Press release from Desert International Horse Park

Eduardo Menezes (BRA) wasn’t going to let his student, Carlos Hank Guerreiro (MEX), win so easily a second week in a row. While Menezes didn’t have the last word, he did put in just quick enough of a jump-off round to secure the win and put Hank Guerreiro into second as the $38,500CAD Morning Star Sporthorses CSI5* Winning Round came to a close on Thursday of Desert Holiday 2, presented by Visit Greater Palm Springs.

Aboard Calypso des Matis, owned by E2 Stables LLC, Menezes was one of 14 clears over Peter Grant’s (CAN) first-round track. Though two opted to not return for the jump-off, he still had to go up against 12 five-star athletes.

Through footspeed and an extremely tight turn back to the second to last fence, Menezes set a new time to beat, with just Hank Guerreiro to come. The final time put in by Hank Guerreiro with H5 Chacco-San (Chacco-Blue x Sandro Boy) was .08 seconds off the time, so he claimed second and let his coach have the spotlight. Mimi Gochman (USA) and Inclen BH (Stakkato Gold x Raphael), owned by DG Sport Horse LLC, took third.

“This is a horse I got when he was 8 years old,” Menezes said of Calypso des Matis, an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Paddock du Plessis x Tresor de Cheux). “He’s really fun. He’s super, ultra careful and fast. In general it’s [rare] he goes through the show and doesn’t do something good for me. So it’s really fun to have him. It’s been three years, almost four, of our partnership. He’s one horse that every rider would like to have in the stable.”

While Menezes has a powerful string, this horse can be called on for a variety of classes at any show. “He’s my speed horse, and he’s a horse that can jump up to 1.55m. He’s the horse I can use in almost every single class, other than the five-star grand prix.”

The motivation to win actually came primarily from having his own student behind him in the jump-off order, and the fact that Hank Guerreiro won the week prior. Menezes wanted to remind everyone he still could produce a win.

“I knew that Carlos, my student, was coming behind me and I know him and the horse well; the horse is a speed machine,” he shared of his strategy behind the fast jump-off. “I knew I needed to give everything I had and try to be clear, otherwise he would beat me again.”

Menezes is no stranger to Southern California, but the park has transformed in the eight years he’s been away. “I used to live nearby in San Diego. Last time I was here was eight years ago and I must say I’m impressed with the changes,” he reflected. “Everybody told me that it was nice; I didn’t expect it would be this nice. The people around are really nice – the people in the office, the organizers. We are really happy to be here and we are already planning to come back next year.”