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<p>Look back over the past decade and a clear pattern emerges: for most horses, victory in the Week 9 Grand Prix is not the final chapter, it is the first big line on the r&eacute;sum&eacute;. &nbsp;Eight of the last ten winning horses were taking either their first‑ever CSI5* Grand Prix when they crossed the timers in Wellington, with Daniel Bluman&rsquo;s Ladriano Z the lone exception as a proven five‑star champion returning to win the class twice.&nbsp;</p>
<p>From Carrabis Z in 2016 to Portobella van de Fruitkorf in 2025, Week 9 has consistently crowned combinations who were still writing the opening pages of their top‑level story.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/6bca0e89-9583-41f7-9b7d-5aa627ed8465.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Wef 26   Grid Posts"></p>
<h1>When a First Win Becomes a Beginning</h1>
<h3>Luciana Lossio and Lady Louise Jmen: Defying the Odds on Debut</h3>
<p>When Luciana Lossio rode through the in‑gate for the Week 9 Grand Prix in 2024, she and Lady Louise Jmen were not just chasing their first CSI5* win, they were jumping their very first CSI5* 160 Grand Prix together, full stop. In a sport where only around 4% of international horses ever reach that level, simply appearing in this class is rare; converting that debut into a victory is almost unheard of.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Only 47% of horses that attempt CSI5* 160 will ever jump a clear at the height, and just 1% manage to win on their five‑star 160 debut, which gives some sense of the statistical improbability of what Lossio and Lady Louise Jmen achieved. Against that backdrop, their clear, winning performance did more than upset the form book, it perfectly captured Week 9&rsquo;s reputation as the place where brand‑new five‑star partnerships announce themselves to the sport.</p>
<h3>Emilie Conter &amp; Portobella van de Fruitkorf: From Breakthrough to Belgian Backbone</h3>
<p>When Emilie Conter and Portobella van de Fruitkorf won the Week 9 Grand Prix twelve months later, it was also framed as a breakthrough: a first CSI5* Grand Prix victory for a young rider&ndash;mare partnership stepping out against one of the strongest fields of the season. That result has since proved to be a starting point rather than an end point. In the twelve months that followed, Portobella has become an integral part of the Belgian set‑up, helping Team Belgium to three podium finishes in five‑star team competitions at LLN Ocala, the Nations Cup of Aachen and the Nations Cup of Sankt Gallen.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Along the way, they underlined their big‑occasion credentials with a clear round in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, one of the most prestigious 160 tests in the sport. Back in Wellington this winter, Conter and Portobella have picked up exactly where they left off, opening 2026 with a Top 10 finish in the $500,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix during WEF 5 and reminding everyone that last year&rsquo;s Week 9 win was the launch of a top‑level career, not a one‑night surprise.</p>
<h1><br>From breakthrough to serial winner&nbsp;</h1>
<p>&nbsp;<br>Week 9 has also played a different role for riders who were already established but still on the cusp of something bigger. &nbsp;</p>
<h3>Abdel Sa&iuml;d &amp; his Week 9 Double</h3>
<p>Now riding for Belgium, Abdel Sa&iuml;d is the only rider in the past decade to have won the Week 9 Grand Prix twice, and he did it by giving two different horses their first taste of five‑star glory. With Pegasus Bandit Savoie in 2021 and Arpege du Ru in 2022, Sa&iuml;d rode both horses to their first‑ever CSI5* Grand Prix victories under the Wellington lights, adding to a five‑star record that already included his 2016 World Cup win in Verona with Hope van Scherpen Donder.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Pegasus Bandit Savoie confirmed that breakthrough by winning another CSI5* Grand Prix later that same year before continuing his career under France&rsquo;s Ines Joly, while Arpege du Ru went on to add further big‑tour results to Sa&iuml;d&rsquo;s r&eacute;sum&eacute;. Taken together, his Week 9 record reads less like a pair of isolated Wellington upsets and more like the calling card of a rider who repeatedly turns talented, relatively unproven horses into five‑star Grand Prix winners.</p>
<h3><br>Daniel Coyle &amp; Cita: a first win that unlocked eight more</h3>
<p>When Daniel Coyle won the Week 9 Grand Prix in 2018 with Cita, it was the first CSI5* Grand Prix victory of his career and an early sign that he was ready to live in five‑star company. Since that night in Wellington, he has added eight more CSI5* Grand Prix or World Cup wins across North America and Europe, including major titles such as the Longines FEI World Cup legs in Toronto, Leipzig and Amsterdam with Legacy, the Grand Prix of Rotterdam and Thermal, and the $1,000,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows with Incredible.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That body of work has carried Coyle into the elite bracket of the sport; as of the latest Longines FEI Jumping Rankings, he now sits inside the world&rsquo;s top 10 riders. Looking back, his Week 9 breakthrough reads like the first clear indication that a future Top 10 rider was being forged under the Wellington lights.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1><br>A Proven Winner with a New Partner</h1>
<p>The Week 9 roll of honor is not only about first‑timers. Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z are proof that seasoned five‑star winners can make this Grand Prix their own, having lifted the trophy twice together and setting the benchmark for repeat success under the Wellington lights. Their double adds an important counterpoint to the recent trend of emerging partnerships taking breakthrough wins here and shows that experience can be just as decisive as momentum.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Although Ladriano Z has since retired from top‑level sport, Bluman arrives in 2026 with another serious contender in Corbie V.V., who has jumped clear in eight of his last nine five‑star Grand Prix and World Cup starts. With that kind of current form, Bluman looks well placed to chase a new chapter in his Week 9 story, this time with a different horse.</p>
<h1><br>The Next Chapter in a Two‑Track Tradition</h1>
<p>Put together, the last ten years of Week 9 tell a nuanced story. This is a Grand Prix where first‑time five‑star winners regularly launch themselves onto the big stage, yet proven championship horses can still come back and win it again. As another edition approaches, the question is not whether history will repeat itself, but which version of the Week 9 script, breakthrough or confirmation, will play out under the lights this time.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>For more insights in the five-star during WEF Week 9 visit the Fan Guide here.</p>

A Springboard Under the Lights: How Week 9 Has Launched Five‑Star Careers

<p>Under the lights, McLain Ward did what McLain Ward so often does in Wellington&mdash;turned Week 7 into his own stage. Already a three‑time winner of this Grand Prix with HH Azur (2016, 2017 and 2020), he returned this time with High Star Hero and added a fourth Week 7 title to his record, introducing a new star without changing the ending.</p>
<p>The 13‑year‑old gelding came in as a lower‑percentage pick on the win‑chance table, yet once High Star Hero delivered a clear in Round 1 and reached the jump‑off&mdash;where their record already included one of the best strike‑rates in the field&mdash;they looked every bit the Wellington benchmark, stopping the clock double clear in 75.80 and 39.14 seconds to secure Ward&rsquo;s fourth Week 7 victory and the horse&rsquo;s first win at this level.</p>
<h2>How the class rode versus the numbers</h2>
<p>History suggested a brutal test: an average Round 1 clear rate of 16% and a predicted six clears from a 32‑strong field, with 58% of those expected to jump double clear in the jump‑off. The course designer delivered exactly the kind of pressure the data anticipated, with just a small group advancing and only three double clears deciding the podium.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The time allowed kept riders honest without turning the first round into a pure speed class, and the final line and last oxer again played their part in separating medal positions from near‑misses. It felt like a classic Week 7 profile: one mistake was expensive, two were terminal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Ward and High Star Hero: from jump‑off threat to Grand Prix winner</h2>
<p>Coming in, Ward and High Star Hero were already flagged in the guide as one of the most dangerous jump‑off combinations in the field: five clears from seven previous CSI5* 1.60m jump‑offs and three wins, an almost 50% conversion rate once they reached the second round. Their Round 1 numbers were more modest, and the win‑chance model gave them just a 4% likelihood of lifting the trophy, behind the likes of Eddy Blue, Dynastie de Beaufour, James Kann Cruz and others.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On the night, they landed the part that is hardest to predict, producing a composed, faultless first round before leaning into that established jump‑off strike‑rate with another decisive clear. That performance not only extended Ward&rsquo;s extraordinary Week 7 record but also marked the pair&rsquo;s fourth CSI5* 1.60m win together, including World Cup success and victories in major Hamptons qualifiers.<br>​</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>New faces on a familiar podium</h2>
<p>If Ward supplied the new Modon chapter, the rest of the podium spoke to the class&rsquo;s broader narrative about form and consistency. Mark Bluman and Landon de Nyze, a partnership that only came together in December, turned their rapid rise&mdash;two 1.55m wins already this year&mdash;into a first CSI5* Grand Prix podium, stopping the clock in the jump-off in 39.71 for second.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In third, Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz continued their remarkable big‑class record, adding yet another five‑star Grand Prix/World Cup podium off the back of an 18‑from‑21 (86%) career jump‑off clear rate at this level. They did exactly what their profile promised by jumping clear in both rounds and again converting a jump‑off appearance into a top‑three finish.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Behind them, defending WEF 5 winners Richard Vogel and Gangster Montdesir finished fastest of the four‑faulters in 37.34, a reminder that even the hottest horse in the field is still operating on a knife‑edge at 1.60m.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Nina Mallevaey &amp; Dynastie de Beaufour: a streak with historic weight</h2>
<p>Away from the podium, Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour quietly did something even rarer than winning a single Grand Prix: they extended their CSI5* 1.60m clear‑round streak to 12. Since 2010, only a handful of horse‑and‑rider combinations have ever reached double‑digit consecutive clears at this height, putting them alongside names like Casall Ask, H&amp;M All In, Big Star and King Edward on the modern sport&rsquo;s &ldquo;perfect streak&rdquo; list.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This Modon round also marked their 10th consecutive top‑five finish in a CSI5* Grand Prix, underlining a profile built not just on momentum but on historic consistency at the very top of the sport.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>When the model meets the arena</h2>
<p>The pre‑class win‑chance table had Eddy Blue, Dynastie de Beaufour, James Kann Cruz and Qonquest de Rigo as the four most likely winners, combining elite clear rates with strong Elo ratings and recent form. In the end, those predictions largely held at the level of who would feature, rather than who would win: Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour kept their extraordinary CSI5* 1.60m streak within touching distance of the sport&rsquo;s historic record book, while James Kann Cruz once again proved almost automatic for the podium once he reached the jump‑off.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The outlier was the identity of the champion, where Ward and High Star Hero turned a small percentage into a big trophy&mdash;illustrating that in Wellington, the model can frame the conversation, but it is still the riders with deep International Arena experience who decide how the story ends.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

WEF Week 7: Ward, High Star Hero and the Numbers Behind the Modon Grand Prix

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

<p>The lights are on, the field is stacked, and the margins will be razor-thin. Before the first horse enters the ring, make sure you&rsquo;re watching with the full picture.</p>
<p>The official Fan Guide to the CSI5* $500,000 Modon Grand Prix brings you inside the numbers that shape Saturday night: the last decade of winners, repeat champions, projected jump-off trends, win probabilities, and the combinations in red-hot five-star form.</p>
<p>How many will make the jump-off? Who is statistically the most dangerous against the clock? And which partnerships are chasing history at 160 level?</p>
<p>From past legends to tonight&rsquo;s leading contenders, this guide turns data into storylines &mdash; so you know exactly who to watch, and why it matters.<br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Check out the Fan Guide <a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-7-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</strong></span></p>

Your Ultimate Guide for the CSI5* $500,000 Modon Grand Prix at WEF

<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>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>In the $500,000 Fidelity Investments&reg;️ CSI5* Grand Prix, a clear round only earns a ticket, the jump-off decides the winner.</p>
<p>Using five-star 160 jump-off data, this carousel highlights the combinations in tonight&rsquo;s field who&rsquo;ve proven they can deliver when speed, precision and risk all collide.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Greya &amp; Kent Farrington</strong> set the benchmark, with a standout jump-off clear rate and nine five-star jump-off wins.</li>
<li><strong>High Star Hero</strong>, <strong>Dynastie de Beaufour</strong>, <strong>Enjeu de Grisien</strong> and others bring efficiency, experience and podium-level consistency when it matters most.</li>
</ul>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/c2099e3d-7e55-4bcf-8554-17947a8f32ca.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="2"></p>
<p>It&rsquo;s not just about getting there, it&rsquo;s about what you do once you&rsquo;re in.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore the full Fan Guide &amp; Press &amp; Media Guide for deeper jump-off trends, form analysis and start-list insights.&nbsp;</a></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/a6422eb6-7389-4a1a-96e7-20369e36f9ba.png?width=1366&amp;height=706" alt="Wef Week 5"></a></strong></span></p>

WEF Week 5: Who's Good in a Jump-Off?

<p>History doesn&rsquo;t repeat itself at five-star level, it has to be earned.&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/35681659-5ad3-4123-b249-055136c8bc74.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="2"></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In the modern era of showjumping, only 10 horses have ever managed 10 or more consecutive clear rounds at CSI5 * 160 level. &nbsp;Tonight, in the $500,000 Fidelity Investments&reg;️ CSI5* Grand Prix, history is back in play.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/b6aaf495-5776-4998-9b1b-c36f57b7ee1a.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="3"></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Nina Mallevaey &amp; Dynastie de Beaufour</strong> aim to extend their streak to 11 consecutive clears, already backed by Top 5 finishes in each of their last eight five-star Grand Prix / World Cup starts.</li>
<li><strong>Daniel Bluman &amp; Corbie V.V.</strong> target clear round number 10, with a chance to join the elite list that includes names like Big Star, Casall ASK, King Edward and H&amp;M All In.</li>
</ul>
<p>This is what makes WEF Week 5 more than a Grand Prix. It&rsquo;s a moment where form meets history, and the numbers tell a bigger story.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dive deeper with the full Fan Guide: start list insights, form trends and the data behind the headlines.</a></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/0a3792c9-b49c-4051-b4d9-466c0a474cb7.png?width=1366&amp;height=706" alt="Wef Week 5"></a></strong></span></p>

WEF Week 5: History in Action

<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/8bc75bb6-a8ef-450e-903a-1cdde50f56c0.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Wef 26   Grid Posts (14)"></p>
<p>Using CSI5* 160+ clear rates from the past 12 months, this carousel spotlights the combinations bringing the strongest consistency into Wellington, and how they compare against the field average.</p>
<p>From proven five-star winners to combinations quietly stacking clears, this is the data shaping expectations before the bell rings.</p>
<p><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Visit the Fan Guide for a full breakdown, start list insights &amp; key storylines</strong></span></a></p>
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WEF Week 5: Who's Arriving in Form?

<p>The Fidelity InvestmentsⓇ CSI5* Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival holds a unique place on the five-star calendar. Positioned early in the year and contested against consistently elite fields, it has become more than a prestigious standalone victory. A look back at the past ten winners reveals a clear pattern: success in this Grand Prix has often been the first signal of seasons that deliver sustained dominance, and in some cases, performances that rewrite the record books.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/8cc856d7-bd19-4aca-9afe-d1e7d4e3b2a9.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="14"></p>
<h2>2025: Kent Farrington &amp; Greya Reset the Records</h2>
<p>The most striking recent example came last season. When Kent Farrington and Greya won the Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix in 2025, few could have predicted just how historic the year ahead would become.</p>
<p>That Wellington victory proved to be the opening chapter of a season unlike any previously recorded. By the end of the year, Farrington had secured nine five-star Grand Prix or World Cup victories, surpassing the long‑standing record of eight wins that he himself first set in 2017 and was again, the top ranked rider in the world.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Greya&rsquo;s achievements elevated the season even further. With seven five-star Grand Prix victories in a single calendar year, she became the most successful horse ever recorded at five-star level in one season, breaking the previous benchmark of six wins held by Gazelle in 2017. What began under the Florida sun culminated with victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva and an early favorite for the 2026 Aachen World Championships was confirmed.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>2019: Martin Fuchs&rsquo; Seven‑Win Season</h2>
<p>In 2019, Martin Fuchs arrived in Wellington after opening his five-star campaign with a World Cup victory in Europe at Basel with Clooney 51. The pair&rsquo;s success in the Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix at WEF was Fuchs&rsquo;s second major win of the season and an early indication that he was stepping into the very top tier of the sport.<br>​<br>From there, Fuchs kept adding to the season tally with wins in Lyon, Geneva, Cascais, Madrid and ultimately London. Across different venues and atmospheres, the then 27‑year‑old converted opportunity into results time and again, eventually closing out the year with seven five-star Grand Prix and World Cup wins. Week 5 in Wellington was again, an early launchpad.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>2017: Kent Farrington &amp; Gazelle Set The Benchmark</h2>
<p>Before Greya rewrote the limits of what was possible, it was Kent Farrington and Gazelle who set the benchmark. Their victory in the 2017 running of the Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix during Week 5 at WEF also proved to be a cornerstone of a landmark season.</p>
<p>That year, Kent went on to record eight five-star Grand Prix or World Cup wins, the highest total ever achieved in a single season at the time. The record would stand until Farrington surpassed it himself in 2025. Gazelle&rsquo;s role in setting that original benchmark places the 2017 WEF victory firmly within a broader pattern of early‑season success translating into year‑long dominance.</p>
<h2>A Consistent Signal of What&rsquo;s to Come</h2>
<p>Across the past ten editions of the Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix, the evidence is compelling. These wins are rarely isolated moments. Instead, they frequently precede seasons defined by multiple five-star victories, sustained competitiveness in the sport&rsquo;s strongest fields, and historic milestones at the highest level.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/7c600706-d7e5-4d69-b1c0-c5320abc0de9.png?width=2160&amp;height=1350" alt="Wef Graphics (3)"></p>
<p>As the next chapter of the Winter Equestrian Festival unfolds, the Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix once again stands as an early indicator, not just of who is in form, but of which partnerships may go on to shape the season ahead.</p>
<p><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/cfc12952-9c33-401e-bfc2-26b768f1e899.png?width=6051&amp;height=1000" alt="Get More Insights in the WEF Fan Guide"></a></p>

A Grand Prix That Sets the Tone: WEF’s Proven Launchpad for Historic Seasons

<p>WEF Week 5 is here, and with it comes one of the most anticipated nights of the Winter Equestrian Festival: the $500,000 Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix.</p>
<p>Whether you&rsquo;re ringside in Wellington or following from around the world, the WEF Week 5 Fan Guide is your essential companion to Saturday night.</p>
<p>Inside, you&rsquo;ll find:</p>
<ul>
<li>The top contenders and highest-rated horses in the field</li>
<li>Key storylines and returning champions to watch</li>
<li>Data-driven insights powered by EquiRatings</li>
<li>A snapshot of recent form and what it could mean under the lights</li>
<li>Historical trends that have shaped this Grand Prix</li>
</ul>
<p>This isn&rsquo;t just a start list &mdash; it&rsquo;s context. It&rsquo;s performance trends. It&rsquo;s the stories behind the sport.</p>
<p>Powered by EquiRatings, the Fan Guide brings clarity to the competition and highlights the combinations most likely to shape the outcome.</p>
<p>From proven five-star winners to rising stars ready for a breakthrough, WEF Week 5 promises a field packed with quality. The Fan Guide ensures you know exactly who, and what, to watch when the pressure is at its peak.</p>
<p>If you want to experience the Grand Prix with deeper insight, stronger storylines, and a clearer understanding of what makes this class so significant, the this week's Fan Guide is where to start.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://equiratings.info/wef-week-5-fan-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scan the QR code, click the link, and get ahead of the competition before the first horse enters the ring.</a></strong></span></p>
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Your Ultimate Guide to the CSI5* $500,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix at WEF

<p>With a CSI5* Fidelity Investments Grand Prix on the horizon at WEF Week 5, the numbers point clearly towards one thing: quality.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/1abc1d19-2de2-4478-a813-3a7ee2c4dc7a.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Stars of the Show 2"></p>
<p><br>Using the EquiRatings Jumping Elo rating, the sport&rsquo;s gold-standard performance metric, these are the 10 highest-rated horses in the field this weekend, each bringing a proven record at the very top of the sport.</p>
<h2>1. Greya &amp; Kent Farrington</h2>
<p>There&rsquo;s no escaping the headline act. Greya arrives at WEF Week 5 as the highest-rated horse in the field, partnered once again with Kent Farrington, current World No.2, having only just been dethroned at the top.</p>
<p>What makes this pairing particularly compelling is the timing. It was this very Grand Prix last season that kick-started a record-breaking 2025 campaign, one that saw Farrington and Greya redefine what was possible at CSI5* 160 level. Their consistency against elite opposition is reflected clearly in the numbers: a 55% clear rate at five-star 160s and a proven ability to peak on the biggest nights.</p>
<p>If history is anything to go by, this is where momentum begins.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>2. Dynastie de Beaufour &amp; Nina Mallevaey</h2>
<p>Few combinations arrive with more quiet confidence than Nina Mallevaey and Dynastie de Beaufour. They are currently riding a clear-round streak at CSI5* 160 level, underlining both form and reliability at the very top of the sport.</p>
<p>They have jumped clear in their last 10 rounds at CSI5* 160 level, a feat only matched by 10 other horses in the last 15 years. This run of form includes their first-ever CSIO5* Grand Prix victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Brussels and the double clear they produced to help Team France take the win in the Nations Cup as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dynastie de Beaufour&rsquo;s Elo rating reflects a partnership that continues to strengthen with every major appearance, and Week 5 represents another opportunity to convert consistency into a headline result.</p>
<h2>3. Katanga v/h Dingeshof &amp; Nicola Philippaerts</h2>
<p>Experience counts, especially under the lights at WEF. Katanga v/h Dingeshof and Nicola Philippaerts bring one of the most established five-star partnerships in the field, with over 130 CSI5* 160 rounds together.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That depth of experience translates into trust, composure, and the ability to deliver when the pressure ramps up. A 46% clear rate at this level, across such a large sample, underlines just how reliable this pairing has been over time.</p>
<h2>4. Corbie V.V. &amp; Daniel Bluman</h2>
<p>On paper, Corbie V.V. boasts the highest career clear rate of this week&rsquo;s field, albeit from a smaller sample size, but the signs are unmistakably promising.</p>
<p>This partnership has already made serious waves on the MLSJ circuit in particular, delivering a remarkable run of clears against strong opposition. With clears and Top 10 finishes in their last 8 runs in five-star Grand Prix or World Cup classes, Corbie V.V. and Daniel Bluman look every bit like a combination on the rise.</p>
<h2><br>5. Qonquest de Rigo &amp; Bertram Allen</h2>
<p>Still just 10 years old, Qonquest de Rigo already sits as the second-highest-rated 10-year-old horse in the world. Here in Florida, the pair has already shown strong form with a second place finish in last weekend&rsquo;s CSI4* $215,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix.</p>
<p>Bertram Allen has carefully produced this horse into the five-star arena, and while the clear rate tells part of the story, the Elo rating highlights something deeper: performance relative to opposition. Qonquest de Rigo isn&rsquo;t just competing at this level, he&rsquo;s holding his own against the very best.</p>
<h2>6. Jordan Molga M &amp; McLain Ward</h2>
<p>An intriguing storyline this week comes from a fresh new partnership. McLain Ward will be campaigning Jordan Molga M, a horse that up until 2 months ago competed under Stella Wasserman and, earlier in 2025 under Nicolas Delmotte.</p>
<p>While this pair have yet to make their CSI5* Grand Prix debut together, they have already picked up two CSI5* Top 10 finishes in 150/155 classes out in Thermal late last year. This weekend marks an important data point in what could become a very significant partnership.</p>
<h2>7. Enjeu de Grisien &amp; Ben Maher</h2>
<p>Ben Maher and Enjeu de Grisien bring depth, experience, and a quietly strong record at five-star level. They produced a crucial double clear to help Team GB take the win in the prestigious BMO Nations&rsquo; Cup of Calgary, Spruce Meadows, and were clear over fences in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva late last year to finish inside the Top 12 on 1 time penalty.</p>
<p>Ben Maher has already shown strong WEF form this season, notably aboard Ginger-Blue, who brought home two CSI4* 150 wins last weekend, now it&rsquo;s Enjeu de Grisien&rsquo;s turn to produce the goods.</p>
<h2>8. Pacino Amiro &amp; Bertram Allen</h2>
<p>Pacino Amiro offers a contrast to Allen&rsquo;s younger contender, bringing extensive five-star mileage and a proven track record across major venues and isn&rsquo;t a stranger to winning at five-star level here at the Wellington International.</p>
<p>In 2021 and 2022 this pair won the CSI5* Grand Prix classes during WEF Week 7, proving their success under the Saturday Night Lights.</p>
<h2>9. Portobella v/d Fruitkorf &amp; Emilie Conter</h2>
<p>The Wellington International arena will always hold a special place in the hearts of Emilie Conter and Portobella v/d Fruitkorf. This is the stage where they claimed their first-ever CSI5* Grand Prix victory last season, announcing themselves on the biggest stage.</p>
<p>Since that win, they have gone on to be a key player in Belgium&rsquo;s success in five-star team competitions.</p>
<p>Now, returning to familiar ground, Emilie Conter and Portobella bring both confidence and proven five-star success, a dangerous combination under the lights.</p>
<h2>10. Highway TN &amp; Lillie Keenan</h2>
<p>Rounding out the top 10 is another exciting new partnership. Highway TN and Lillie Keenan are making their CSI5* debut together, but they arrive off the back of already winning at National Grand Prix level under the lights here two weeks ago.</p>
<p>The Elo rating highlights this horse&rsquo;s underlying quality, while this weekend provides the first real look at how this partnership translates onto the five-star stage.</p>
<h2><br>What&rsquo;s At Stake?</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Can Kent Farrington &amp; Greya continue their 2025 form and defend their title in the Grand Prix?<br>Can Nina Mallevaey &amp; Dynastie de Beaufour jump an 11th consecutive clear round at CSI5* 160 level?<br>Can Daniel Bluman &amp; Corbie V.V. jump a 9th consecutive CSI5* Grand Prix clear round?</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Bigger Picture</h2>
<p>Elo doesn&rsquo;t just reward wins, it measures difficulty, consistency, and performance against strength of field. That&rsquo;s what makes this top 10 such a compelling snapshot of WEF Week 5.</p>
<p>Some are proven five-star winners. Others are just beginning their journey at this level. All of them, by the numbers, are right where the spotlight should be.</p>

Stars of the Show: Who’s at WEF Week 5?

<p>The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) has long been more than just a winter circuit. For over a decade, Wellington International has been the proving ground where legends are reinforced, careers are launched, and the sport&rsquo;s biggest names return year after year to prepare themselves for the season ahead. The five-star Grand Prix and World Cup qualifiers held at WEF offer a unique lens on consistency, longevity, and peak performance, not just across a season, but across generations of horses and riders.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/615d63fa-626a-40bc-b4b2-7a9d4068f3cf.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Roll of Honour of all Five-Star WEF Grands Prix"></p>
<h1><br>The McLain Ward Era: Consistency at the Very Top</h1>
<p>No rider is more synonymous with five-star success in Wellington than McLain Ward. From Sapphire&rsquo;s victories in the late 2000s, through <strong>Rothchild</strong>, <strong>HH Azur</strong>, and <strong>Callas</strong>, Ward&rsquo;s name appears repeatedly across the WEF honours list. His wins span nearly two decades, an extraordinary marker of both personal longevity and elite horse management.</p>
<p>What stands out is not just the volume of victories, but the range of horses with which Ward has succeeded. From championship mares to developing stars, Wellington has consistently been the place where his top partnerships announce themselves as global contenders. Across 16 years of jumping at WEF, McLain Ward has won 11 five-star Grands Prix at the Wellington International, a notably higher number than any other rider.</p>
<h3>The WEF Specialists</h3>
<p>Beyond McLain Ward, a select group of riders have repeatedly demonstrated a particular affinity for five-star success in Wellington. <strong>Daniel Bluman</strong> leads this cohort with four CSI5* Grand Prix victories at WEF, underlining his consistency and precision on some of the circuit&rsquo;s most influential tracks. Close behind, <strong>Ben Maher</strong>, <strong>Dani Waldman</strong>, and <strong>Kent Farrington</strong> each sit on three five-star WEF wins, a testament to their ability to peak early in the season and deliver under the sustained pressure that defines Wellington&rsquo;s top-level competition.&nbsp;</p>
<h1><br>Farrington &amp; Greya: Where History Began</h1>
<p>For Kent Farrington, Wellington has often been a starting point, but WEF 2025 marked the beginning of something unprecedented. Victories with Greya in the CSI5* Grand Prix during WEF 5 and WEF 7 were more than early-season highlights; they were the opening chapters of a record-breaking campaign that would redefine what was thought possible at five-star level.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That Wellington momentum carried through the year, culminating at CHI Geneva 2025, where Farrington secured his ninth five-star Grand Prix or World Cup win of the season, surpassing the record he himself set in 2017. For Greya, Geneva confirmed her place in history as well, her seventh five-star win of the year making her the most successful horse ever recorded in a single calendar season.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What began in Wellington did not merely continue; it accelerated into one of the most dominant partnerships the sport has ever seen.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1>What the History Tells Us</h1>
<p>Looking back at every CSI5* Grand Prix winner at the Winter Equestrian Festival reveals clear patterns: riders who return year after year with carefully planned campaigns, horses developed patiently into five-star performers, and a venue that rewards both bravery and precision.</p>
<p>As the WEF season continues to evolve, this history provides valuable context. Past winners don&rsquo;t just reflect what has been, they offer clues about what it takes to win in Wellington, and who may be poised to add their name to this prestigious list next.</p>

WEF 2026