Thermal, California, USA – February 15, 2024 – Gregory Wathelet (BEL) made waves on the grass field as well Thursday of Desert Circuit 6, presented by IDA Development and Barnwalkers, scoring a win with Beau Gosse du Park in the $25,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic.
Wathelet brought a different string of horses for the 2024 edition of Desert Circuit than the previous year, so he hasn’t seen the same volume of wins, but he’s seen progress in the newer rides and the ones he’s bringing back from time off.
“This horse has done good things already but he was out for a bit so I decided to bring him here to get him back in the rhythm and do some shows with the hope that after he will be ready again for bigger stuff,” Wathelet said of Beau Gosse du Park, a 13-year-old Selle Francais stallion (Quaprice Bois Margot x Kannan). “It’s a horse with a lot of scope. He was tricky sometimes, spooky about a few things, but he’s quite a good horse. I think he has the potential to do big things.”
Wathelet was last to go in a competitive field, but the time to beat, held by Kyle King (USA) with Diamond, was achievable, set at 67.620 seconds.
“I was the last one to go and knew it was not crazy fast,” Wathelet reflected. “Normally [this horse] is not supposed to be the fastest one but I knew if I went a little bit inside everywhere and I could do my own turns and course I had a chance. It went quite well. He was focused everywhere but was not crazy fast.”
Wathelet came in at 66.092 seconds, just enough to take the win for himself. King took second with the Strasburg Morin Inc. entry, and Gabriel Rodrigues Honório (BRA) took third with Harley D, owned by Hybrid Horsemanship.
“The grass is for sure amazing. In general I really like to compete on the grass,” Wathelet said of returning to the grass field for competition this week. “Last year the grass was fantastic and that’s something to make me feel good when I get to show at this kind of place because the footing is very good here.”
The goal for 2024 was different for Wathelet in returning to the desert. In 2023, he won quite a few international classes, as well as multiple FEI grand prix classes. But this year, he’s shifting his focus, while still maintaining a travel schedule to big events globally.
“It’s a bit different from last year because last year I came with many really competitive horses that I knew and that could win,” he explained. “This year I brought two or three horses that are a bit out of rhythm. For example, Clarity was out for a few months and is just coming back now, and it will be a few weeks before he is ready [to win] again. Beau Gosse is back in the ring after six months.”
He also has taken the ride for Karrie Rufer aboard several top and up-and-coming mounts while she awaits the arrival of her first child. “I ride a few horses for Karrie because she is pregnant, and they are horses that are very good but I don’t know yet enough, but they can do big things,” he shared. “It’s a different routine this year but at least I hope the second part I can do a few good rounds. I have already been second many times but I hope the second half will be the same, even a bit better. But I know I don’t have the kind of horse like last year that I could win a grand prix every week.”
Final Results – $25,000 FarmVet 1.45m Open Classic
1) Gregory Wathelet (BEL) & Beau Gosse du Park – 0 – 66.092
2) Kyle King (USA) & King Diamond – 0 – 67.62
3) Gabriel Rodrigues Honorio (BRA) & Harley D – 0 / 0 – 69.35
Source: Press Release from Desert International Horse Park
Photos: © DIHP / TB Photography / High Desert Photo / MG Photography
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Categories: CSN, English, Jumper News Belgie
