Gregory Wathelet Speeds to a MLSJ FEI 5* Win in Thermal
Riders Atop Grays Finish First, Second, Third in the $62,500 1.50m Class
7 December 2025 at 10:52 amBy a.dunne
Belgian rider Gregory Wathelet and Argentina de la Marchette took the win in the Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) FEI 5* Winning Round by Circle B Ranch in Thermal, California. Amid afternoon shadows in the Grand Prix arena at Desert International Horse Park, Wathelet and the 13-year-old mare were 0.33 seconds faster than Mexico's Arturo Parada and Bordeaux.
Wathelet won despite his mare's heavy stumble on a turn to the penultimate fence of the jump-off course. The riders finishing in the top three spots were all aboard grays, a remarkable sight as they entered the arena for the awards ceremony.
1 Gregory Wathlet - ARGENTINA DE LA MARCHETTE - 0/33.22
2 Arturo Parada - BORDEAUX - 0/33.55
3 Cian O'Connor - PEGASUS - 0/33.92
4 Lillie Keenan - EMERLON - 0/34.41
5 Callie Schott - Ironix - 0/35.27
Eleven of 34 riders advanced to the jump-off.
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