Mantovani's Nuelo Das Lezirias Makes Strong Debut at 2025 CDIO Lier

Stallion at Stud

Maxi Kira von Platen (GER) made a successful international show debut on new ride Mantovani's Nuelo Das Lezirias at the CDIO Lier in Belgium on Thursday morning 16 May 2025.

Under the expert guidance of German coach Norbert van Laak and the supporting eyes of his owner, Thiago Mantovani, Maxi and Nuelo posted 69.951% for a 7th place in a strong Prix St Georges field.

The Lusitano at the Core

When Thiago Mantovani began drafting his first business plans in 2017 focused on the athletic potential of sport horses, it was obvious that the heart of breeding extraordinary horses lies in Europe. Yet it was the Lusitano that, from the very beginning, captured both his vision and his heart — not only because of its traditional genetic value, but also due to the looming risk of scarcity in this small studbook.

Thiago joined forces with a strong team for Mantovani Horses

Thiago took on the responsibility of preserving the breed while simultaneously pushing its evolution forward. And that’s where his path diverges from most: instead of merely safeguarding the past, he uses the past as a foundation to redesign the future.

At the core of his story and strategy is Escorial — “the horse of my life,” as he puts it. It is no coincidence that the purebred Lusitano Escorial has been approved by all major German studbooks. “I don’t intend to offend any breeder or downplay their stallions,” says Thiago candidly, “but Escorial redefined what dressage means for the Lusitano horse.” In other words, Escorial built a bridge between two worlds: the Lusitano’s natural aptitude and classical tradition — particularly for collection movements — and the technical benchmarks established by the German warmbloods.

Nuelo Carrying On the Legacy

Carrying on Escorial’s legacy is Nuelo, his direct son, now making his international debut in Belgium under German Maxi Kira von Platen. Already recognized by a German studbook and on track for full approval, Nuelo signals a new chapter — not only for his impeccable genetics, but for what he represents in the evolution of modern dressage.

At his side is Maxi Kira von Platen, a rising young professional in Germany, who has taken on the challenge of proving to the world that Lusitanos are here to compete on equal footing with the traditional powerhouse warmbloods.

In Germany, Maxi trains a string of 10 horses under the expert guidance of Norbert Van Laak and Ute Van Platen — her mother and a key figure in Germany as judge and trainer. Of the ten horses in the barn, five are Lusitanos, all with Olympic potential.

The Road to Olympus

“The paradigm has already shifted. The Lusitano has arrived,” Thiago declares. This journey didn’t begin yesterday. Thiago brought two Lusitanos to the Tokyo Olympics. For Paris, the plan was to go with Escorial, but a minor injury paused the mission. Nonetheless, João Oliva delivered a standout performance aboard Feel Good, opening a new path forward. “João has now been given the stallion Francesco Mantovani, a remarkable Westphalian with whom we’re building an ambitious program.”

Mythos Mantovani in Madrid

Mantovani's Nuelo das Lezirias (by Escorial)

Looking ahead to the competitive development of Mantovani Horses, a new brand was born in collaboration with Thaís Rico: Mythos Mantovani — a high-performance training center currently home to over 40 elite sport horses, both stallions and mares. “Mythos is a high-performance space with a modern, functional structure and an uncommon serenity that allows elite horses to thrive — just 30 minutes from Madrid Barajas airport,” explains Thaís.

Strategic figures have joined forces for the operation: Yara Fernandes leads the sports and technical management; Marc Sara represents the new Hispanic-Brazilian generation; and soon, a top Spanish rider will be announced to complete the team.

Target L.A.

Thiago Mantovani’s long-term plan is crystal clear: for Los Angeles 2028, all eyes turn to the United States with American powerhouse Sara Tubman already on board. For Brisbane 2032, the Brazilian team could feature João Oliva, Yara Fernandes, and Maria Eduarda Mantovani — his daughter Duda, poised to shine on the world stage.

Buy a Horse from Mantovani's Genetic Program

But perhaps the most strategic move of all is only just beginning: more than 150 foals are currently being developed in Portugal, until now kept confidential. Thiago has just released a first collection to the market — a cutting-edge cross between athletic mares and stallions like Nuelo and other Escorial sons.

“These foals are different. They are the future. We’re releasing 30 now, and the rest will go to auction. Those who see the potential early will have the edge.”

Interesting in buying a foal from Mantovani's Genetic Program? Check out the 2025 Mantovani Foal and Youngster Collection