WELLINGTON, Fla.--Mexican Olympian Carlos Hank Guerreiro on his Paris Olympic mount H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z won the $215,000, CSI4* Grand Prix in a 14-horse jump-off to win during the Winter Equestrian Festival’s ‘Saturday Night Lights’ on March 15.
Carlos Hank Guerreiro on HS Porthos Maestro WH Z (Photo by Sportfot)Guerreiro finished clean in 39.98 seconds.
“I have a very fast horse in Porthos, and it was a big enough jump-off with some very fast riders behind me,” said 24-year-old Guerreiro. “I didn't want to leave it all out on the line because you still have to leave the jumps up. I wanted to take the risks I knew I could, and it paid off today.”
Marilyn Little on La Contessa finished less than a second back in 40.55 to place second.
Little also won the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award for her consistent performance through WEF week 10.
Ireland’s 20-year-old Tom Wachman on Do It Easy finished third in 40.61 seconds.
Winning under the lights at Wellington International is the continuation of a dream for Guerreiro with H5 Porthos Maestro WH Z.
“He’s been an amazing horse since day one. I've had him since he was 7, and last year he took me to achieve my childhood dream of going to the Olympics.”
H5 PORTHOS MAESTRO WH Z had a long break following the 2024 Games in Paris.
"This was his first grand prix at WEF this season, and I wasn't expecting much since he's been on holiday,” said Guerreiro. “He surprised us all and gave everything out there.”
“The atmosphere here has always been unbelievable,"he said. "I've been jumping here for a few years now and these ‘Saturday Night Lights’ are very special. It's what motivates us during the week. To win one has always been a dream of mine so I'm very grateful.”
“It's a very tough place to win. If you can win here, you can win anywhere.”
Guerreiro's next goals include competing at CHIO Aachen in Germany and then hopefully returning as a member of the Mexican team at the 2026 FEI World Championships.
