The BrainJuice Under 25 series returned to Wellington International during Week 8 of the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Under the lights of the International Arena, the $32,000 BrainJuice U25 Semi-Final Grand Prix—the penultimate competition of the series—was won by Ireland’s Tim Brennan.
The track, designed by USA’s Steve Stephens and Nicholas Granat, proved difficult with only six returning for the jump-off. Out of the returning six, two cleared the short track but it was Ireland’s Tim Brennan that took the title aboard his own Diadema Della Caccia (Diamant de Semilly x Cardento 933), stopping the short-course clock in 34.76 seconds.
“She's deadly careful, she's got the heart of a lion; he will jump anything for you once you ask her and I just have to be on the ball,” said Brennan of the 10-year-old Italian Sporthorse mare. “I've been very lucky to have her for five years now. She's taken me all the way up through the ranks in Ireland and now we're lucky enough to bring her out here.”
After winning at Youth Nations Cups with the mare in Germany and Italy over the summer, Brennan is making the most out of his first season in Wellington, something the nineteen-year-old has had his sights on for several seasons.
“I was always thinking about coming out here; it's a great experience to get more mileage under my belt,” said Brennan, who hails from Kilkenny and was cheered on ringside by his family visiting from Ireland. “I’m looking forward to carrying this experience home—hopefully for a good year.”
Brennan rides with fellow Irishman John Roche while stateside, who noted about the young rider, “He has a good eye, good feel and a strong bond with that mare,” said Roche. “A good grey mare they try for you. They're great and he gets on very well with her.
“This series brings great development,” said Roche, who gave credit to the whole team at JR Show Stables, especially Brennan’s groom Juan Luis “Guicho” Rebollo. “For juniors or amateurs, it gives great opportunities for team involvement, and there’s no one route to success. I can’t say enough positive things about the division.”
Taking second behind Brennan was Tony Stormanns (GER) and Donjon D’Asschaut (Vigo Cece x Nonstop), owned by HS Sportpferde GMBH. The pair was the first to go clear in the jump-off, leaving a time to beat for Brennan of 35.11 seconds. Following in third was USA’s Zayna Rizvi and Oryzon van het Schaeck (Zirocco Blue x Vagabond de la Pomme), owned by Flying Z LLC. The pair laid down the fastest four-fault round across the short course, closing out the podium on 34.75 seconds.
Sitting second on the season leaderboard behind USA’s Hallie Grimes, Brennan and Diadema Della Caccia now have their sights set on the $50,000 BrainJuice U25 Series Final Grand Prix taking place on Sunday of WEF 10.
For full results, click here.
