Maria Caetano Claims Seventh Grand Prix Champion's Title at 2025 Portuguese Dressage Championships

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2025 Portuguese Dressage Championships

Maria Caetano and Fenix de Tineo grabbed the gold medal at the 2025 Portuguese Grand Prix Championships held in the Porto equestrian club in Matosinhos on 19 - 21 September 2025.

Youth Sport

While turnout in the youth divisions was rather underwhelming with just two Young Riders as well as two Under 25 riders able to complete the three counting championship rounds and no ponies present, the juniors fortunately had six pairs able to ride three rounds.

Mafalda Simoes Valadao grabbed the title in the children class on Come Waltz (by ?), while António Maria Soares became the junior champion on Epico Das Figueiras (by Viheste x Principe). In the young rider division Tiago Andre Ferreira took his second, consecutive title on the American owned Diamo Dream (by Diamo Gold x Fürst Heinrich). Nicole Antunes Silva and Nadal (by ) won the U25 title.

Caetano Goes for Seventh Title

In the senior division five pairs making it to the freestyle of the twelve who competed in the Grand Prix. One of them was a Brazilian rider. Nine rode the Special. None of the German based Portuguese Grand Prix riders made the trek to the Nationals (Joao Moreira, Nuno Palme e Santos, Antonio do Vale).

Maria Caetano claimed her seventh title in her career, this year aboard Fenix de Tineo (by Rubi AR x Oheide), her 2021 Tokyo ride who since 2024 has been her second iron in the fire to Caetano's number one, Hit Plus. Maria and Fenix proved consistency throughout the weekend with winning scores of 69,630 in the Grand Prix, 71,383% in the Special, and 74,180 in the freestyle to total an average of 71.731%

It was back to silver for Olympian Rita Ralao Duarte aboard the 12-year old Lusitano Irão (by Rubi x Xaquiro). She posted 67,500 in the Grand Prix, dropped to 64,404% in the Special, but was back on a roll in the Kur with 73,280%. Her total average was 68.395%.

The bronze went to new comer pair João Francisco Castelão and Jasmim Plus (by Escorial x Peralta Pinha). They got 68,239% in the Grand Prix, 67,532% in the special, and stayed at 68,120% in the Freestyle. They averaged 67.964% for a third place. Jasmim Plus is a former Portuguese young horse champion, who was previously shown by Maria Caetano in Portugal and by Boaventure Freire at Grand Prix level in Germany.

Photos © Carlos Hernâni

Results - Portuguese Dressage Championships - Porto

Children

1. Mafalda Simoes Valadao - Come Waltz 67,375 68,725 66,702 --- 67.601
2. Carminho Filipe - Iranio Da Ferraria 65,125 66,938 67,074 --- 66.379
3. Carolina Pereira Ávila Oliveira - Las Vegas 65,277 65,575 63,933 --- 64.928
Maria Carolina De Castro Ribeiro De Melo - Gladiator - DNS

Junior Riders

1. António Maria Soares - Epico Das Figueiras 66,212 66,088 67,780 --- 66.693
2. Mariana Vaz - Latino 66,424 64,882 68,520 --- 66.609
3. José Lourenço Rodrigues Dos Santos - Harun 66,182 63,735 68,855 --- 66.257
4. Lara Carreira 19- Funji 65,091 61,206 68,540 --- 64.946
5. Salvador De Mira Santana - Imperativo 61,909 63,824 67,015 --- 64.249
6. Lara Praxedes Carlos - Loro 64,121 63,029 57,790 --- 61.647
Lucas Lourenço Lopes - Irís EL

Young Riders

1. Tiago Andre Ferreira - Diamo Dream 64,088 66,882 70,440 --- 67.137
2. Maria Da Graça Abecasis - Delgado 66,500 66,853 67,765 --- 67.039
Francisco Pereira De Moura Braz - Fado 56,941 - DNS
Beatriz Ribeiro Costa - Nero EL

Under 25

1. Nicole Antunes Silva - Nadal 65,647 65,923 70,595 --- 67.388
2. Francisca Cristovão Castro Monteiro - Guarana 64,588 63,872 68,885 --- 65.782
Miguel Filipe Vitorino Cabeça Branca - Navarro 64,882 - DNS

Grand Prix

1. Maria Caetano - Fenix De Tineo - 69,630 71,383 74,180 --- 71.731
2. Rita Ralao Duarte - Irao - 67,500 64,404 73,280 --- 68.395
3. João Francisco Castelão - Jasmim Plus - 68,239 67,532 68,120 --- 67.964
4 Mariana Ass is Silva 7 - Iji Hp - 67,848 67,575 65,240 --- 66.888
5. Andre Jose Bras - Joba Ii - 65,174 65,128 67,230 --- 65.844
Nuno Chaves De Almeida - Lizarran - 66,783 67,532
Vasco Mira Godinho - Jezuita - 66,565 67,893
Ângela Filipa Campos Pereira - Fiorde 61,870 57,702
Francisco Vila Nova - for Sure 60,870 - RET
Maria Caetano - Horizonte - 66,935
Vasco Mira Godinho - Limbro Da Hermida - 65,391
Jose Miguel Marinho Magalhaes - São Romão - 63,957