Daniel Bluman Makes It Count as Final Rider in $200,000 LeMieux Grand Prix CSI4*
A packed house set the scene on Saturday evening for the $200,000 LeMieux Grand Prix CSI4* in the WEC Grand Arena at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). Twenty-three elite horse-and-rider combinations representing some of the sport’s best stepped forward to contest the class, but in the end it was Israel’s Daniel Bluman who delivered when it mattered most, claiming victory aboard Abigail Wexner’s Corbie V.V. (Cornet Obolensky x Chacco Blue).
FEI Level III course designer Colm Quinn (IRL) set a technical 1.55m track that demanded precision from start to finish. Time quickly became a factor over the delicate lines and careful questions throughout the course, and just six combinations found the path to a clear first round to advance to the jump-off.
German Olympian Andre Thieme was the first to return aboard his longtime partner DSP Chakaria. The 16-year-old German Sport Horse mare, whom Thieme has ridden since 2018, set the standard early with a quick and efficient clear in 38.16 seconds.
World No. 9 Daniel Coyle followed with Ariel Grange’s Daydream 141, but an unfortunate four faults kept them out of contention.
World No. 2 Kent Farrington (USA) was next in the order riding Descartes SR, a promising new partnership that already earned a win during Week I of the 2026 Winter Spectacular Show Series. The nine-year-old Mexican Sport Horse gelding owned by Kent Farrington LLC showed both scope and maturity beyond his experience level. Farrington stopped the clock in a blistering 37.42 seconds to take over the lead.
“We’ve been doing some smaller classes, trying to get him a bit more trained,” Farrington shared. “He’s a spectacular jumper, but he’s just coming nine years old, so he doesn’t have much experience. This is his first four-star; I don’t think he’s ever done a three-star. He’s made such a good amount of progress in such a short time. I’m very, very proud of the horse and really happy with the result.”
Jelmer Hoekstra (NED) appeared poised to challenge the lead with Lordy-P, posting a time of 37.18 seconds, but a heartbreaking rail at the final fence kept them from the top spot.
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