Caetano Continues Winning Streak on Luso Warmblood Hit Plus at 2023 CDI Lisbon

Shows

2023 CDI Lisbon

The Lisbon International Horse Show decided to host two editions of international competition this year: a smaller spring edition on 25 - 26 March 2023 and a larger four-day show on 29 September - 1 October 2023.

Portuguese Maria Caetano continued her winning streak which she started in Beloura (POR) and continued in Jerez de la Frontera (ESP). Aboard the Luso Warmblood Hit Plus she won the Grand Prix and Special in Lisbon.

Caetano's Winning Streak

Olympian Caetano won Beloura with Fenix de TIneo and Hit Plus, dominated Jerez de la Frontera's freestyle on Fenix de Tineo, and was back on top with Hit Plus in Lisbon.

In a field of 9 riders, Caetano and the 11-year old Portuguese sport horse bred Hit Plus (by Bretton Woods x Peralta Pinha) ruled the roost and won both the Grand Prix and the Special with a considerable point advantage. They posted a winning 71.457% in the Grand Prix and 72.478% in the Special.

"Hit Plus is getting better and better," Maria told Eurodressage. "He is now relaxed inside the ring and so he can show all his power! He is such an amazing horse! Here in Lisbon he was very active and happy to perform! The Lisbon show was very well organized with very kind people and a friendly atmosphere in the most iconic club in Lisbon. For me it’s always a pleasure to have the chance to compete there."

For years Maria has been training and competing Lusitanos, but she has added several Luso Warmbloods to her collection.

"I think the Luso Warmblood is a very interesting mix. I’ve been a huge fan of these horses since the beginning because I believe we can have the chance to benefit from both breeds," said Maria. "In Hit Plus case, we can see the strength and big movements of a warmblood combined with the super kind and brave heart of a Lusitano."

Oliva Feels Good

The second placed pair was twice the Portuguese based Brazilian Joao Marcari Oliva aboard his own 11-year old Westfalian Feel Good VO (by Franziskus x Dimension x Parforce). The pair scored 70.348% in the Grand Prix and 69.872% in the Special.

"There's a lot to improve but I have big hopes on this boy," Joao stated. The 27-year old has set his sights on qualifying for the Brazilian team for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Only a year ago, Portuguese Nuno Chaves de Almeida switched nationality to ride for Brazil and was given Feel Good VO to qualify him for the 2022 World Championships in Herning. The pair got selected and finished 85th in the Grand Prix with 62.904% Shortly afterwards Feel Good VO returned to Oliva.

Rookies

Third in the Grand Prix was big tour rookie Rita Ralao Duarte on Team Rubi's 10-year old Lusitano bred Irao (by Rubi out of Oxalis de Meia Lua (by Xaqiero)). She scored 68.609%. Ralao began competing Irao at international small tour in April 2021, moved him up to medium tour a month later and they did their first CDI Grand Prix in Cascais in February. Lisbon was their second international at big tour level. She went on to finish fourth in the Special.

Third in the Special was Luciana Inacio on the 10-year old buckskin Iraque (by Rubi x Aguarela PFC). The pair only competed in their second CDI in their career. In 2019 they did the 6-year old tests at the CDI Lisbon and four years later premiered at the same venue at Grand Prix level. They scored 67.704% in the Special.