It is Ashford Farm who announces the news: "We are very excited to share the news of an exciting new partnership betwenn Marlon Modolo Zanotelli & Ilex! Marlon is honored to take over the reins and fly the flag for his home country aboard this illustrious jumper!"

"We want to form a great partnership and represent Brasil together at all major events, championships and maybe even the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles," Zanotelli says.  “It is such a privilege to get to ride such an incredible horse and to continue his already amazing career for the years to come”, says Marlon. Ashford Farm’s owner, Enda Carroll, is also excited about the collaboration. “ We are very grateful for the trust that Gilberto Sayao has placed in us. To be able to add such prestigious jumper to Marlon’s string of horses is absolutely fantastic. We consider Ilex to be one of the best horses in the world and it is a great honor to be a part of his journey.”

Impressive journey with McLain

Together with McLain, Ilex made their final international appearance earlier this month in the Nations Cup of La Baule. Throughout 2024, Ward and Ilex were a reliable force for the U.S. team, including a standout contribution to the winning squad at the Longines League of Nations in Ocala.

Their 2023 campaign was equally impressive. The duo finished fourth in the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, fifth in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, and claimed a podium finish at the World Cup qualifier in Toronto.

The highlight of their partnership, without a doubt, was the Olympic team silver medal at the 2024 Paris Games—an unforgettable moment that solidified Ilex’s place among the sport’s elite.