Emily Dehoff on Manou de Muze wins Wellington1.50-meter Classic

Emily Dehoff won the Wellington International $32,000 Hermes 1.50-meter Classic for the first victory this year in which the 22-year-old rider is focusing on senior competitions instead of Under-25.

Emily, based in Wellington and riding Manou de Muze, 14-year-old Belgian-bred mare, was the last of 13 combinations to start the two-round Classic and one of only two to go clear. The pair completed the jump off in the pair's first competition on Wellington's grass derby field in 49.17 secs.

Germany's Tony Stormanns in his debut on RMF Balouwinsky, 10-year-old Westfalen gelding, placed second on 54.84 secs.

Emily, who had watched Tony's ride as the second last, thought she could beat the time without risking any faults, which she achieved.

Emily and Manou were on the U.S. team to win gold in the 2024 North American Youth Championships, two years after she took over the ride.

"She's been my move-up horse," she said. "She's helped me jump all the big FEI classes. This was definitely a goal of mine.

"Coming into WEF (Winter Equestrian Festival) this year is to jump some more 2*s. She was good two weeks ago (placed 2nd) and jumped the 3*s. We're aiming for a couple of 4*s toward the end, but she's just been a great ride for me and she's never really let me down."

Results:

$32,000 Hermes 1.50m Classic

Pl. Horse/Rider Nat. JO Faults JO Time

1 MANOU DE MUZE/EMILY DEHOFF USA 0 49.17

2 RMF BALOUWINSKY/TONY STORMANNS GER 0 54.84

3 ORYZON VAN HET SCHAECK/ZAYNA RIZVI USA 4 46.59

4 LUNA VAN'T RUYTERSHOF Z/YALI KASS ISR 4 48.17

5 CAMILA 111/CHARLIE JACOBS USA 4 48.52

6 C VIER 2/ISABELLA RUSSEKOFF ISR 4 49.33

7 THE KERRYMAN/MAX WACHMAN IRL 8 47.36

8 THEO DUC T&L Z/BLYTHE KAROLYI USA 8 52.31

9 CONQUERANT R Z/GEORGINA BLOOMBERG USA 8 55.02

10 CLOUD 39/HANNAH SELLECK USA 8 58.56

11 MIMOSA VD ROLLEBEEK/ISABEL COXE USA 32 56.54

Photo: Emily Dehoff on Manou de Muze in Wellington International Hermes 1.50-meter Classic. © Ken Braddick/Jumper-News.US