Nicola Philippaerts is making his mark on the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) with a second consecutive victory in Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup action, winning the $116,100 Round 5 offering during Week 5 at Wellington International. The Belgian win this week came aboard Katanga V/H Dingeshof, a mount he pulled out for international action for the first time this season.
WEF 5 is the first of four CSI5* weeks of the total 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition at WEF. Competition continues through March 30 at Wellington International in Wellington, FL.
“This win feels fantastic,” Philippaerts said following his victory lap aboard his 2022 World Championship partner. “Katanga had a few weeks off; her last show was at Mechelen for the World Cup so I gave her a bit of a break. She always likes it here and she jumped great today. She feels in really great shape and I think she’s happy to be back in Florida.”
Philippaerts navigated a challenging first-round track set by 2024 Paris Olympic Games course builder Gregory Bodo (FRA) and was joined for jump-off action by 10 other pairs. With a later draw, the Belgian returned last in the jump-off, and was put in a similar position as the week prior when he won the same class aboard Derby de Riverland.
The time to beat was fast, with Ben Maher (GBR) on top with Enjeu de Grisien, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright, crossing the timers in 35.62 seconds. Philippaerts took the speed up just enough to come home two tenths of a second faster than the former Olympic Champion and take the win. Maher was pushed to second and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) took third with Gilona AO, owned together with Popish Farm & Seabrook LLC.
“I saw Ben ride and he’s always super quick,” Philippaerts commented on his plan for the short course, knowing the stakes were high and the pace was fast. “I thought I’d give it a go. Everything worked out really well. She was with me all the time.”
Philippaerts has had the ride aboard Katanga since the winter of 2019, so they’ve grown together and he knows the horse quite well, now 15. “She feels great,” he said of the Belgian Warmblood mare (Cardento 933 x Tornedo FCS). “I don’t show her that much and try to take her to good shows and the ones that she likes. She’s still in very good shape so hopefully it’s more motivation for this season.”
Wellington has been a stop on Philippaerts’ schedule since 2021, when Katanga debuted stateside. “I think for sure she likes the weather,” he said about why the mare enjoys WEF. “She’s a stiff horse naturally and it loosens up the muscles. She likes the outdoor season a lot more than the indoor season.”
Katanga was also given the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award on Thursday, which Philippaerts found fitting because, “She has a very particular style. She’s the boss and I have to try to follow, steer her to the jumps and she’ll do the rest of the work. She has all the experience and it’s nice to have such an unbelievable horse in your string.”
Philippaerts will next aim Katanga at Saturday night’s $385,000 Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix, an event they took fifth in during the 2024 season.
See full results from the $116,100 Adequan® CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup Round 5 HERE.
In the 1/ST CSI2* 1.45m that kicked off competition in the International Arena on Thursday, Tom Wachman (IRL) and I'm Here, owned by Coolmore Showjumping, landed the top spot. Nicole Walker (CAN) and Excellent B took second, while Alison Robitaille (USA) and Dagny, owned by Alison Firestone LLC, claimed third.
Replica and Geoffrey Hesslink Score Almased 3’ Green Hunter Championship
Geoffrey Hesslink’s momentum is continuing to increase as World Championship Hunter Rider Week (WCHR) creeps closer and closer. Together with Replica, Hesslink took championship honors on Thursday of WEF 5 in the Almased 3’ Green Hunter division to add to the rider’s growing list of tricolors in Wellington.
“This horse is pretty new to me,” Hesslink said of Kristen Baran’s 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding. “I just started riding him about a month ago. He had a lot of success previously with Denis Sweeney and he’s been nothing but great since I’ve gotten the ride. I’m thrilled with him.”
Taking the win in both over-fences classes Thursday solidified the top spot for the pair, earning scores in the high 80s in a competitive group of 24 entries. Though it’s been a slower rise through the levels, Hesslink feels his work is paying off with taking it slowly.
“He’s a greener horse so I’ve been taking my time and giving him as many rounds of experience as I can,” he explained of his approach training Replica. “I didn’t get to watch much of the class today so I didn't know how it was. I got on him and he felt really relaxed so I tried to keep it smooth and give him a nice confident ride.”
With just a few days remaining before WEF 6’s WCHR competition, Hesslink is excited that all of his mounts are feeling ready for continued top results, especially with more on the line.
“I am feeling great,” he said. “We plan and schedule our entire winter around next week so I’ve been diligently working on each of my horses’ plans and schedules and so far all of the horses seem to be peaking at the right time. I couldn’t be more excited for what next week holds.”
See full results from WEF 5 HERE.
