Sunshine glinted off the Hudson, the Manhattan skyline forming a cinematic backdrop, and amid the cheers of a captivated crowd—including Bruce Springsteen himself—Gregory Wathelet sealed a spectacular victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour of New York. His 13-year-old grey mare, Argentina de la Marchette, danced over fences in a flawless display of precision and poise to claim the Champagne Piaff Trophy CSI5* 1.50m Jump-Off.
“It is amazing here in New York, the backdrop is fantastic and there were a lot of people in the crowd today,” Wathelet said, his smile broad. “She’s so careful. I know exactly what I had to do. She really likes the attention. She can be quite sensitive, so I am very aware of how much I should push her.”
The course tested every competitor to the limit. Early round time penalties eliminated contenders including Michael Duffy with Chili Pepper H M Z and Marcus Ehning on Flower Girl. Fifteen pairs advanced to the jump-off, featuring top international names such as Henrik von Eckermann, Nicola Philippaerts, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, and Nayel Nassar.
The jump-off unfolded with drama. Von Eckermann and Glamour Girl set an early pace but clipped a rail. Eduardo Menezes and Alvarez Aznar faced similar fate, while home rider Mimi Gochman lifted spirits with a first clear on Iron Maiden. Olivier Philippaerts’ H&M Miro then stormed to the front, only to be bested by Wathelet’s immaculate run of 32.94 seconds. Natalie Dean delivered a valiant final ride for the Americans, narrowly missing the podium.
Belgium flew highest on the day, with Wathelet and Philippaerts claiming first and second, while rising British talent Oliver Fletcher secured third. The Americans showed strong home pride, with Gochman and Dean finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Top 6 Results – Champagne Piaff Trophy CSI5* 1.50m Jump-Off
1st – Gregory Wathelet (BEL) – Argentina de la Marchette | 0 | 32.94
2nd – Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) – H&M Miro | 0 | 33.47
3rd – Oliver Fletcher (GBR) – BP Pocahontas | 0 | 33.85
4th – Mimi Gochman (USA) – Iron Maiden | 0 | 35.05
5th – Natalie Dean (USA) – Con Calma | 0 | 35.17
6th – Marco Kutscher (GER) – Catelly | 0 | 36.78
As the Hudson banks quiet for the evening, anticipation builds for tomorrow’s Grand Prix of New York at 13:45 local time, promising yet another chapter of breathtaking show jumping in the heart of the Big Apple.
Read the full report on RaceBuzz.
