Press release from Longines Global Champions Tour, edited by World of Showjumping

Day two of the Longines Global Champions Tour of New York, USA, delivered a spectacle to remember as Gregory Wathelet (BEL) and his 13-year-old grey mare Argentina de la Marchette (Acajou de la Marchette x Del Piero PB) stormed to victory in the Champagne Piaff Trophy, a CSI5* 1.50m jump-off class. 

The stage could hardly have been more dramatic – sunshine beaming across Liberty State Park, the Hudson shimmering under the Manhattan skyline, and none other than Bruce Springsteen among the crowd, soaking in the magic of world-class showjumping in the city that never sleeps.

Speaking after his victory, Wathelet said: “It is amazing here in New York, the backdrop is fantastic and there were a lot of people in the crowd today. She’s so careful. I know exactly what I had to do. She really likes the attention." 

The jump-off of 15 swung like a pendulum. Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), first to go, blazed the track in 32.50 seconds on board Glamour Girl (VDL Zirocco Blue x Caletto I) but toppled the yellow taxi fence. Eduardo Menezes (BRA) with Messi's Whizz Kid PS (Messenger x Carthago) and Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) on Qevita vd Bisschop (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Elvis Ter Putte) also faltered, their rails tumbling under the weight of pressure. It was home rider Mimi Gochman (USA) who lifted spirits with the first clear, her partnership with Iron Maiden (Clarimo x Kashmir van’t Schuttershof) igniting cheers from the sold out grandstands. Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) then lit up the leaderboard with H&M Miro (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan), shaving almost two seconds off the leading time, before Oliver Fletcher (GBR) and BP Pocahontas (Emilion x Pacino) chased him down, slotting into third.

As the contest neared its close, Gregory Wathelet delivered a masterclass. Smooth, calculated and razor sharp, he powered Argentina de la Marchette home in 32.94 seconds to seize the top spot. All eyes then turned to Natalie Dean (USA) and Con Calma (Cascadello x Cancara), the final pair, as the home crowd roared them on. Clear and courageous, she stopped the clock just outside the podium, ending a memorable afternoon in fifth behind Philippaerts in second, Fletcher in third and Gochman in fourth.