<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>
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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)

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<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

<p dir="ltr">The eventing calendar gains a significant new fixture in 2026 as <strong>Millstreet International Horse Trials</strong> in Ireland prepares to host the inaugural <strong>FEI Eventing World Championship for U25s</strong> from 22-26 July. Run at CCI4*-S level, this championship addresses a long-standing gap in the sport's development pathway, offering riders their first true team championship experience between Young Rider level and Senior competition.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The importance of this new category extends beyond simply adding another event to the calendar. For years, talented riders have faced a big transition from Young Rider championships to Senior level without a stepping stone. The U25 Worlds creates exactly that opportunity, allowing emerging talent to learn the pressures and protocols of championship eventing while competing against peers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Germany's Championship-Tested Leaders</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Early form indicators suggest Germany will arrive at Millstreet with serious medal ambitions. <strong>Calvin B&ouml;ckmann</strong>, the current FEI U25 World Number One, produced the highest-rated performance by a U25 rider at CCI4*-S level in 2025.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/cc68463a-1a22-4697-a016-822a6201b33a.png?width=1980&amp;height=1268" alt="U Q H4 I the Highest Rated Performances by U25 Riders at Cci4 S Nbsp Nbsp in 2025 Nbsp "></p>
<p dir="ltr"><img style="float: right; width: 50%; margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;" src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/7c78590d-ac9f-4171-8048-e992390d9ad6.png?width=2542&amp;height=1836" alt="Hpr High Performance Rating (2)"> His 98 HPR at Arville aboard <strong>The Phantom of the Opera</strong> stands as the year's benchmark. His career-best HPR also came in 2025 when he finished 4th individually at the Senior European Championships. That Senior Championship debut has given B&ouml;ckmann invaluable experience under pressure, and paired with his elite cross country speed and clean show jumping record, it makes him one of the leading contenders.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Another headline act for Germany is <strong>Libussa L&uuml;bbeke</strong> who brings gold medal experience to the equation. A sports soldier at Warendorf alongside B&ouml;ckmann, L&uuml;bbeke was part of the German team&mdash;with <strong>Michael Jung, J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Robin&eacute;,</strong> and <strong>Malin Hansen-Hotopp</strong>&mdash;that claimed gold at the European Championships in Blenheim. Her 95 HPR aboard <strong>Caramia 34</strong> at Arville shows she can produce elite CCI4*-S performances in her own right, reinforcing Germany's depth heading into Millstreet.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img style="float: right; width: 35%; margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;" src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/f037c644-e0f0-44eb-a608-8cde1ad8ed50.png?width=984&amp;height=1360" alt="Ay Xzr Average Hpr of Each Nation S Best Four Performances"></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="clear: left;">Germany's strength is measurable as well as visible. When taking each qualified rider's best HPR at CCI3*-L level and above, and averaging the top four scores per nation, Germany leads the field with an average of 94 - the highest of any nation. It reflects not just one standout performance, but sustained elite-level quality across their likely team.</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="clear: left;">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Great Britain's Depth&nbsp;</h2>
<p dir="ltr">At this early stage, the qualification numbers tell a compelling story about British Eventing&rsquo;s production line. With 26 riders already qualified&mdash;compared to nine each for the USA and Germany&mdash;Great Britain has huge depth.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The average HPR of their top four eligible riders sits at 91, placing them firmly among the leading contenders and demonstrating that quality matches quantity.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Alice Casburn </strong>represents perhaps the most intriguing British prospect. A proven performer at five-star level with five top-ten finishes including four at Burghley, she could be tempted to focus on the four-star level this year as her partner <strong>Topspin </strong>turns 18. Championship experience runs deep for this combination: <strong>Topspin </strong>competed at both Junior and Young Rider European Championships, claiming individual bronze at the latter. For Casburn, the U25 Worlds would represent the natural next step in a progressive championship pathway that has already proven successful.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The British depth chart extends well beyond the headline names, with five additional riders posting standout four-star performances in 2025:</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr"><strong>Barnie Brotherton &amp; DHI King Nelson </strong>- 92 HPR&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr"><strong>Tom Woodward &amp; Low Moor Lucky </strong>- 90 HPR&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr"><strong>Jago Jackson &amp; Glynndale Prometheus </strong>- 88 HPR&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr"><strong>Tara Dixon &amp; Master Smart </strong>- 87 HPR&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr"><strong>Anya Strilkowski &amp; K</strong> - 85 HPR&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr">Each has demonstrated the ability to produce high-quality CCI4*-S performances, giving British selectors enviable depth as they shape a four-rider championship team.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Wider Competitive Picture</h2>
<p dir="ltr">While Germany and Great Britain dominate early discussions, several other nations have athletes capable of disrupting the expected order. Australia&rsquo;s <strong>Oliver Barrett </strong>posted a 91 HPR at Scone in New South Wales, while Sweden&rsquo;s <strong>Amanda Andersson</strong> matched that mark with a 91 at Strzegom. The US is represented by <strong>Molly Duda, </strong>whose 85 HPR at Bramham underlines the American potential.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That individual strength is mirrored in broader squad depth. France and Ireland each have six riders already qualified, giving them credible team foundations, while New Zealand and the Netherlands are also building toward competitive line-ups. With teams allowed to field three or four riders&mdash;and individuals permitted even without a full team&mdash;the championship is likely to feature a wide mix of established powers and emerging contenders.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Championship with Long-Term Impact</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The inaugural FEI Eventing World Championship for U25s is more than a new line on the calendar. It represents a structural shift in how the sport develops its next generation.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Millstreet will not simply crown the first U25 world champion - it will reveal which nations are building sustainable pathways and which riders are ready to bridge the gap to Senior competition.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In many ways, this is not just a championship - it is a preview of the sport&rsquo;s future.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
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Calvin Bockmann and Alice Carburn with their respective nation's flags behind them

Bringing the Form: Looking at the major contenders for Millstreet 2026

<p>Under the Saturday Night Lights in Wellington, Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir had their own ideas about how the WEF season&rsquo;s first CSI5* should turn out. In the $500,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix packed with proven stars and long‑running streaks, the ten‑year‑old stallion stepped decisively out of the &ldquo;wildcard&rdquo; category, once again finishing ahead of a flawless Ben Maher and Enjeu de Grisien and signaling that WEF 2026 may have just crowned the partnership to watch.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The Wildcard: Gangster Montdesir Versus the Model</h2>
<p>EquiRatings flagged Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir as the class&rsquo;s true unknown: a wildcard with flawless form but limited data at this exact height. The model rated their probability of jumping clear in Round 1 at just 38%, a cautious figure driven by a small sample size rather than any lack of quality.​</p>
<p>Sport, however, tends to expose the limits of even the best models. In the 12 months leading into Wellington, Gangster Montdesir had started three CSI5* 1.60m classes and jumped clear in all of them, giving the stallion a 100% clear record at the level and already one five‑star Grand Prix victory to his name in Lyon in late 2025. Every new test has been met not only with composure but with winning intent, and Wellington simply added another data point to an increasingly convincing trend.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Saturday Night Lights: How the Jump‑Off Was Won</h2>
<p>When the dust settled, eight combinations advanced to the jump‑off under the lights, setting up exactly the kind of high‑pressure, high‑speed test EquiRatings had anticipated. Gangster Montdesir, still flawless at CSI5* 1.60m, rose to the moment, stopping the clock in 42.65 seconds to secure the victory by roughly three‑tenths of a second.</p>
<p>Greya&rsquo;s title defense came agonizingly close to success. Kent Farrington and the mare delivered the quickest jump‑off round of the night, but a light touch at the final fence turned what looked like a repeat victory into a heartbreaking four‑fault score and pushed them down to a fifth‑place finish, a reminder that in this class even the most dominant partnerships live on a knife‑edge.</p>
<p>That time from Vogel and Gangster was enough to deny 2021 Olympic champion Ben Maher and Enjeu de Grisien, whose own profile reads like a jump‑off specialist&rsquo;s dream: every time they have reached a CSI5* 1.60m jump‑off, they have jumped clear and finished on the podium. Their runner‑up finish in Wellington extended that flawless conversion rate and mirrored their result in Lyon, where they again delivered a faultless, attacking round only to be edged by Vogel and Gangster Montdesir.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Streaks Rewritten: Mallevaey, Dynastie and the Power of Reliability</h2>
<p>Behind the duel for the win, Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour quietly turned statistical possibility into history. By producing yet another clear at CSI5* 1.60m, they moved their streak to 11 consecutive clears, entering a group that only a handful of combinations have ever reached since 2010. Third place on the night told only part of the story; the real headline was their emergence as one of the most reliable big‑track partnerships in the modern sport.</p>
<p>EquiRatings&rsquo; historical database places that reliability in rarefied company, with very few horses able to pair that many consecutive clears with consistent podium finishes at five‑star level. In a sport where one touch of a rail can erase months of work, Mallevaey&rsquo;s run with Dynastie de Beaufour illustrates how sustained consistency can be as potent a weapon as outright speed.</p>
<h2><br>The Numbers Before the Night: Greya&rsquo;s Near‑Miss</h2>
<p>Heading into the 2026 edition, the EquiRatings Prediction Model installed title defenders Kent Farrington and Greya as the safest statistical bet in the field, assigning them a 59% clear‑round probability, the highest in the class. Their jump‑off record backed that confidence: 11 clears from 14 previous 1.60m jump‑offs, converting those rounds into nine wins and 11 podium finishes.</p>
<p>Those numbers were almost reinforced in dramatic style. Greya&rsquo;s rapid but four‑fault jump‑off underlined both why the mare arrived as favorite and why this Grand Prix is so unforgiving: one rail can be the difference between repeating history and watching a new storyline take over the stage.</p>
<h2><br>Beyond the Win: Why This Grand Prix Matters</h2>
<p>The pattern around this class is now hard to ignore: when riders win the Fidelity Investments Grand Prix, their seasons often tilt toward the historic. Farrington and Greya turned their 2025 victory into a record‑shattering nine‑win year; Martin Fuchs and Clooney used their 2019 success as a springboard to seven five‑star Grand Prix and World Cup victories; Kent Farrington and Gazelle&rsquo;s 2017 triumph preceded what was then a record season of eight major wins.</p>
<p>Against that backdrop, Vogel&rsquo;s faultless campaign with Gangster Montdesir&mdash;four CSI5* Grand Prix starts together, four clear rounds, and now two major wins&mdash;looks less like an anomaly and more like the beginning of a familiar storyline. If the past decade is any guide, the 2026 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix may be remembered not only for the upset it produced on the night, but for the record‑chasing season it signals is still to come.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

WEF Week 5: Vogel, Gangster Montdesir and the Numbers Behind a Defining Victory

<p dir="ltr">The CSI5* $500,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix at Wellington is a class that has kicked off some record-breaking seasons. Last year, Kent Farrington and Greya won this Grand Prix, beating Olympic Champions Christian Kukuk and Checker 47.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">That win didn&rsquo;t just matter on the night. It launched a season where Farrington and Greya went on to produce nine five-star wins, resetting the sport&rsquo;s single-season record. He returns as favourite to win tonight. Martin Fuchs won here with Clooney in 2019 and Kent won with Gazelle in 2017.<br><br></p>
<a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<p dir="ltr">Check out the Fan Guide for the the full breakdown</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;<img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/7c600706-d7e5-4d69-b1c0-c5320abc0de9.png?width=2160&amp;height=1350" alt="Wef Graphics (3)"></h2>
</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">The favourite returns (and the numbers back it up)</h2>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/7b2d4229-04b2-4777-9e67-bc61d1fdc445.png?width=1228&amp;height=1432" alt="O Io Pn Wef 5 Win Chances "></p>
<p>If you want a combination that has earned the right to be called the safest bet on the property, it&rsquo;s Farrington and Greya. The EquiRatings Prediction Model gives them the highest clear-round probability in the field at 59%. The numbers expect to see them reach the Jump Off and if they do, they are 11 clears from 14 160 Jump Offs (and nine wins). They are by truely exceptional finishers.<br><br>Kent has just lost the FEI World Number 1 armband to Scott Brash and a win tonight might be enough to take it back depending on how the rest of the month plays out.</p>
<p><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out the Fan Guide for the the full breakdown</a></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">A clear means history: two streaks on the line</h2>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/45e32092-a9ea-427f-891a-e0f870b930d0.png?width=1260&amp;height=1472" alt="By2 Pm the Elite 10 Who Achieved the Perfect 10.. "></p>
<p dir="ltr">For two combinations in tonight&rsquo;s field, the story isn&rsquo;t just about winning. Its about a clear in the first round and keeping an extraordinary streak alive.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Both Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour (10 clear rounds in a row at 5* 160 level) and Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V. (9 clear rounds in a row at 5* 160 level) arrive in Wellington sitting on elite CSI5* 1.60m clear-round streaks.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Since 2010, only 10 combinations have managed to jump 10 or more consecutive clears at CSI5* 1.60m level.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour jump clear again tonight, they would produce their 11th consecutive clear, and only seven combinations have ever reached that mark.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Bluman and Corbie V.V. have the chance to become only the 11th combination in recent history to reach the 10-clear milestone.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out the Fan Guide for the the full breakdown</a></strong></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The wildcard with the perfect record (and a model that isn&rsquo;t convinced&hellip;yet)</h2>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/b0054ee5-fe23-4944-a76d-4243512af1fe.png?width=1362&amp;height=1486" alt="Av I Gv Wef 5 the Ones on Form "></p>
<p dir="ltr">Every great Grand Prix needs one storyline that doesn&rsquo;t fit neatly into the numbers.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Tonight, that role belongs to Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The EquiRatings model gives them a more cautious clear-round probability of 38%, largely because there is a smaller sample size at this specific height.</p>
<p dir="ltr">But their form tells a different story.</p>
<p>In their last 12 months of CSI5* 1.60m competition, they are 3 from 3, with a 100% clear rate. The computer calls him a risk, but it is one we are watching closely. This horse who only made his five-star Grand Prix debut in late 2025.</p>
<p><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out the Fan Guide for the the full breakdown</a></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">How many clears should we expect?</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Over the last 10 years, the average Round 1 clear rate in this class is 23%, and the EquiRatings model is predicting 10 clears tonight. That isn&rsquo;t unheard of at five-star level, but it does matter because it shapes the class. A jump-off of 10 creates pressure.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It&rsquo;s big enough that riders can&rsquo;t just &ldquo;go steady and hope&rdquo;, but small enough that every rail in Round 1 feels expensive.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out the Fan Guide for the the full breakdown</a></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The jump-off specialists&nbsp;</h2>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/90d7f910-94bd-46ef-ab3b-cdaacd6c8ddf.png?width=1250&amp;height=1486" alt="H6ax M Wef 5 Grand Prix Who S Good in a Jump off "></p>
<p dir="ltr">If Round 1 is the gateway, the jump-off is where conversion matters.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And in tonight&rsquo;s field, there are combinations who are statistically terrifying once they get there.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The benchmark is still Farrington and Greya:</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">14 times they have been in a 160 Jump Off</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">11 clears (A 79% jump-off clear rate)</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">9 wins</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">11 podiums</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr">But maybe more under the radar is McLain Ward and High Star Hero. Their jump-off record is simple and ruthless:</p>
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3 wins from 7 jump-offs.</span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">McLain Ward has more WEF International wins since 2016 than any other rider. 44 wins from 497 starts coming into what will be a milestone weekend.</span> <br><br><strong>Ben Maher to end a long wait tonight?</strong></p>
<p>Enjeu De Grisien has a 100% Jump-Off Clear Rate (4 for 4) and 100% Podium Rate (4 Podiums in 4 Attempts). He doesn't make mistakes when the pressure is on but equally, it has been too long a wait to win a big one for the former World number 1 and former Olympic champion. <br><br>Final Jump off mention, watch out for Mimi Gochman if she makes it through. She will be last to jump round 1 and she has four clears from 5 jump offs at this level.</p>
<p><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out the Fan Guide for the the full breakdown</a></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Tomorrow&rsquo;s Headlines</h2>
<p dir="ltr">This Fidelity Investments Grand Prix has become a rare moment in the season where the result can mean more than the prize money. Sometimes it crowns a champion. Sometimes it signals a record-breaking year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And tonight, with Greya returning, streaks on the line, and a wildcard trying to stay perfect, it feels like one of those Wellington evenings where a big story is about to unfold.</p>
<p><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out the Fan Guide for the the full breakdown</a></p>

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