Gregory Wathelet Charges Past the Field in the $63,000 Champion Savings Classic CSI 5*-W

By Jumper News on 2026-02-01

Thermal, United States – January 31, 2026 – Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet (BEL) and Argentina de la Marchette capped off their successful time together at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) with a win in the $63,000 Champion Shavings Classic CSI 5*-W – 1.50m on Friday, January 30, during Desert Circuit 4, presented by La Quinta Resort & Club.

Wathelet and his homebred 14-year-old Selle Luxembourgeois mare have spent the past five months in the U.S., accumulating strong finishes throughout the eight weeks of the 2025-2026 DIHP season thus far. Now, the pair will head home to Europe with another major victory to their names.

To clinch the win on Friday, Wathelet and “Argentina” had to best a 10-horse jump-off – but Wathelet knew it was well within the mare’s abilities.

“I know my mare is very quick at this height,” said Wathelet. “Honestly, she is one of the quickest in the world, I think. Yesterday in the [$117,000 Morning Star Sport Horses CSI5*-W 1.55m Qualifier], I saw Kent [Farrington], and I was feeling that to catch him was going to be too crazy on this horse because it was five centimeters more. I played more for the second place yesterday. Then I was happy with that, but today I thought… ‘Okay, she can try. I can try everything today,’ and it worked out.”

With a time of 35.98 seconds Wathelet and Argentina overtook the USA’s Karl Cook (USA) and Kalinka van’t Zorgvliet, owned by Signe Ostby, for the win. Cook and Kalinka finished in second place with a time of 36.79 seconds, and Callie Schott (USA) and Ironix, owned by Southern Arches LLC, rounded out the top three on 37.30 seconds.

“After [jumping in yesterday’s CSI5*-W 1.55m Qualifier], I was thinking maybe I should not jump her today,” said Wathelet, who finished second in that class. “I don’t like to do two big classes like that two days in the row…Then I felt her in the morning. I rode at seven this morning. She still felt fresh enough. For that she’s amazing. Even if felt like she was tired, she’s just such a fighter, and she’s amazing. For her, it’s the last one here, and then she is going to have a few weeks off.”

While Wathelet operates a large-scale training and breeding operation with roughly 50 horses at home in Belgium, he continues to make a point to come to California and to spend as much of the season as he can at Desert International Horse Park.

**Gregory Wathelet** (BEL) & **Argentina de la Marchette**

“I did choose to come here a few years ago because I love California,” said Wathelet. “Not only about the horse show and about horses but just also to come on vacation. Many times we did a road trip or holiday vacation here without horses. I think everybody who comes over here, they see the weather…It’s something that we cannot catch anywhere else.”

Wathelet, continued, “I find also the people, the organizers, are really friendly, really nice. They want to improve. I think they have big projects, and I like that.”

With 10 weeks of top-caliber competition, Desert Circuit at Desert International Horse Park continues through March 15, 2026. To learn more, visit deserthorsepark.com.