Carlos Hank Guerreiro and H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z Taste Victory in $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix CSI3*
February 18, 2024 - Ocala, FL
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
A little rain could not damper the excitement of the first international grand prix of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series, the $100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix CSI3* on Saturday, February 17. From the impressive field of 32 athletes representing nine nations, it was Mexico’s young talent Carlos Hank Guerreiro, 24, aboard H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z, who made his first trip to World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) a winning one.
Irish course designer Colm Quinn challenged riders with his first-round track, which saw just five jump fault-free to advance to the jump-off. Fellow Irishman Daniel Coyle, 30, was the first to contest the short course, setting the time to beat at 41.00 seconds with Incredible, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding (Clinton x Heartbreaker) owned by Ariel Grange. It was all but over as Hank Guerreiro rode back into the WEC Grand Arena, crossing the timers in a blazing time of 40.66 seconds to move into the lead. Last to go, Ireland’s rising star Tom Wachman, 19, who won Thursday’s $35,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3*, gave it his best shot with Berlux Z, a 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Berlin x Major De La Cour) owned by Coolmore Showjumping. In the end, when the clock showed 43.67 seconds, Wachman would settle for third this time around, and the victory went to Mexico and Hank Guerreiro.
“He’s an amazing horse,” said Hank Guerreiro of the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Picasso Z x Ogano Sitte) owned by H5 Sporthorses LLC. “I got him as a seven-year-old, and he was quite green. He was produced by a very young rider from Belgium that took him to the Children’s European Championships then to the Belgium National Championships at 1.45m height. We saw him there and purchased him shortly after. From then on, he’s just done everything and more that we’ve asked of him. We stepped up to this level last year and he’s had a few good placings, but never in the podium and never a win, so I couldn’t be happier with him tonight.
“I was impressed coming through the WEC gates the first day,” he continued. “I have heard a lot of good things about the venue, and it did not disappoint one bit. I think there’s nothing that compares to it in the world. Everything is top class: the hotel, rings, dining, everything you could think of and more in a horse show. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start my time showing at WEC.”
$100,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix CSI3* Final Results:
1 H5 PORTHOS MAESTRO WH Z: 2014 Zangersheide gelding by Picasso Z x Ogano Sitte
Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX), H5 Sporthorses LLC: 0/0/40.66
2 INCREDIBLE: 2013 KWPN gelding by Clinton x Heartbreaker
Daniel Coyle (IRL), Ariel Grange: 0/0/41.00
3 BERLUX Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Berlin x Major De La Cour
Tom Wachman (IRL), Coolmore Showjumping: 0/0/43.67
4 CORDANI PS: 2014 Hanoverian mare by Balou Du Reventon x Baloubet Du Rouet
Andre Thieme (GER), Glen Nielsen: 0/0/46.53
5 ACAJOU: 2015 German Sport Horse mare by Casallco x Chico’s Boy
Ilan Bluman (COL), Ilan Bluman: 0/4/40.93
6 DAVIDOFF DE LASSUS: 2009 Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Ugano Sitte x Ksar-sitte
Zoe Conter (BEL), Stephex Stables: 1/80.49
7 BULL RUN’S HESED: 2014 Oldenburg gelding by Christian 25 x Lord Z
Kristen Vanderveen (USA), Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.: 4/75.08
8 PRESCOTT: 2012 Holsteiner gelding by Lordanos x BB Carvallo
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikahorse: 4/76.69
9 CHALOURIES PS: 2014 Oldenburg stallion by Chacco-Blue x Baloubet De Rouet
Eugenio Garza Pérez (MEX), El Milagro: 4/76.97
10 MARCIANO MVF: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Stakkato x Leberoi H
Heather Caristo-Williams (USA), Stephanie Bulger: 4/77.25
11 CHAMPION LEAGUE: 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Cador 5 x Contendro I
Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 4/77.67
12 ECHO VH GERENDAL Z: 2012 Zangersheide mare by Echo Van’t Spieveld x Jodokus
Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), Sky Group: 4/77.76
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Media Contact:
Justin Garner
justin.garner@wec.net
