WEF Week 7 - Former Champions Return: A Grand Prix Defined by Repeat Winners
The second CSI5* Grand Prix of the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit has built a reputation not just for its prize money and prestige, but for something even rarer in modern show jumping: repeat champions.
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?
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.
Greya Returns to Defend
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.
Her recent form suggests she is more than capable. Two weeks ago, in the CSI5* $500,000 Fidelity Investments® 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’s most formidable Grand Prix horses.
Farrington, however, does not rely on a single contender. He also brings Toulayna this week, another horse ranked among the world’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.
Vogel’s Winning Formula
Richard Vogel arrives in Week 7 with momentum firmly on his side. Two weeks ago, he captured the CSI5* $500,000 Fidelity Investments® 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.
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.
Kraut’s Depth of Experience
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.
But Kraut’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’s experience and options make her a formidable presence.
Ward’s Wellington Legacy
No discussion of WEF five-star history would be complete without McLain Ward. A three-time winner of this class, Ward’s record in Wellington speaks for itself.
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’s era defined a chapter of dominance, Ward has consistently demonstrated an ability to produce new stars for major nights.
A Field Built on Experience
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.
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 résumé, the stage is set for a showdown shaped as much by experience as by raw talent.
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.
