Wellington, Florida, USA – February 25, 2024 – Five-star show jumping came to a close in the International Arena with 55 pairings geared up to race against the clock in the $62,500 Hermès Classic CSI 5*- 1.50m. Once again, 11 duos did their all to advance on to the jump-off, but none proved to match the time of Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) and H5 Chacco-San.
The jump-off featured a lineup of heavy hitters including Olympic Champion Ben Maher (GBR), Saturday Nights grand prix victor Richard Vogel (GER) and Canada’s Erynn Ballard (CAN) to name a few. However, Guerreiro’s blazing-fast time of 34.22 seconds left him leading the way in the victory gallop.
The ever-impressive Ben Maher (GBR) and his, Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s 14-year-old Royal Dutch Sport Horse – Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) stallion, Faltic HB (Baltic VDL x Concorde) trailed just off Guerreiro’s time after stopping the clock in 34.74 seconds.
Egypt’s Nayel Nassar (EGY) made it a truly international podium by posting the third-fastest time with Evergate Stables LLC’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, ESI Ali (Stakkato Gold).
“Honestly he tried so hard for me out there,” Guerriero gushed. “I have a very, very quick horse and I know normally if I do the same strides as most horses, he’s almost always quicker than them. I knew if I tried to do something similar to Ben’s round, I could be faster.”
Guerreiro has been partnered with H5 Sport Horses LLC’s 13-year-old Hannoverian gelding (Chacco-Blue x Sandro Boy) for close to five years and the two have risen together to be incredibly competitive at the five-star level.
“He’s such a competitive horse at this level that we are trying to pick and choose what competitions we put him in,” he explained. “If you point him at the jump, he will do his best to clear it. His mentality is amazing; he’s so careful but he’s almost more brave than careful sometimes. He’s a great partner for these classes.”
Final Results – $62,500 Hermés Classic CSI 5*- 1.50m
1) Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX) & H5 Chacco-San – 0 / 0 – 34.22
2) Ben Maher (GBR) & Faltic HB – 0 / 0 – 34.74
3) Nayel Nassar (EGY) & ESI Ali – 0 / 0 – 35.27
Source: Press Release from Wellington International
Photos: © Wellington International / Sportfot
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Categories: CSI 5*, English, Jumper News Mexico, Wellington International
