In Wellington the CSI5* week kicked-off with a 1.45m main class. In it Gabriel De Matos Machado jumped to victory aboard his Legaland Sandro (breeder: Joe Reilly).
The Brazilian show jumping rider and Shane Sweetnam's former son by Sandro Boy were just a bit faster as Jad Dana and Fleur-de-Lis'Cherie (Clarimo ASK, breeder: Paardenhouderij Janssen). With just 0.01 seconds difference, McLain Ward completed the stage aboard his trusted First Lady (Don Diarado).
The pair was followed by Jordan Coyle and For Gold (For Fashion), while Richard Vogel completed the top five aboard Cydello (Cascadello I).
Earlier Ashlee Bond won the 1.40m CSI5* openingclass with her Elka de la Pomme (Cartoon Z). The 10-year-old mare was before competed by Dutch Amber Fijen and sold in 2021 at the Zangersheide auction for 45.000 euro. Diasy Farish and Verona 13 (Cielito Lindo 2) followed while Nayel Nassar and ESI Ali (Stakkato Gold) completed the top three.
F. © WEF-Sportfot