Caetano in Command of Big Tour at 2023 CDI Beloura

Shows

2023 CDI Beloura

With competitions slowly picking up speed on the 2023 Europeans show calendar, riders got their opportunity to compete in two back-to-back CDI's in Cascais and Beloura, Portugal. At last week's CDI Beloura on 24 - 26 February 2023, it was Portuguese Olympian Maria Caetano who commanded the big tour classes and grabbed three trophies.

Hosted at the Quinta da Beloura Horse Center in Sintra, Portugal, this 4* level competition brought afoot no less than 21 Grand Prix riders. The main class was judged by Eddy De Wolff, Jean Michel Roudier, Jan Nivelle, Frederico Pintéus, and Kurt Christensen.

"It feels great to compete in Portugal and enjoy the support of our friends and family," said Maria Caetano, the triple winner of the CDI Beloura who is now ranked 41 on the FEI World Rider Ranking. "It’s super important to have the quality of shows here! The show organizers are doing a super job and we have super venues with great conditions for horses and riders in a very nice and friendly atmosphere."

Caetano Sandwich

Maria began her 2023 pre-Olympic year competition campaign in Cascais with her two younger Grand Prix horses Happy Plus and Horizonte, while she reserved the big boys for Beloura.

She won the Grand Prix on her Tokyo ride Fenix de Tineo, a 13-year old Lusitano by Rubi x Oheide, on a score of 70.804% She sandwiched Frenchman Alexandre Ayache on Karim Barake's 11-year old Danish mare Holmevangs Jolene (by Johnson x Continue). The Nice based Ayache posted 70.283% for second place, while Caetano landed third spot on the 11-year old Portuguese sport horse bred Hit Plus (by Bretton Woods x Peralta Pinha) with 70.152%.

The top five was further coloured by flags from different nations with Portuguese based Brazilian Joao Oliva fourth on the Lusitano stallion Escorial Campline (69.674%) and Moldovan Alisa Glinka on Aachen (by Ampere) in fifth place with 69.174%. Glinka is normally based in Moscow, Russia, but has been spending more time at her French stable in Cap d'Antibes.

Hattrick

Seven riders opted for the Grand Prix Special and eight chose the Grand Prix Kur to Music as their second test of choice in Beloura.

GP Special prize giving with Godinho and Caetano

Caetano scored a hattrick as she won the Special with Fenix de Tineo on 71.681% and the Kur with Hit Plus on 74.365%. The runner-up in the Special was Portuguese Vasco Mira Godinho aboard the 10-year old Lusitano Iranico (by Rubi x Hostil) with 71.277%. He stepped up from his ninth place in the Grand Prix (67.478%). Portuguese Martim Meneres and Equador (by ) made a major leap on the board after placing 14th in the Grand Prix with 66.283% and landed second spot in the freestyle with 73.380%

"Fenix and Hit felt great," Maria explained. "Both were full of power and happy to be back in the ring. I enjoyed every single test they did, and still, I feels there are room for improvement on both during the year. It was a super feeling to be the winner of the 3 Big Tour tests. I’m incredibly proud of my horses and I can’t thank enough to my team and family for the help and support they gave me during this busy weekend."

Fit and Fresh

Head boy in the barn, Fenix de Tineo, had a long winter break and is now fresh and fit for the outdoor season which will lead to the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck as goal.

"He's been on a long break since the World Championships on Herning, so he could recover from a very busy two seasons on the road with Tokyo and Herning," said Caetano. "He’s now back with more strength and full of energy. Hit Plus is more and more confident inside the ring and his collected movements are improving more and more. It’s so nice to see the development of this big boy! He has so much to give!"

Maria has check marked the CDI's in Jerez de la Frontera, Portugal, Le Mans and Compiègne for this spring, before relocating to Germany in Junet to prepare for the Europeans.