Last Updated on February 26, 2024 by adminahb
Competition during the Lugano Diamonds-sponsored Week 7 of the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) culminated in the $62,500 Ethel M Chocolates CSI2* Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon with a win from Laura Chapot (USA).
Chapot and her longtime partner, the Laura and Mary Chapot-owned 19-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Chandon Blue (Chacco-Blue x Landcapitol), were one of 11 pairs that managed to produce a first round worthy of advancing to the jump-off out of the original 44 combinations.
As the class crept closer and closer to its finish, Anthony D’Ambrosio’s (USA) short course proved difficult to master. As the penultimate combination to return, Chapot and Chandon gave it their best effort, but as so many others had done, took down one obstacle towards the end of the course. The results were decided among four-fault rounds with no double-clears on the day.
“I was a little bit surprised that there weren’t any clears when I went in,” Chapot explained. “But I knew I shouldn’t really change the plan because I could start to get too careful, and then I did get a little too careful at the end and he did have the rail down.”
With no clears ahead of her and knowing her partner’s fancy footwork, she knew her best bet was to set the pace and let luck do the rest.
H5 Chacco-San Steals the Show in $62,500 Hermés CSI5* 1.50m Classic
Five-star show jumping came to a close in the International Arena with 55 pairings geared up to race against the clock in the $62,500 Hermés CSI5* 1.50m Classic. Once again, 11 duos did their all to advance on to the jump-off, but none proved to match the time of Carlos Hank Guerriero (MEX) and H5 Chacco-San. The jump-off featured a lineup of heavy hitters including Olympic Champion Ben Maher (GBR), Saturday Nights grand prix victor Richard Vogel (GER), and Canada’s Erynn Ballard (CAN) to name a few. However, Guerriero’s blazing-fast time of 34.22 seconds left him leading the way in the victory gallop.
“Honestly, he tried so hard for me out there,” Guerriero gushed. “I have a very, very quick horse and I know normally if I do the same strides as most horses, he’s almost always quicker than them. I knew if I tried to do something similar to Ben’s round, I could be faster.”
Guerriero has been partnered with H5 Sport Horses LLC’s 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Chacco-Blue x Sandro Boy) for close to five years and the two have risen together to be incredibly competitive at the five-star level.
Lacey Powers, Emi Richard, and Kenzie Smith Rein Victorious in Pony Hunter Divisions
Sunday of Week 7 at WEF was all about pint-sized entries on Pony Island. Large, Medium, and Small Pony Hunter Divisions wrapped up their weeks with tri-color presentations. Each division concluded for the weekend after riders competed across a regular, handy, and classic round over-fence, as well as an under saddle to gain points needed to claim the tricolor ribbons.
The Large Pony Hunter championship and reserve titles went to Lacey Powers of Loxahatchee, FL. Powers topped the division with her mount Gentle Touch, owned by Rivers Edge. The 12-year-old hunter star then followed her own lead, claiming reserve with fellow Rivers Edge mount, Won Wish.
Powers celebrated her birthday weekend in the arena, earning her first-ever score in the 90s atop Won Wish. “I love showing at WEF and all the opportunities to go in the ring,” said Powers. “The jumps always look nice, and I think the ponies really enjoy it.”
Powers earned five winning ribbons across the division with Gentle Touch, including the Large Pony Hunter Classic and under saddle.
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