Last week, world no. five McLain Ward (USA) announced that he was parting ways with his Olympic mount Ilex (Baltic VDL x Chin Chin, bred by G. Maris and owned by Bonne Chance Farm). With Ward in the saddle, Ilex claimed team silver at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. 

Today, Ashford Farm communicated the news that the 2019 Pan American Games double gold medallist Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) is taking over the reins on Ilex. 

“It is such a privilege to get to ride such an incredible horse and to continue his already amazing career for the years to come," Marlon Modolo Zanotelli commented in a press release from Ashford Farm. “We aim to reach great heights with Ilex and hopefully represent Brazil at major events, championships and perhaps even the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles," the 37-year-old – currently ranked 67th in the world – who represented Brazil at the Tokyo Olympic Games and was part of the Brazilian squad at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen (FRA) as well as at the 2022 World Championships in Herning (DEN), continued. 

“We are very grateful for the trust that Gilberto Sayao has placed in us,” Ashford Farm’s Enda Carroll said in the press release. “To be able to add such prestigious jumper to Marlon’s string of horses is absolutely fantastic. We consider Ilex to be one of the best horses in the world and it is a great honor to be a part of his journey.”

Alexandre Gadelha (BRA), Bruno Martins Costa (CAN), as well as Fabio Leivas da Costa (BRA), competed Ilex prior to Ward. With Ward in the saddle, Ilex placed second in the prestigious CSIO5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen in 2024 before representing the USA at the Olympic Games in Paris. At the end of 2024, Ward and Ilex placed fourth in the CSIO5* Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva. This year, the two were a part of the winning U.S. team at the CSIO5* Longines League of Nations™ in Ocala. Now, the gelding returns to flying the Brazilian flag – this time with Modolo Zanotelli in the saddle.