The international CSI5* of Wellington concluded on Sunday with the 1.50m Hermès Classic. In this timed competition, Michael Murphy narrowly held off Nicola Philippaerts to take the win. Murphy secured victory with the KWPN horse Kaida CM (breeder: C.C. Meegdes).
“I got her from Mclain Ward and my first show was one year ago this week; she did the two-star grand prix,” he said of their start together, proving how quickly they were able to put the pieces together. “She won a two-star grand prix a couple weeks ago on the grass. I’ve been picking and choosing her spots and she is starting to step up with me as I go. My goal is to jump her consistently at 1.50m plus.
“She’s very quick, so the time allowed is never really an issue,” he continued about the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Kannan x Indoctro). “Especially today, she jumps better when you can run her a little bit. It was nice to have a ‘speed-round’ pace for the first round and in the jump-off let her go the pace she really wants to go. She’s happier going like that.”
Murphy and the former Kannan mare, previously owned by Mart Ijland and Marriet Smit-Hoekstra, jumped to victory in 40.23 seconds. Nicola Philippaerts followed closely in second place, finishing just a few hundredths of a second behind with Derby de Riverland (Kannan) in 40.30 seconds.
The top three in this 1.50m class was completed by Irish showjumper Tom Wachman and Obora's Laura (Luidam).
They were followed by Henrik von Eckermann and Willem Greve's former BWP stallion, Minute Man (formerly O'Neill van't Eigenlo, by Vigo d'Arsouilles). The Irish rider, Max Wachman, with Kilkenny (Cardento), finished behind the stallion bred by Dany & Kim van Lombergen - Van Laenen.
