Press release from Wellington International

The day on the derby field began with the CHF6,000 CSI2* Helgstrand Jewellery 1.45m class which put forth a single round speed test for the thirteen starters. Eight of the 13 entries contributed a clear round over the track but it was Ireland’s Tom Wachman who soared to the pinnacle position aboard Coolmore Showjumping’s, I’m Here. For their debut class on the grass, Wachman and the 10-year-old KWPN mare (Carambole x Numero Uno) breezed over each obstacle and landed in an efficient time of 60.65 seconds.

“She is new to me as I only started with her at the beginning of WEF,” explained Wachman. “In her last four classes, she won three and was second in one so she’s been quite successful. She has a very big stride so I tried to use that to my advantage today and leave out strides in a few places.”

Long-time show jumping professional Laura Chapot (USA) slid into the runner-up position just over a second shy of Wachman’s time after landing in 61.85 seconds aboard her and Mary Chapot’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding Diarado’s Flying Dutchman (Diarado x Landadel). Caelinn Leahy (USA) rounded out the top three on Steve Schaefer’s 11-year-old Selle Français gelding Halo (Koltaire du Moulin x Caretino 2).