WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ireland's Philip McGuane on Orphea HQwon won the $62,500 WEF Challenge Cup, Round 6, on Friday, Feb. 16 at the Winter Equestrian Festival
Phillip McGuane on Orphea HQ (Photo by Sportfot)The Cup, the qualifying event for Saturday's $140,000, CSI3* Grand Prix, took place on the grass derby field, and it was a career best victory for the mare.
The field was made up of 67 horses jumping a course designed by Anna Catalina “Catsy” Cruz of Mexico.
McGuane won in a nine horse jump-off by just under one second over Canada’s Susan Horn on Kirlo Van Den Bosrand.
Horn’s time of 39.27 in the jump-off was just off McGuane's time of 38.62 second, and she placed second.
Alexandra Worthington was third on De l’Oiseliere in a time of 39.51 seconds.
After starting the season with a top five finish in the WEF 1 three-star grand prix, Orphea has been knocking on the door of a blue ribbon.
“PHILLIP HAS developed a really strong partnership with her. It's been really cool to see him really come into his element, get more competitive, and dig in for these kinds of classes because we always knew he was capable of it,” said owner Nayel Nassar. The the mare has been part of the Evergate string since her 7-year-old year. “The way she warmed up today, I knew that this was very winnable for her. She's continued to impress us and keeps improving. It's a very proud moment for team Evergate and we're proud of Phillip too.”
McGuane joined the Evergate Stables team to develop their younger stock after riding for Switzerland’s Beat Mändli and U.S. rider Katie Dinan.
“She’s not very big herself, but she has a big heart,” said McGuane of the mare that bears a striking resemblance to her sire, Emerald. “She knows where the jumps are, and as long as I don't make a mistake she's always there. I just need to get her anywhere near the jumps to be honest.”
McGuane first came to Wellington in 2019 and now calls it home.
“I'm super happy and very lucky,” he said.
