Luis Larrazabal (VEN) ended Week 6 with a win and opened the Lugano-sponsored Week 7 with a win at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), kicking off the second of four total CSI5* competitions throughout the 13-week series at Wellington International.
Aboard Belle de Muze, owned by Driss Ngadi, Larrazabal was the very last in the ring and sped to a win over Anthony D’Ambrosio’s (USA) two-phase track in the $32,000 Dodd Technologies CSI5* 1.45m. After two consecutive wins, Larrazabal is riding a high.
“It gives me a lot of confidence for what is coming,” he said about his wins over the past week, which started in the Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic on Saturday. “It’s a big week for me. I’m jumping Condara in the five-star grand prix, and it's nice to start on the right foot.”
Larrazabal knew the caliber he was up against and felt he had the right partner for the occasion in Belle de Muze.
“This mare has incredible talent,” he said of the 15-year-old Selle Français by Pensee V, his partner for the past two years. “She’s so fast in the ring. This was a nice class for her because 1.45m is very easy for her. I didn’t watch anybody because when I see people go fast I want to go even faster. But with this mare, if you’re pedal to the metal, you’re going to go faster than that. I do my best with her and try to stay out of her way. We got lucky again.”
Larrazabal edged out McLain Ward (USA) with his veteran First Lady, owned by Robin Parsky, settling them into second place. Richard Vogel (GER) claimed third with Viva Las Vegas W.
Snagging a win like this, paired with a victory just several days prior, validates the hard work put in every day by Larrazabal and his entire team.
“It’s very gratifying because we work a lot for the winter season,” he said of the winning feeling. “The best riders and horses come here to compete. It’s three months of very intense competition. Being here with my horse in top form, competing week in week out, it feels good. The system is working, the horses are happy. If they're happy the rest is easy.”
On top of all the hard work and dedication is an impressive string of horses in Larrazabal’s stable that is lifting him to new heights, including topping the Hermès 1.50m standings heading into WEF 7.
“Right now I have five horses for the 1.50 [and above], so I’m very lucky,” he commented on his consistency. “It’s all thanks to my clients and team and everybody who trusts me. It’s not easy, we’ve been really working the past three or four years to really build this. Now having the horses to enjoy and have fun after all the hard work, it’s a very good feeling.”
Though Larrazabal still has more work to do this week—jogging both Baroness and Condara for the CSI5*—Belle de Muze will sit out until another week.
“I put her in today and told her ‘if you have a podium finish we’ll leave it at this and rest for the next weeks here,’” he said of his approach with the mare, who was eager to earn some quality rest.
Earlier in the day, Canadian Olympian and Amy Millar and Christiano, owned by Future Adventures, won the Buckeye Nutrition CSI2* 1.40m.
To see full results, click HERE.
