Guerreiro takes U25 Grand Prix; Lutz tops CP Grand Prix at 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.

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“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

Peter Lutz Saves Best for Last to Claim $25,000 CP Grand Prix Win

Peter Lutz kept the horse sport fans who lined the Derby Field banks guessing by posting the fastest jump-off time of the day as the last to compete from a field of 26 in the $25,000 CP Grand Prix to close out week six jumper competition.

Six horses advanced to the jump-off to vie for a piece of the top prize. Lutz and Quinta 106 cantered onto the field as the last to go and executed a clean, tight turn to the final line to secure the win in 36.908 seconds. The time bumped Jazz Johnson Merton (USA) into second place with a time of 37.698 seconds aboard her own Corona SB.

“Any opportunity I have to show on this field, I always take it,” said Lutz. “It’s a beautiful place to show with great footing and great environment. I think the horses do well here, but [Quinta 106] excelled today.”

Lutz has had the ride on the Swede Ventures’-owned Quinta 106, a 13-year-old Holsteiner mare (Quidam de Revel x Cento) for a year. “She’s a really competitive horse, very experienced, and scopey. I’m really happy to have the ride!”

It was banner day for Lutz-Manfredi Show Jumping, based out of Bedford, NY, with Mary Manfredi (USA) rounding out the podium in third with her longtime mount Magnus Orfeo. They stopped the clock at 39.951 seconds in the jump-off.

“I’m so proud of Mary and her horse,” said Lutz. “We have had that horse for a long time, and we are so happy that he has had such a long career and continues to do well. It was a really great day for us.”

In addition to his win, Lutz was presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award from Laura Fetterman of Champion Equine Insurance.

Jessica Mendoza (GBR) took fourth riding Dollar Girl for owned Windsor Farms, and Shannon Clifford (CHI) capped the top five on Ilusionist II, owned by Texas de Limache LLC.

Final Results: $25,000 CP Grand Prix

1. QUINTA 106: 2007 Holsteiner mare by Quidam de Revel x Cento

PETER LUTZ (USA), Swede Ventures LLC: 0/0/36.908

2. CORONA SB: 2004 Holsteiner mare by Chello II x Landgraf I

JAZZ JOHNSON MERTON (USA), Jazz Johnson Merton: 0/0/37.698

3. MAGNUS ORFEO: 2005 Silla Argentino gelding by Magnus Orestus x Carjdor Z

MARY MANFREDI (USA), Mary Manfredi: 0/0/39.951

4. DOLLAR GIRL 46: 2009 Hanoverian mare by Dollar du Murier x Escudo I

JESSICA MENDOZA (GBR), Windsor Farms: 0/4/35.581

5. ILUSIONIST II: 2008 BWP gelding by Toulon

SHANNON CLIFFORD (CHI), Texas de Limache LLC: 0/4/36.570

For full results, visit www.PBIEC.com.