WELLINGTON, Fla.--Peter Lutz on Katriona won the $140,000 CSI3* Grand Prix on the grass derby field on Sunday, Jan. 18 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Peter Lutz on Katriona (Photo by Sportfot)Katriona, an 11-year-old Dutch-bred mare, was bought from Bosch Sporthorses in Holland as a 7-year-old by Lövsta Stuteri after Lutz watched the first video of the young horse.
“She did very well in the 1.50m series last year, and we started doing the bigger classes this summer,” said Lutz, who has been campaigning the mare for four years. “We’ve been consistent but waiting for the double clear. Her owners, Antonia Ax:son Johnson and Sophie Mörner, as well as our entire team, have always believed in her and have been so patient. There was never any pressure. We took our time, and this is the result.”
Lutz was one of nine to advance to a jump-off over the course designed by Olaf Petersen Jr. of Germany.
Lutz was clean in 43.69 seconds, nearly two seconds faster than second placed Philip McGuane of Ireland on Paso Doble SCF, who was clean in 45.13 seconds.
ALEXANDRA WORTHINGTON was third on De L’Oiseliere, clean in 45.68 seconds.
In addition to finishing third, Worthington was awarded the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award after consistent finishes throughout the week, including placing third in Friday’s WEF Challenge Cup qualifier.
“This was our goal this winter; to step up and do the real Sunday grands prix and Saturday night classes,” said Lutz. “She’s an athlete with a great attitude. Every day that I ride her, I feel like she wants to do whatever I’m asking her to.”
Lutz plans to ride Katriona in her first night grand prix during Saturday Night Lights of WEF 3.
As a junior, Luz trained withJudy Richter and won the 1919 Maclay Finals and the USET Talent Search East.
After graduating from Yale, Lutz started a training and sales barn with Mary Manfredi and trained a number of equitation, hunter and jumper winners, including Clementine and Briana Goutal.
In 2015, he won the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas.
