Gustavo Prato of Argentina rode Carna Z, a 13-year-old Zangersheide mare by Crown Z x Grannus owned by Equus Forte LLC, to second place with a clear round in 40.38 seconds, while Canada’s Mario Deslauriers finished third on Bardolina 2, a nine-year-old Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Landros owned by Wishing Well Farm LLC.
Deslauriers and Bardolina 2 started in the 1.40m jumpers at WEF in 2017 and the mare has moved up in competition quickly.
“This one is more like an outdoor horse and he jumps very good out here,” said Philippaerts, who is only three months back in the saddle after a fall and shoulder surgery in August last year. “He’s been jumping well the last two weeks, so I was hoping to get a win after that. This week he went very well, so I think the horse is going to stay a little longer and maybe do a few more shows in the month of March. It’s been very good for me as a European rider – we go to different venues every week in Europe – to come here for three weeks and jump four different shows. It makes coming really worth it.”