For Immediate Release
Lindsay Brock, Summer Grace, and Sabrina Brashares for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – February 16, 2020 – 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.

Carlos Hank Guerreiro and H5 Quantador 3. Photo © Sportfot

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.

“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.”

Carlos Hank Guerreiro and H5 Quantador 3 in their winning presentation with Hermès representatives Leah Rogers Meierfeld, Senior Equestrian Account Executive with Hermès, and Hugues d’Alès, Head of Sales for Equestrian. Photo © Sportfot

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.”

Zoe Conter and H-Cassino. Photo © Sportfot

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.

Charlise Casas and Diamond M. Photo © Sportfot

For full results, visit www.PBIEC.com.

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

6 CON PLEASURE 5: 2009 Westphalian gelding by Contendro 1 x Funny Fasion
FLO NORRIS (GBR), Cisca Norris: 0/0/39.55

7 MILAN IV: 2005 Holsteiner gelding by (Lasino x Quinar)
DELANEY FLYNN (USA), Grace Jacobsen: 0/0/39.93

8 DIAMANTS AURORA: 2010 Hanoverian mare by Dirado x Chacco Blue
JESSICA MENDOZA (GBR), Jessica Mendoza: 0/0/40.12

9 DREAMER DES BERGERIES: 2009 Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Ugano Sitte x Oberon du Molin
SAMANTHA WIGHT (USA), Melissa Wight: 0/0/45.72

10 FAMOUS: 2010 KWPN gelding by Aerobic x Kojak
KATHERINE STRAUSS (USA), Katherine Strauss LLC: 0/4/39.31

11 VOYOU DU BOBOIS: 2009 Selle Français gelding by Calvaro F.C. x Tresor de Cheux
FLORE GIRAUD (FRA), Delphine Giraud: 0/4/39.35

12 CALVIN VAN’T AMELDONK Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Chippendale Z x Nababb de Reve
DONOVAN ROSS (USA), Halo Capital: 0/4/43.23

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.

Peter Lutz and Quinta 106. Photo © Sportfot

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.

Peter Lutz and Quinta 106 in their winning presentation. Photo © Sportfot

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.

For full results, visit www.PBIEC.com.

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

6 CHICAGO HOF EVERSEM Z: 2008 Zangersheide gelding by Con Spirito R x Papillon Rouge
PETER LUTZ (USA), Swede Ventures LLC: 0/4/38.974

7 TEDDY DU BOSQUETIAU: 2003 Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Ogano Sitte x Albion du Chene Brule
KAREN SPARKS (CAN), Brookstreet Stables: 1/83.603

8 DIETA: 2008 KWPN mare by Ukato x Indorado
RYAN GENN (GER), Taylor Blackman: 4/79.086

9 QUIDAM MB: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Quidam’s Rubin x Argentinus
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms LLC: 4/80.687

10 FEE DES SEQUOIAS Z: 2009 Zangersheide mare by Figaro du Ri d’Asse x Saccor
JUAN MANUEL GALLEGO (COL), Juan Manuel Gallego: 4/81.230

11 DAVIDSON: 2008 KWPN gelding by Harley x Chin Chin
CALLAN SOLEM (USA), Five Star Partners: 4/81.354

12 BLIXTEN: 2008 gelding by Mezcaleno x Galoubet
GIGI MOYNIHAN (USA), Christy Johnson: 4/82.306

Tracy Scheriff-Muser, Raina Swani, and Sterling Malnik Conclude WCHR Week with Wins

World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Week came to a close on Sunday, with Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Bode Well, Raina Swani and Knightly, and Sterling Malnik and Charlie claiming concluding-day victories in the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Hunter Classic and the $5,000 WCHR Junior Hunter 3’3” Classic.

The two featured competitions wrapped up a week’s worth of stiff hunter competition with everything from seasoned professionals to green horses taking center stage in the International Arena, usually reserved for top show jumping competition.

Eighty-eight horse-and-rider combinations were present to display their final efforts in the $5,000 Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic, and the top 12 of those competitors were asked to return for a second round.

Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Bode Well. Photo © Sportfot

Heading into round two, Scheriff-Muser and Bode Well held the highpoint score of 90, and the pair replicated their performance in round two to earn an additional score of 90 for a 180 total. Second place with scores of 86 and 80 for a 166 total went to Christina Kourgelis and her own Cayetano.

“I started riding this horse this summer because I live in Florida all year long, so whatever I can find to ride to keep in shape during the off season I will,” explained Scheriff-Muser of Melissa Burns’ nine-year-old Zweibrucker gelding (Apiro x Desprit).

“He has never been in the International Arena before, but he never puts a foot wrong and is always game, so I was confident going in there,” she continued. “We just picked up a rhythm and everything seemed to come up really well.”

Raina Swani and Knightly. Photo © Sportfot

The final class to go in the International Ring during WCHR Week was the $5,000 WCHR Junior Hunter 3’3” Classic. The class saw 59 competitors and was held in a California-split format. The top 24 horse-and-rider combinations were called back for a second round to determine who would receive top honors for Section A and Section B. Ultimately, it was Raina Swani aboard Knightly who took home the victory for Section A. The pair received two scores of 88 for a total high score of 176.

Swani, of Ponte Verda Beach, FL, has only been partnered with Knightly since December. The 11-year-old Warmblood gelding is owned by Swani’s trainers, Brendan Williams and Geoffrey Hesslink.

“It just feels so special,” said Swani. “Going in last was definitely a bit nerve-wracking but Knightly was such a good girl. She has a great canter and great pace around the ring and a great expression. She’s a really fun horse!”

Sterling Malnik and Charlie. Photo © Sportfot

Taking the top spot in Section B was Sterling Malnik and Charlie with scores of 82 and 88 for a total score of 170. Malnik had three rides in the class, but Charlie, a 12-year-old Holsteriner gelding, was the one who rose to the challenge. Malnik, of Ocean Ridge, FL, has owned Charlie for about a month and currently trains with Bill Schaub.

“It’s a really big deal!” said Malnik of her successful day. “I actually won the [WCHR Large Pony Classic] today too They were dreams of mine! Charlie is actually an equitation horse, so we didn’t expect anything to come from this. We expected him to be a safe ride and get me around the whole course but he really pulled it out.”

Classic rounds with prize money were also held for Children’s Hunter riders with the NAL Children’s Hunter Horse Classic 14 and Under and the NAL Children’s Hunter Horse Classic 15-17. Pony riders also had the opportunity to show in a classic round with the Large, Medium and Small Pony Hunter Classics, as well as the Large Children’s Hunter Pony Classic and Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Classic. These additional classic winners include:

$2,500 NAL Children’s Hunter Horse Classic 14 and Under
Maya Rahaim, Armani II
87, 87, 174

$2,500 NAL Children’s Hunter Horse Classic 15-17
Claire Healy, Ulysses
84, 82, 166

$2,500 Large Pony Hunter Classic
Sterling Malnik, Prestige
88, 86, 174

$2,500 Medium Pony Hunter Classic
Alexa Lignelli, EMC Entourage
87, 87, 174

$2,500 Small Pony Hunter Classic
Olivia Sweetnam, Armani
90, 90, 180

$2,500 Large Children’s Hunter Pony Classic
Sydney Raidy, Blue Me Away
79, 84, 163

$2,500 Small/Medium Children’s Hunter Classic
Rylie True, Farnley Blew Kisses
86, 84, 170

Find full results from Sunday’s hunter competition online at www.PBIEC.com.

Photo credit: Photos © Sportfot, official photographer of the Winter Equestrian Festival. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.