Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Darragh Kenny. All four jumped clear again, so the deciding factor was time.

First in, Kenny set the time to beat as 46.14 seconds riding VDL Cartello, a 17-year-old Holsteiner stallion (Cartani 4 x Lord) owned by Heathman Farm, LLC, but when two-time U.S. Olympic team gold medallist Ward on board 16-year-old Casall mare, Callas, went clear in 42.39 seconds for owner Beechwood Stables, the lead changed hands. Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Kannan x Cruising) he owns together with Gizmo Partners, LLC, stopped the clock in 43.53 seconds to move into second with Vogel still to jump.

Darragh Kenny and VDL Cartello were fourth in Sunday’s $385,000 Lugano Diamonds CSI5* Grand Prix at Wellington International \ Sportfot

The German and 12-year-old Westphalian stallion United Touch S (Untouched x Lux S) managed to go clear in 42.04, thanks to the horse’s massive stride, giving them the win for owner Julius-Peter Sinnack. This put Ward into second and Sweetnam into third on the podium.

Ireland dominated the top five in the class, with Sweetnam being followed by Kenny on VDL Cartello in fourth and Jordan Coyle on Chaccolino in fifth.

Jordan Coyle and Chaccolino were fifth in Sunday’s $385,000 Lugano Diamonds CSI5* Grand Prix at Wellington International \ Sportfot

“It’s a very, very special feeling,” noted Vogel of his time riding United Touch S. “I have been lucky enough to ride a lot of good horses in my life, but he’s outstanding. When he leaves the ground, that power and scope is something very unique and I’m very happy to be in his saddle.”

On the jump-off, Vogel said: “I was very lucky that I went behind all three of these guys, and I knew I had to risk it all,” said the 26-year-old. “If I had a rail, I was fourth and if I was a slow clear, I was fourth, so there was not so much to lose.”

Afterwards, Sweetnam said of the course: “When I walked it, I thought there would be more clear, but certainly a fair course from Anthony. There were four good clear rounds and he picked up rails in different places. With my horse, it’s better that there’s less clear than a rat race of a jump-off.

“This time of year is always hard with [James Kann Cruz], because he gets a break after the end of the year,” continued Sweetnam. “He has a lot of energy coming back, and we’ve been working towards this Grand Prix since his break. Honestly, that’s his best performance in a while in both rounds.

"He was really consistent and in a good frame of mind, so I was very happy with him.”

Vogel’s groom, Felicia Wallin received the $500 Grooms Award by Double H Farm after the victory in recognition of her care of United Touch S.

McCarthy win

Simon McCarthy and Gotcha were back to winning form in the $32,000 Ethel M Chocolates CSI2* 1.45m Qualifier on Friday, when they topped a 17-horse jump off.

There were 75 starters in the class, with 17 of these proceeding to the jump-off. At the halfway point, Heather Caristo-Williams (USA) took over the lead aboard Celtic Hero BZ. Caristo-Williams and Holly and Ralph Caristo’s 12-year-old Zangersheide stallion (Calikot Hero x Nissan Caretano Z) settled for eventual third place, as McCarthy and Lacey Gilbertson (USA) managed to shave a little off her time.

“Luckily enough, I went quite close to the end, so I got to see a couple go,” McCarthy explained. “At the start, the fastest was 36 or 37 seconds, and then Lacey went in and some others and it was more like 34 or 35 seconds. I knew that all the leave outs were an option had to be done, if you wanted to win, but Gotcha picked up on all of them and she fought all the way.”

The mare has been on a break for the beginning of the year, after some brilliant performances at the end of last year.

“I’ve had her for three years and I’ve always given her a break at the beginning of the year,” McCarthy said. “She’s just such a useful horse and it’s very easy to get carried away, so I think I’ve learned how to keep them a bit more fresh.

“For her to have a win in her first week back, I’m very happy and it’s a massive testament to my team,” he continued. “I’m the one that gets to take all the glory, but our team at Rock Ridge works so hard and I owe so much to them.”

Another Irishman, Stephen Moore on Collibelle Hero Z placed sixth in the class.

Placings

Week seven commenced at Wellington International last Wednesday, with Ireland’s Philip McGuane on Paso Doble SCF placing 10th in the $6,000 FEI 2* 1.40m class, while Darragh Kenny on Serendepety placed fourth in the $1,000 FEI 5* 1.40m class.

Jordan Coyle on For Gold secured fourth place in the $32,000 FEI 5* 1.45m class, while Kevin Gallagher on Innisfree was eighth in the $6,000 1.40m Open Jumper class.

It was a one-two for Ireland in the $2,500 1.35m Open Jumper, with McCarthy on Dibajo OH Z winning and Gavin Harley on Lightning second, out of 58 starters. Daniel Geaney on Sade de Rialfo Z won the $2,000 1.30m Open Jumper class.

Francis Derwin on Jamaica placed 10th in the $6,000 1.40m Open Jumper class, with Senan Hayes on Treasure finishing joint eighth in the day’s Five-year-old Young Jumper class.

Thursday saw a win for McGuane and Linguini de le Pomme in the $6,000 FEI 2* 1.45m class, followed by Jonathan Corrigan on Jarmensina VDM in eighth and Nicky Galligan on Crazy in 10th.

The $116,100 FEI 5* WEF R7 class saw two more top 10 placings for Ireland, with Andrew Bourns on Sea Topblue in fifth and Shane Sweetnam on RR Combella in ninth out of 50 starters. Sweetnam then took 10th place in the $2,000 1.30m Open Jumper class riding Honey Heart.

The day’s Six-year-old Young Jumper class saw Geaney on Unter Welt VH Gerendal finish in eighth place, while the Seven-year-old class saw a win for McGuane on My Lady Van De Krekel and a fifth place for Geaney with Miss Spot.

On Friday, Derwin on Jamaica took sixth place in the $6,000 1.40m Open Jumper, while Dermott Lennon on Cordiamo were eighth in the $2,500 1.35m Open Jumper. Kenny was on form in the $2,000 1.30m Open Jumper class, taking the win on Rockstar and placing seventh with Joberlina TN. McGuane on My Lady Van De Krekel placed fourth in the day’s Seven-year-old class.

Saturday’s $10,000 FEI 2* 1.40m class saw Conor O’Regan on Carmen de Bonnieres finish third, followed by Richie Moloney on Daisycutter in ninth.

On Sunday, Kevin Gallagher on I’m Here placed ninth in the $62,500 FEI 2* Grand Prix, while Andrew Bourns on Copy Champ was fourth in the $62,500 FEI 5* 1.50m class.

Week eight of the WEF saw Cian O’Connor and Fermoy make a great start when placing fourth in the $32,000 CSIO WEF Challenge Cup R8 - more coverage of week eight competition next week.