Nicola Philippaerts Captures Second Consecutive Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup
Nicola Philippaerts is making his mark on the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) with a second consecutive victory in Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup action, winning the $116,100 Round 5 offering during Week 5 at Wellington International. The Belgian win this week came aboard Katanga V/H Dingeshof, a mount he pulled out for international action for the first time this season.
WEF 5 is the first of four CSI5* weeks of the total 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition at WEF. Competition continues through March 30 at Wellington International in Wellington, FL.
“This win feels fantastic,” Philippaerts said following his victory lap aboard his 2022 World Championship partner. “Katanga had a few weeks off; her last show was at Mechelen for the World Cup so I gave her a bit of a break. She always likes it here and she jumped great today. She feels in really great shape and I think she’s happy to be back in Florida.”
Philippaerts navigated a challenging first-round track set by 2024 Paris Olympic Games course builder Gregory Bodo (FRA) and was joined for jump-off action by 10 other pairs. With a later draw, the Belgian returned last in the jump-off, and was put in a similar position as the week prior when he won the same class aboard Derby de Riverland.
The time to beat was fast, with Ben Maher (GBR) on top with Enjeu de Grisien, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright, crossing the timers in 35.62 seconds. Philippaerts took the speed up just enough to come home two tenths of a second faster than the former Olympic Champion and take the win. Maher was pushed to second and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) took third with Gilona AO, owned together with Popish Farm & Seabrook LLC.
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Nicola Philippaerts Captures Second Consecutive Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup
