Gregory Wathelet (BEL) added another win to his impressive resume in the desert in Saturday afternoon’s $38,700 Morning Star Sporthorses CSI3* 1.45m Classic at Desert Circuit III, once again aboard his homebred 11-year-old mare Argentina De La Marchete.
After an impressive week at Desert Circuit II with four wins, he made it an even five with a speedy jump-off to take the lead by a full second over second-place finisher, Irishman Conor Swail, and was able to maintain his position despite quick riders following him in the second round.
Over Manuel Esparza’s (MEX) first-round track, nine competitors jumped clear, with Wathelet having the advantage of jumping off later in the returning order. One round prior, Swail took the lead aboard Theo 160, seeming to leave very little on the table. But using his mare’s quick footspeed and inside turns, Wathelet managed to unseat Swail and push him to second.
“I went number one with a really good canter because I knew the [first] seven strides were a bit flat for me. I did that easily. I ran a little. She can do quite easy inside turns.” He secured his faultless effort by not leaving out a stride in the final line on course. He said, “ I decided to do 8 because I felt like I was fast enough at the beginning that I didn’t have to take that risk.”
“I hope she’s not too fast,” he remarked. “She’s going to walk a bit tomorrow morning to get more relaxed. It’s not always the best to go like that in a jump-off today, but I know she can go fast and we’ll see tomorrow.”
As for his plans for the coming weeks of Desert Circuit, Wathelet prefers to take it one day at a time. He narrowed his string to two mounts during week three in order to save his other horses for the latter weeks of competition. “I want them to feel fresh for the rest of the season,” he continued. “I tried to go fast yesterday and was fourth. We’ll see about tomorrow. I’m really enjoying it so far.”
It is no secret that the Belgian rider has an impressive winning record both in and far beyond the desert, and when asked about how competition in California compares to that in Europe he said, “It’s always the same; the jumps are there, and the height is there. Last week was a proper Grand Prix. It’s more technical in Europe and a little more difficult, but in the end you need to be clear, you need to jump it, and you need to go fast. The only big difference is in a jump-off like today, in a similar show, you might have 18 in the jump-off and 16 can win. But to be in the top three you still have to be quick.”
Show jumping continues Sunday morning with the $30,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.40m Open Classic, followed by the $145,100 Gillibrand Sand CSI3* Grand Prix.
Final Results: $38,700 Morning Star Sporthorses CSI3* 1.45m Classic
1. ARGENTINA DE LA MARCHETE: 2012 SCSL mare (Acajou De La Marchete x Del Piero PB)
GREGORY WATHELET (BEL), Gregory Wathelet: 0/0/30.65
2. THEO 160: 2012 HOLST gelding by Christian 25 x Calando IV
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Team Philippaerts: 0/0/31.63
3. CHICAGO CM: 2013 HOLST gelding by Cassini x Carpaccio
ERIC KRAWITT (CAN), Eric Krawitt: 0/0/32.59
4. CON CALLE: 2009 Holst gelding by Contendro II x Cassini II
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Georgy Maskrey-Segesman: 0/0/34.36
5. ZAMIA 3: 2007 HOLST mare by Aljano 2 x Dream Of Glory
CHANDLER MEADOWS (USA), Chandler Meadows: 0/0/35.74
6. INDIGO VAN DE MUGGENHOEK: 2013 KWPN gelding by Montender x Riverman ISF
ZUME GALLAHER (USA), Blue Gate Stables, LLC: 0/0/35.93
7. ETALON: 2009 KWPN gelding by Otangelo x Concorde
KYLE KING (USA), Christine Maclean: 0/4/32.11
8. CALACAS D AUBIGNY: 2012 SF gelding by Jarnac x Notrestar Dela Nutria
ZUME GALLAHER (USA), Blue Gate Stables, LLC: 0/4/34.09
9. FEYON: 2010 KWPN gelding by Zazou R x Hamilton
KAITLIN CAMPBELL (USA), SWS Training & Sales: 0/8/38.32
10. CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE: 2013 DSP mare by Captain Z x Bollvorm’s Lauriston
SUSAN ARTES (USA), Alix Fargo: 1/79.23
11. CALGARY IV: 2008 HOLST mare by Casall x Calato
NICOLE HAUNERT (USA), Cherokee Show Horses Inc: 4/75.74
12. CONRADO 12: 2013 ZANG gelding by Cardento x Diarado
ALI RAMSAY (CAN), Ramsay Equestrian LLC: 4/76.87
After an impressive week at Desert Circuit II with four wins, he made it an even five with a speedy jump-off to take the lead by a full second over second-place finisher, Irishman Conor Swail, and was able to maintain his position despite quick riders following him in the second round.
Over Manuel Esparza’s (MEX) first-round track, nine competitors jumped clear, with Wathelet having the advantage of jumping off later in the returning order. One round prior, Swail took the lead aboard Theo 160, seeming to leave very little on the table. But using his mare’s quick footspeed and inside turns, Wathelet managed to unseat Swail and push him to second.
“I went number one with a really good canter because I knew the [first] seven strides were a bit flat for me. I did that easily. I ran a little. She can do quite easy inside turns.” He secured his faultless effort by not leaving out a stride in the final line on course. He said, “ I decided to do 8 because I felt like I was fast enough at the beginning that I didn’t have to take that risk.”
“I hope she’s not too fast,” he remarked. “She’s going to walk a bit tomorrow morning to get more relaxed. It’s not always the best to go like that in a jump-off today, but I know she can go fast and we’ll see tomorrow.”
As for his plans for the coming weeks of Desert Circuit, Wathelet prefers to take it one day at a time. He narrowed his string to two mounts during week three in order to save his other horses for the latter weeks of competition. “I want them to feel fresh for the rest of the season,” he continued. “I tried to go fast yesterday and was fourth. We’ll see about tomorrow. I’m really enjoying it so far.”
It is no secret that the Belgian rider has an impressive winning record both in and far beyond the desert, and when asked about how competition in California compares to that in Europe he said, “It’s always the same; the jumps are there, and the height is there. Last week was a proper Grand Prix. It’s more technical in Europe and a little more difficult, but in the end you need to be clear, you need to jump it, and you need to go fast. The only big difference is in a jump-off like today, in a similar show, you might have 18 in the jump-off and 16 can win. But to be in the top three you still have to be quick.”
Show jumping continues Sunday morning with the $30,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.40m Open Classic, followed by the $145,100 Gillibrand Sand CSI3* Grand Prix.
Final Results: $38,700 Morning Star Sporthorses CSI3* 1.45m Classic
1. ARGENTINA DE LA MARCHETE: 2012 SCSL mare (Acajou De La Marchete x Del Piero PB)
GREGORY WATHELET (BEL), Gregory Wathelet: 0/0/30.65
2. THEO 160: 2012 HOLST gelding by Christian 25 x Calando IV
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Team Philippaerts: 0/0/31.63
3. CHICAGO CM: 2013 HOLST gelding by Cassini x Carpaccio
ERIC KRAWITT (CAN), Eric Krawitt: 0/0/32.59
4. CON CALLE: 2009 Holst gelding by Contendro II x Cassini II
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Georgy Maskrey-Segesman: 0/0/34.36
5. ZAMIA 3: 2007 HOLST mare by Aljano 2 x Dream Of Glory
CHANDLER MEADOWS (USA), Chandler Meadows: 0/0/35.74
6. INDIGO VAN DE MUGGENHOEK: 2013 KWPN gelding by Montender x Riverman ISF
ZUME GALLAHER (USA), Blue Gate Stables, LLC: 0/0/35.93
7. ETALON: 2009 KWPN gelding by Otangelo x Concorde
KYLE KING (USA), Christine Maclean: 0/4/32.11
8. CALACAS D AUBIGNY: 2012 SF gelding by Jarnac x Notrestar Dela Nutria
ZUME GALLAHER (USA), Blue Gate Stables, LLC: 0/4/34.09
9. FEYON: 2010 KWPN gelding by Zazou R x Hamilton
KAITLIN CAMPBELL (USA), SWS Training & Sales: 0/8/38.32
10. CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE: 2013 DSP mare by Captain Z x Bollvorm’s Lauriston
SUSAN ARTES (USA), Alix Fargo: 1/79.23
11. CALGARY IV: 2008 HOLST mare by Casall x Calato
NICOLE HAUNERT (USA), Cherokee Show Horses Inc: 4/75.74
12. CONRADO 12: 2013 ZANG gelding by Cardento x Diarado
ALI RAMSAY (CAN), Ramsay Equestrian LLC: 4/76.87