<p dir="ltr">Australia has combinations producing numbers strong enough to contend anywhere in the world. But just as importantly, there is depth forming beneath them. Championship experience sits alongside emerging talent, and the next generation is knocking at the door.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Aachen may be the headline but this season is about more than just one championship. It&rsquo;s about who is peaking now and which horses are being shaped to define the years ahead.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Here are eight horses worth following in 2026.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">World Championship Contenders</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Vassily de Lassos (Elo: 730) Rider: Andrew Hoy</h3>
<div style="overflow: hidden; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><img style="float: right; max-width: 40%; height: auto; margin: 0 0 1rem 1.5rem;" src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/484c2300-29cf-4a87-a84d-d99ee5a8c821.png?width=2045&amp;height=2126" alt="Elo Blog Insert">
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Vassily de Lassos</strong> is not just the highest-rated Australian horse, with a current Elo of 730; <a href="https://www.equiratings.com/top-horses/eventing-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he is also the 13th highest-rated horse of all time</a>, thanks to his Elo peak of 846 in 2022. <strong>Andrew Hoy</strong> was on the bronze-medal team at the last World Championships held in Aachen back in 2006. Two decades on, he may have the chance to return to the venue with arguably the best horse of his career.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At 17, Vassily is in the final chapter of his career, which makes 2026 feel all the more significant. With an Olympic bronze (Tokyo 2021), fourth place at the World Games (Tryon 2018), and three top-five finishes at Aachen CCI4*-S to his name, if Australia wants to head to Aachen with ambition, this is a combination that has to be in the conversation.</p>
</div>
<h3 dir="ltr">Hollyander HG (Elo: 649) Rider: Olivia Barton</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Third in the overall Australian Elo rankings, <strong>Hollyander HG</strong> is one of the most consistent performers in the country. She hasn&rsquo;t finished outside first or second since 2023 which includes a runner-up finish at Adelaide 5* in 2024.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At 13, she is right in her championship prime, and although she didn&rsquo;t contest a long format last year, <strong>Olivia Barton,</strong> still just 24, continues to produce major results with her. She may not grab headlines as loudly as some, but her data quietly demands attention.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Bold Venture (Elo: 635) Rider: Shenae Lowings</h3>
<div style="overflow: hidden; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><img style="float: right; max-width: 40%; height: auto; margin: 0 0 1rem 1.5rem;" src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/c955dafc-d101-46fb-b50f-1bfb098a696a.png?width=2249&amp;height=1787" alt="HPR Blog Insert">
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Bold Venture</strong> delivered the highest-rated top-level (4 and 5*) performance of any Australian horse in 2025. This Australian-based combination achieved a HPR of 97 in the CCI4*-S at Scone NSW in November, finishing first with a dressage of 26.9 and adding just 0.8 time penalties in the showjumping phase.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At 16, he is an experienced, proven performer, and <strong>Shenae Lowings</strong> has him in the form of his life. He sits fourth in the overall Australian Elo rankings and is still trending upward.</p>
</div>
<h3 dir="ltr">Faro Imp (Elo: 560) Rider: Kevin McNab</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Kevin McNab's</strong> name appears more than any other across Australia's 2025 performance data, and<strong> Faro Imp</strong> is the horse at the heart of his 2025 story. A win at Millstreet CCI4*-S with a dressage of 28.8 and a seventh at Arville CCI4*-S earned him HPRs of 88 and 95 respectively.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">While he is still only 10, McNab is the kind of rider who knows exactly how to peak a horse for a championship. Worth watching closely as team selection approaches.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Young Horses to Watch</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Newmarket Amy (Elo: 489) Age: 8 | Rider: Kevin McNab&nbsp;</h3>
<p dir="ltr">The highest-rated eight-year-old in Australia, and trending sharply upward. A 10th-place finish at Le Lion d&rsquo;Angers confirmed her credentials on the world stage, and she now sits as the eighth highest-rated eight-year-old worldwide.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Kevin McNab&rsquo;s</strong> record for producing young horses is well established, and <strong>Newmarket Amy </strong>looks like the next major project in that pipeline. With an excellent record, a CCI4* debut might not be too far away. Watch this space.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">WHF Frequency (Elo: 484) Age: 9 | Rider: Ruby Rae</h3>
<p dir="ltr">At just 19, <strong>Ruby Rae </strong>is bringing <strong>WHF Frequency </strong>up the levels and their record is seriously impressive. In every completed run at three-star level, the combination has finished in the top five: second at Werribee CCI3*-L, second at Capel CCI3*-S, and a fourth at Brigadoon CCI3*-S.</p>
<p dir="ltr">An Elo of 484 makes <strong>&lsquo;Neville&rsquo;</strong> the second-highest rated nine-year-old in Australia. The natural next step is a four-star debut, and if that goes to plan, <strong>Ruby Rae</strong> could find herself in the conversation for the U25 World Championships at Millstreet, Ireland.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Bloomfield Findon (Elo: 579) Age: 10 | Rider: Christine Bates&nbsp;</h3>
<p dir="ltr">The top-rated 10-year-old in Australia, <strong>Bloomfield Findon </strong>holds an Elo of 579 and his record makes it clear why. In 12 starts, he has never scored above 30 in dressage, has never incurred a cross-country penalty, and has finished on the podium nine times, including five wins.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Christine Bates </strong>has him trending exactly where you would want, and the step from promising 10-year-old to established CCI4* performer may come sooner than many expect.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">One to Watch</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Sandhills Briar (Elo: 584) Age: 11 | Rider: Oliver Barrett&nbsp;</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">While several of Oliver&rsquo;s horses could be highlighted, it is <strong>Sandhills Briar</strong> who has contributed four of the six counting results that have Oliver sitting second in the FEI U25 World Rankings.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At just 21, Oliver has produced Sandhills Briar from his first CCI2* all the way through to a breakthrough CCI4*-L win in Sydney last November. They added just 1.2 time penalties in the final showjumping phase to deliver a HPR of 90.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Oliver Barrett is not only eligible for the inaugural <a href="https://news.equiratings.com/stories/looking-at-the-major-contenders-for-millstreet-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FEI Eventing World Championship for U25s at Millstreet,</a> he would head there as a genuine contender. Whether his focus remains domestic or shifts to the international stage, this is a rider and a team of horses that are moving up the ranks.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>From Aachen hopefuls to the horses being built for LA28 and even the home Oly[mics in Brisbane in 2032, Australian eventing has plenty of reasons for optimism.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Did you know?</strong></h2>
<p>At EquiRatings, we rate every single horse and every single performance in international eventing. Whether you&rsquo;re seeking a young prospect with championship potential or a proven performer ready for the next step, data-driven insights help reveal future stars long before the rest of the world catches on.</p>
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<p>The CSI5* $500,000 Modon Grand Prix at WEF Week 7 is not a class that gives anything away. Over the past decade, the average Round 1 clear rate has sat at just 16%. That means more than four out of five combinations will not make it back for the jump-off.</p>
<p>So who has the edge tonight?</p>
<p>Using EquiRatings predictive modelling, recent 1.60m form, and jump-off efficiency data, we break down where the real advantages lie.</p>
<h1>The Statistical Leaders: Margins at the Top</h1>
<p>The predictive model gives us three narrow favourites, and the margins are razor thin.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/cb6b574f-43a7-4e7b-a494-32f385f2d7b5.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="4"></p>
<h3>Eddy Blue &amp; Darragh Kenny (14%)</h3>
<p>Last year&rsquo;s runners-up in this class return with momentum, having already won Thursday&rsquo;s WEF Challenge Cup. They combine proven performance in Wellington with one of the strongest 1.60m clear rates in the field over the last 12 months. Reliable. Efficient.</p>
<h3>Dynastie de Beaufour &amp; Nina Mallevaey (13%)</h3>
<p>Few combinations in the sport are operating with this level of consistency. They arrive chasing a 12th consecutive CSI5* 160 clear round, a streak that places them in rare historical company. This isn&rsquo;t short-term form. It&rsquo;s sustained excellence at the highest level.</p>
<h3>James Kann Cruz &amp; Shane Sweetnam (12%)</h3>
<p>Podium specialists. If they qualify for the jump-off, the statistics become compelling. Their jump-off clear rate is elite, and when they go double clear, they almost always leave with silverware. The only question is whether Round 1 lets them get there.</p>
<p>In a class this difficult, even the favourites face long odds. But these three sit slightly ahead of the rest.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1>The Ones Bringing the Form</h1>
<p><strong>Gangster Montdesir &amp; Richard Vogel</strong> arrive with a perfect five-star 1.60m record this season and already a Grand Prix win in Wellington two weeks ago. The sample size is still building, 4 clears from 4 rounds, but the scoreboard is flawless.</p>
<p><strong>Dynastie de Beaufour</strong> and <strong>Eddy Blue</strong> both bring elite 1.60m reliability profiles, consistently outperforming the average course clear rates they face.</p>
<p>Charlotte Jacobs&rsquo; <strong>Playboy JT Z</strong> has quietly developed one of the strongest consistency profiles in the field, while Lillie Keenan&rsquo;s <strong>Fasther </strong>remains a proven five-star winner capable of delivering under pressure.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/bc3a7e53-ae41-4a53-894e-66a96aadfca2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="8"></p>
<p>When the first fence goes up, it won&rsquo;t be about reputation. It will be about who has repeatedly left the rails untouched at this height.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1>If It Comes Down to the Clock</h1>
<p>History tells us that 58% of jump-off starters in this class go on to jump double clear. But efficiency against the clock separates podium finishers from winners.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>James Kann Cruz </strong>stands out with an extraordinary jump-off profile. When he makes it back, he converts to podium, but rarely to a win.</li>
<li><strong>High Star Hero</strong> has shown impressive win efficiency once qualified.</li>
<li><strong>Gangster Montdesir</strong> combines pace with precision.</li>
<li>And <strong>Dynastie de Beaufour </strong>brings both Round 1 reliability and jump-off composure<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/502bee8b-a5de-49e6-8582-bfd18ae0c922.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="6"></li>
</ul>
<p>Survival is step one. Speed and accuracy under pressure decide everything after that.</p>
<h1><br><strong>The Bottom Line</strong></h1>
<p>With just a predicted handful of clears and no overwhelming favourite, tonight&rsquo;s Grand Prix will likely be decided by the smallest of margins.</p>
<p>One rail.<br>One stride left out.<br>One second against the clock.</p>
<p>The data gives us clues. The ring will give us answers.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1>The Fan Guide</h1>
<p>Find more storylines, key insights and stats and ratings on each combination in the WEF Fan Guide for tonight's CSI5* $500,000 Modon Grand Prix <a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-7-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>

WEF 7: Who Has the Edge in the $500,000 Modon CSI5* Grand Prix?

<p dir="ltr">Thursday belonged to Britain&rsquo;s <strong>Robert Whitaker, </strong>and Friday&rsquo;s spotlight was seized by Germany&rsquo;s <strong>Daniel Deusser. </strong>While Sweden&rsquo;s own <strong>Petronella Andersson</strong> delivered an outstanding, near-historic ride under the Friday night lights - chasing a third consecutive victory in the Hooks Prize - she had to settle for second. Her phenomenal form now reads: win, win, second. But crucially, not a win in 2026.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As the show pivots into the crucial weekend, that single detail matters above all else: Sweden is still searching for a home victory in one of the four major feature classes.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Two decisive chances remain:</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Gothenburg Trophy on Saturday.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Longines FEI World Cup&trade; on Sunday.</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr">And history dictates that the stakes couldn't be higher.</p>
<div style="text-align: center; margin: 30px 0;"><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #0b1f2d; color: #ffffff; padding: 16px 32px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 600; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;" href="https://equiratings.info/gothenburgsaturday2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Check out our Fan Guide for Saturday at Gothenburg &rarr; </a></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Spoiled Last Year, Searching Now</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The contrast to the 2025 celebration is stark. Last year, the home crowd was spoiled with success: <strong>Petronella Andersson</strong> took the Friday feature; <strong>Henrik von Eckermann</strong> secured the Gothenburg Trophy; and <strong>Linda Heed</strong> delivered a stunning World Cup win which surprised the <a href="https://jumping-prediction-centre.equiratings.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Prediction Centre</a> but delighted the home fans. Three major wins from four - outstanding home heroics.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The pattern of the past few years has been clear: Sweden often finds a moment of brilliance, but rarely does the success come easily or in a dominant sweep. This year, however, that moment is yet to arrive.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Absent Hero and the Looming Shadow of 2012</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The tension feels palpably different this year because the usual saviour is missing.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There is precedent for late heroics. In both 2017 and 2018, Sweden entered Sunday without a feature win, only for <strong>Henrik von Eckermann</strong> and <strong>Toveks Mary Lou</strong> to deliver a World Cup victory.</p>
<p dir="ltr">But in 2026, there is no Henrik. No <strong>King Edward </strong>or <strong>Iliana</strong>. No guaranteed international firepower parachuting in to rescue the narrative.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If the hosts fail to strike this weekend, the result could be a shuddering repeat of 2012 - the last time Sweden endured a complete blank across all four feature classes. That year was a German clean sweep, silencing the Scandinavium completely.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Best Chance Rests with a Legend</h2>
<p dir="ltr">If Sweden is to finally erupt the arena in 2026, the hopes may rest on the shoulders of an icon: <strong>Malin Baryard-Johnsson </strong>and the magnificent <strong>H&amp;M Indiana.</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">This duo have written their history, secured their legacy, but can this be the fairytale&hellip;?</p>
<p dir="ltr">The partnership is legendary, boasting Olympic Team Gold (2021) and World Championship Team Gold (2022) and Silver (2018). Indiana is now 18 - still sharp, still proud, and still competitive, as proven by their podium finish in Friday&rsquo;s Hooks Prize.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In terms of a career, <strong>H&amp;M Indiana </strong>and Malin are one of the greatest partnerships in the modern era of show jumping. They have jumped 76 clear rounds at the highest level and rank 4th amongst all partnerships globally since 2010.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/8f63d46d-ec24-4256-be8c-3498e17241c9.png?width=1332&amp;height=1246" alt="Xd4 Wj Sweden S Domination of the Super Six "></p>
<p dir="ltr">Malin knows the feeling of triumph on the ice in front of this crowd - she did it in 2004 with <strong>Butterfly Flip </strong>- beating the best of the best in the sport at that time. She has all the global triumphs, all the medals, all the history. This assignment could statistically look easier than 2004, but flying high to win a World Cup, on demand, at the tail end of a phenomenal career with <strong>H&amp;M Indiana</strong>&hellip;it&rsquo;s possible, but it will take a moment of magic for that fairytale to play out.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Two days to go. Two shots at success for the home nation. One date with destiny for an all-time Swedish legend.&nbsp;</p>
<div style="text-align: center; margin: 30px 0;"><a style="display: inline-block; background-color: #0b1f2d; color: #ffffff; padding: 16px 32px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 600; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;" href="https://equiratings.info/gothenburgsaturday2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Check out our Fan Guide for Saturday at Gothenburg &rarr; </a></div>

What’s happening in Gothenburg? Pressure is building..

<p dir="ltr"><strong>La Biosthetique-Sam FBW</strong> is not just considered the greatest event horse of all time. By the numbers, he is. Sam remains the highest-rated horse in the history of the EquiRatings Elo (since 2008), reaching a Peak Elo of 973 - a mark no other horse has surpassed. His loss marks the end of an era for eventing, a sport that will never quite see his like again.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/8f7f680e-a411-4ab6-a54a-1cf73dc12124.png?width=2188&amp;height=1228" alt="Dlh Eg the Highest Rated Horses by Equiratings Elo "></p>
<p dir="ltr">Sam broke every record that mattered and set new ones the sport is still chasing. Sam is the only horse in history to win individual Olympic gold medals at two Games (London 2012, Rio 2016) as well as a World Championship title (Kentucky 2010). He remains the first and only horse to have simultaneously held World, Olympic, and European titles.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Across 62 international appearances, he recorded 24 victories. At the top level (CCI4* and CCI5*), he won 18 times - more than any other horse in the modern era (since 2008).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Within that sits his most defining statistic: six 5* victories. No horse has won more since 2008. Five of these were achieved finishing on his dressage (FOD) score. He still holds the record of the most amount (6) of FOD's at 5*.<strong><br></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/e91a9c70-c9c6-4255-9c90-25c235bf0de7.png?width=1140&amp;height=1030" alt="Ja W Qb Horses With the Most Cci5 Wins Since 2008  (1)"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Making of a Champion</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Sam's championship career began with back-to-back silver medals at Le Lion d'Angers as a six- and seven-year-old. By his nine-year-old season (2009), a pattern was emerging. He won Luhm&uuml;hlen CCI5* on home soil with a dressage score of 31.3&mdash;the last time he would score over 30&mdash;and finished on his dressage score, a feat he would go on to repeat at the world's biggest championships.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky announced Sam's arrival on the global stage. He led from start to finish on a score of 22.0. It was a performance that foreshadowed an extraordinary run: in 2011, he added European individual gold at Luhm&uuml;hlen, then in 2012, he became the first horse to hold all three senior titles simultaneously when he won at the London Olympics.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At those three championships&mdash;WEG 2010, Europeans 2011, and London 2012&mdash;Sam didn&rsquo;t add a penalty in any phase. His average dressage and finishing score across all three was 23.8 penalties. The sport had never seen anything like it.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/8ff882bf-4ebb-40fa-b859-a4473b097d33.png?width=2024&amp;height=1830" alt="Fzc by La Biosthetique Sam Fbw S Record at Cci5 Including Worlds and Olympics "></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Benchmark Years</h2>
<p dir="ltr">By the end of 2012, Sam had statistically staked his claim as the greatest event horse the sport had ever produced. The margins were finer after that. A rail at the final fence denied him Badminton in 2013. Third-place finishes at Aachen followed in both 2013 and 2014. The 2014 season was lighter, without a long-format start, but the quality never wavered.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, Michael&rsquo;s other stars were shining -<strong> Halunke FBW</strong> won European gold in 2013, <strong>fischerRocana FST</strong> took World silver in 2014, and <strong>fischerTakinou</strong> claimed European gold in 2015. The stable was filled with superstars and Sam wasn&rsquo;t the only headline anymore.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In September 2015, the 15-year-old Sam won Burghley. The victory gave Michael the first leg of the Rolex Grand Slam. <strong>fischerRocana </strong>completed the second leg at Kentucky in spring 2016, leaving Sam to finish the job at Badminton - a venue where he'd previously fallen short, now with even more riding on it. Sam didn't just win. He obliterated the Badminton record for the lowest finishing score - 22.9 penalties.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Three months later in Rio, Sam became only the third horse in history to win back-to-back individual Olympic gold medals. He also became the only horse to finish on his dressage score at the Olympics - not once, but twice.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Legend's Legacy</h2>
<p dir="ltr">His final appearance came at Badminton in 2018, where the 18-year-old finished 10th. He retired sound. He retired celebrated. He spent the next eight years in active retirement at the Jung family's equestrian center, ridden regularly and treated like the champion he is.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In a sport that celebrates brilliance, Sam was the embodiment of something more enduring: consistency, honesty, and an unshakeable partnership. He proved that the perfect event horse doesn't need a huge trot or a scopey jump&mdash;it needs rideability, heart, and the ability to deliver when it matters most.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">In a sport built on variables, Sam was certainty. Rideability. Precision. Margins measured in decimals.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The data agrees. With a Peak Elo of 973&mdash;still the highest ever recorded&mdash;<strong>La Biosthetique-Sam FBW </strong>isn't just remembered as the greatest. He is, statistically, the greatest event horse the sport has ever produced.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Rest in peace, Sam. We were lucky to witness your brilliance.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
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La Biosthetique-Sam FBW and Michael Jung at a trot up

Goodbye to the Greatest: La Biosthetique-Sam FBW (2000-2026)

<p>Over the past decade, this class has consistently attracted the very best in the sport. Time and again, it has rewarded partnerships that find their rhythm in Wellington, proving that lightning can indeed strike twice. The question each year is simple: can anyone add their name to the repeat-winners list?</p>
<p>As we look ahead to Saturday night, the final start list is still to be confirmed. But many of the horses already on the grounds have proven they know exactly how to win this class.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/da8b51e0-f54d-46a8-ba74-6ebe8377b60b.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Former Champions Wef Week 7"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Greya Returns to Defend</h2>
<p>In 2025, Kent Farrington and Greya added their names to the roll of honor with victory against one of the strongest fields of the season. Now, Greya returns to Wellington with the chance to defend her Week 7 crown.</p>
<p>Her recent form suggests she is more than capable. Two weeks ago, in the CSI5* $500,000 Fidelity Investments&reg; Grand Prix, she came agonisingly close to another five-star victory. A rail at the final fence of the jump-off dropped her to fifth, denying what had looked like a winning round. The margin was narrow; the message was clear: Greya remains one of the sport&rsquo;s most formidable Grand Prix horses.</p>
<p>Farrington, however, does not rely on a single contender. He also brings Toulayna this week, another horse ranked among the world&rsquo;s Top 10. Few riders can call upon two horses of that calibre in the same week. Whoever steps forward on Saturday night, the depth of quality is undeniable.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Vogel&rsquo;s Winning Formula</strong></h2>
<p>Richard Vogel arrives in Week 7 with momentum firmly on his side. Two weeks ago, he captured the CSI5* $500,000 Fidelity Investments&reg; Grand Prix aboard Gangster Montdesir. That same horse now returns to Wellington alongside Vogel, himself a former champion of this class after winning in 2024 with United Touch S.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Few combinations in the sport are as consistent in five-star company as Vogel and his top horses. History suggests that when former champions return to WEF, they are rarely just participants.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Kraut&rsquo;s Depth of Experience</strong></h2>
<p>Laura Kraut also brings serious credentials into the week. She claimed this Grand Prix in 2023 with Baloutinue, and that former champion is back on the grounds once again.</p>
<p>But Kraut&rsquo;s strength lies in her depth. Bisquetta and Tres Bien Z have both delivered CSI5* victories in recent months, underlining the power of her string at the highest level. Whether it is Baloutinue reprising his winning role or one of her other top mounts stepping into the spotlight, Kraut&rsquo;s experience and options make her a formidable presence.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Ward&rsquo;s Wellington Legacy</strong></h2>
<p>No discussion of WEF five-star history would be complete without McLain Ward. A three-time winner of this class, Ward&rsquo;s record in Wellington speaks for itself.</p>
<p>This year, he returns with High Star Hero, alongside Lestro Vd Valckenborg and Le Louvre 5, horses with proven or developing 1m60 credentials. While HH Azur&rsquo;s era defined a chapter of dominance, Ward has consistently demonstrated an ability to produce new stars for major nights.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>A Field Built on Experience</strong></h2>
<p>A decade of this Grand Prix tells a clear story: this is a class that favors partnerships who already know how to win it. Former champions return, and more often than not, they place themselves right back in contention.</p>
<p>With Greya looking to defend her title, Vogel arriving off a fresh five-star victory, Kraut armed with multiple proven winners, and Ward adding another chapter to his Wellington r&eacute;sum&eacute;, the stage is set for a showdown shaped as much by experience as by raw talent.</p>
<p>One thing is certain: when these past winners canter into the International Arena, they will not be there to make up the numbers. They will be there to chase history, and to try to win it again.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-7-early-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore the full Fan Guide.</a></strong></span></p>
<p><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-7-early-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/0acaec14-f63e-473c-a8d3-f3dd5e3c71ba.png?width=1366&amp;height=679" alt="Wef Week 7"></a></p>

WEF Week 7 - Former Champions Return: A Grand Prix Defined by Repeat Winners

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