Winter Equestrian Festival $750,000 Rolex Grand Prix
Dr. Gregory A. Beroza, aka the HorseDoc®, was on site in Wellington, FL for the WEF 2025 $750,000 Rolex Grand Prix. Read the full recap below.
The $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix took place at Wellington International on March 29th, 2025. Forty of the world’s top international riders were invited to compete, based upon their current jumping achievements. Six of the world’s top 10 ranked athletes included FEI World #1 Henrick von Eckermann (SWE), six-time U.S. Olympian Mclain Ward, 2024 Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk (GER), three-time U.S. Olympic medalist Laura Kraut, FEI World #3 Kent Farrington, FEI World #5 Ben Maher, plus many other accomplished equestrians.
Only eight riders were faultless after the first round, going into the final jump-off. Ashlee Bond (ISR), Laura Kraut (USA), and Christian Kukuk (GER) had the three best performances. Only four of the finalists had fault-free rounds. The first jump-off rider, Ashlee Bond of Israel, rode Donatello 141 to capture the first and fastest no-fault round of 40.41 seconds.
Ashlee Bond and Donatello 141. Photo by Sportfot.
Bond remained on top until the fifth jump-off rider, Laura Kraut of the United States, riding Bisquetta, set a new no-fault round with a faster time of 39.49 seconds, making her the rider to beat.
Laura Kraut and Bisquetta. Photo by Sportfot.
The seventh jump-off rider, current Olympic Champion and last year’s defending Rolex Grand Prix winner Christian Kukuk of Germany, riding his key mount Checker 47, made a no-fault round and established a new time to beat of 39.20 seconds. Kukuk’s ride was the best of the 2025 Rolex Grand Prix, which the two riders following him were unable to better or knock out former leaders Kraut or Bond.
Christian Kukuk and Checker 47. Photo by Sportfot.
This was the first time the same combination horse and rider won consecutive Rolex Grands Prix, and were also the first to have won two Rolex Grands Prix as a team.
The top three finishers on the podium. Photo by GBeroza.
The unexpected drama of the day occurred in the early morning hours prior to competition when Kukuk’s wife and fellow equestrian athlete Veronica Tracy announced that it was time to deliver the couple’s new baby Lila, who was arriving prior to her due date. The couple went to the hospital and both Veronica and Lilah are healthy and awaiting Christian Kukok’s return after having won the Rolex Grand Prix Finale at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
The Top Five Results for the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix:
- Christian Kukuk (GER) & Checker 47: 2020 Westphalian gelding; Faults/Time: 0-0-39.20
- Laura Kraut (USA) & Bisquetta: 2014 Zangersheide mare; Faults/Time: 0-0-39.49
- Ashlee Bond (ISR) & Donatello 141: 2011 Westphalian gelding; Faults/Time: 0-0-40.41
- Jordan Coyle (IRL) & Chaccolino: 2011 Zangersheide gelding; Faults/Time: 0-0-40.44
- Bertram Allen (IRL) & Conquest de Rigo: 2016 Belgian WB gelding; Faults/Time: 0-4-40.45
All three finalists complimented legendary course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) for his extraordinary talent in weeding out only the top eight of the original 40 super athletic teams into the final fault- free round. This was considered an ideal result by all present. Jorge designed the courses for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and has designed the finale grand prix at Wellington International for 11 consecutive years. Jorge considers many factors including the layout of various types and heights of jumps plus setting a time limit to finish the course without any penalties.
Wellington International President Michael Stone celebrated a record-breaking WEF season that saw every Saturday Night Lights event completely sold out. “It’s a sport that everyone can be part of and to be able to grow, that makes Wellington International very proud.” Stone, along with all riders expressed how electric the event was and agreed that this Rolex Grand Prix had, “The Best Crowd Ever!”
Spectators at the Rolex Grand Prix. Photo by Gberoza.
The win for Kukuk occurred after his first full season stabled in Wellington as his winter home base. He stressed that no accomplishment of this nature would be possible without a strong partnership between himself and his horse, Checker. Kukuk stated, “There is something special between Checker and this arena. Every time I come into the ring with him, I have the feeling that he has an extra gear.” “This day is always going to be a very special memory for her (Lilah’s) birthday. It’s an incredible story to tell her (Lilah) when she’s old enough. I am the happiest man on the planet tonight!”
Congratulations to all the contestants, the winners, and especially the 2025 Rolex US Equestrian Champion, Christin Kukuk and his mount Checker. Please check out the 2025 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix 15-minute video and our other broadcasts on the ‘Talking Horses’® Youtube Channel:
Dr. Gregory A. Beroza, DVM, DACVS, DABVP has been a practicing veterinarian and consultant for 42 years; and HorseDoc® ‘Talking Horses’® media host, author, and consultant since 2007. Dr. Beroza is a multimedia host and broadcasts his productions, including a new Podcast, via his WuzUpDoc Media website: www.WuzUpDoc.com. He can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and other social media sources.
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