Philip McGuane and Linguini De La Pomme cook up a first-place finish. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
Press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala
The $65,000 AdventHealth Grand Prix CSI2* was the thrilling finale of Week IX at the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Thirty-four combinations representing 10 nations battled for the lion’s share of the prize money, but it was Ireland’s Philip McGuane who piloted Evergate Stables LLC’s Linguini De La Pomme (Marius Claudius x Tinka’s Boy) to the win after an exciting 11-horse jump-off.
Course designer Gregory Bodo (FRA), assisted by Pieter Vitse (BEL), crafted the closing tracks for Sunday’s class. Eleven pairs managed to stay within the time allowed and produced clear rounds to advance to the jump-off.
Lucy Deslauriers and Starlet shine, taking home second. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
McLain Ward (USA) and Richard Vogel (GER) were the first to contest the short course, but both riders fell victim to an unlucky rail at the combination, leaving the door open for the rest of the field.
Lucy Deslauriers (USA) was the first to deliver a clear jump-off round aboard Luja LLC’s Starlet (Vigo D Arsouilles Stx x Clintissimo Z). The nine-year-old Selle Français mare raced around the track in 39.27 seconds to set the early time to beat.
Her lead was short-lived as Philip McGuane and Linguini De La Pomme, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, stepped into the ring. “I just wanted to try and do my own plan. She’s naturally very fast. I wanted to give a bit of extra room to that double because I watched McLain and Richard Vogel, who were both before me, they both had the going-out down, so that was the one place I took a little bit of caution to, and then the rest, I just stuck to my own plan.”
Luis Pedro Biraben and Georgina De Carles fly into third place. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography.
The pair raced around the course, crossing the timers in 38.07 seconds — a time that would ultimately prove unbeatable.
McGuane spoke about his partnership with the talented mare, “She came to Evergate Stables two-and-a-half years ago now. She is ridden by both me and Nayel Nassar. She has won multiple classes — 1.45m and 1.50m — for the both of us. She’s honestly an awesome horse just to have in the barn.”
This was McGuane’s first experience competing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, and it left a lasting impression. “This was my first time competing here and I am now going to stay on and do next week also. This place is amazing, from the barns, the stalls, everything is thought of, it’s so clean, warm-ups are great, lots of space to ride, different jumps… it honestly couldn’t be better.”
Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) rounded out the podium with La Cuadra Stables, LLC’s nine-year-old Warmblood mare Georgina De Carles (Kannan GFE x Quidam de Revel), delivering a smooth and efficient round in 40.37 seconds.
Then