Our Five to Follow at LGCT Mexico City
The 2023 edition of the Longines Global Champions Tour is well underway. Which horses and riders should you keep an eye on?
Most of the combinations that are competing in Mexico City this weekend have travelled straight from Miami Beach last weekend. However, due to the challenging weather conditions in Miami last weekend, some horses may not have had the chance to compete to the best of their abilities or at all.
Top-rated horses to watch
The highest-rated horse in the field in Mexico this weekend is the experienced H&M Indiana (777). Malin Baryard-Johnsson’s 15-year-old superstar currently ranks as the fifth highest-rated horse in the world. This outstanding pair was an unmissable part of the gold medal winning Swedish team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, as well as at the World Championships in Herning last year.
Maikel van der Vleuten’s Beauville N.O.P. Z (765) is coming fresh off a successful weekend in Miami Beach, where they were a part of the winning GCL team, as well as finishing on the podium in the LGCT Grand Prix. The reigning Olympic and World Champion medalists have had a strong start of the 2023 season. Could they be getting ready to add an individual European medal to complete the set?
Although they was present in Miami last weekend, Laura Kraut did not campaign Baloutinue (764) there. Here in Mexico City, the 13-year-old is due to make an appearance on the big grass field. Ranked just outside the Top 10 of highest Elo-rated horses in the world right now, he is one of the highest-rated horses to compete in Mexico this weekend. This pair has good track record on spacious grass arenas which could play to their advantage here.
Hometown Hero
Eugenio Garza Perez’s Contago (729) is the highest-rated hometown horse in the field this weekend. The Mexican crowd is well-known for loudly and proudly showing their support for their Mexican horses and riders and this pair has already proven to perform well on big grass arenas. In last year’s Rolex Major Grand Prix of Calgary, they finished just beside the podium in fourth place.
Underdog in the spotlight
One pair has really captured our attention after a fabulous Grand Prix round last weekend in Miami. Khaled Almobty & Equine America Spacecake (671) jumped a foot-perfect round in the tough LGCT Grand Prix. The pair are still just getting to know one another as Equine America Spacecake didn’t join Almobty’s string until a couple of months ago. Their promising performance in Miami makes them a pair to look out for in Mexico City and for the season to come.