Philip McGuane and Orphea HQ Rise to the Challenge
Ireland’s Philip McGuane piloted the Evergate Stables-owned Orphea HQ to a career-best victory for the mare in Friday’s $62,500 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 6. The qualifying event for Saturday’s $140,000 KASK CSI3* Grand Prix took place on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village during Week 6 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
The field was made up of 67 horse jumping courses designed by Anna Catalina “Catsy” Cruz of Mexico. McGuane claimed the win in a nine-horse jump-off by just under one second over Canada’s Susan Horn riding Kirlo Van Den Bosrand. Horn’s time of 39.27 over the short track was just off the pace from McGuane in 38.62 second, and she took second for owner Kingsfield Farm. Alexandra Worthington (USA) rounded out the podium on De l’Oiseliere, owned by Turn a Blind Eye LLC, in a time of 39.51 seconds.
The win was a career-best for Orphea HQ, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Emerald x Epleaser van’t Heike). After starting the season with a top-five finish in the WEF 1 three-star grand prix, Orphea has been knocking on the door of a blue ribbon.
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Philip McGuane and Orphea HQ Rise to the Challenge (wellingtoninternational.com)
