Daniel Bluman (ISR) experienced a pleasant case of déjà vu on Saturday night after winning the $425,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI5* Grand Prix during Week 9 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL. He and his steady partner Ladriano Z won the same event in 2019 and lead the victory gallop once again during ‘Saturday Night Lights’ in front of a packed house at Wellington International.

The highly anticipated track from internationally renowned course designer Alan Wade (IRL) produced top sport from a stacked field. Bluman was last to punch a ticket to the jump-off after Egypt’s Nayel Nassar, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Karl Cook (USA) paved the way.

If Bluman felt the pressure as he returned for the short course, he didn’t show it while putting Ladriano Z’s massive stride to good use over the expansive track. “I watched Shane’s round and his horse and mine are both big and scopey, so I tried to do the same as him and edge him in a couple places,” said Bluman of the 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Lawito x Baloubet Du Rouet) he owns with Blue Star Investments and Over The Top Stables.

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