Katie Speller lands the LeMieux Grand Prix with Z7 Pink Panther at Wellington Riding International
Monday 25 May 2026
Katie Speller hit form to land the LeMieux 2* Grand Prix with Z7 Pink Panther at Wellington Riding International.
“He’s a very laidback horse; an hour before the Grand Prix, he was flat out in his stable, but he knows when it’s the bigger occasion, he loves the attention and atmosphere and is actually easier to ride around a Grand Prix than a 1.40m,” said Katie.
Course-designer Jason Abbs set a world ranking 1.45m track for the 42 Grand Prix contenders, but such was the quality here, almost half of them produced clear rounds with 19 going into a hot jump-off.
“The time allowed was friendly and it wasn’t a massive track but there were a few tricky fences. He’s consistent and I’m usually lucky and know I stand half a chance of winning, but with so many in the jump-off, I didn’t know how it was going to go,” said Katie.
The clock played a major role as eight posted double clears with George Whitaker’s early lead on Peanut relegated to fourth. Katie proved the quickest, taking advantage of Z7 Pink Panther’s speed and deftness to zip into victory by an impressive 2.48 seconds. Sally Goding guided Spring Willow into second with Chris Franks bringing Kannabalou into third.
“I almost didn’t expect to achieve what we have so far and he’s still only eight, I don’t want to over face him but he’s where he needs to be at this age. I’ll definitely do some more two-stars with him and hopefully next year, three-star – my main goal next year is Nations Cups he’s so consistent he’ll make a great team horse,” said Katie, who added a “Massive thank you to Sheikha Maytha, Shane and Chloe Breen and the whole of the Breen team for their massive support.”
Katie has produced Team Z7’s eight-year-old Pink Panther (Cuick Star Kervec x Obos Quality 004) for the past two years.
“I rode him a couple of times as a five-year-old and have ridden him constantly since a six-year-old; we know each other inside out now,” said Katie. “He’s a funny horse; he doesn’t use any energy unless he has to and loves his food, but he’s so clever. He’s smart over a fence, he knows where his feet are and doesn’t go too high – he’s a very cool horse, quick across the ground and a pretty chill guy.”
There was no rest for Katie, and she was straight back in the saddle for the Six-year-old Final on another owned by Team Z7, Z7 Leela (Z7 Dubai Castlefield x Obos Quality 004). Six of the 21 starters accessed the jump-off, but Katie didn’t rest on her laurels and claimed another win by 1.62 seconds. Sandy McLean clinched second spot on Houdini with Alfie Bradstock’s Prime Time ZL in third.
“That was the fastest I’ve ever asked Leela to go. She’s half sister to Pink Panther and has a similar personality; a lovely temperament but conserves her energy, but she answered every question to win this class,” said Katie.
Jessica Hewlett lifted the Carr & Day & Martin 2* Gold 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier with Mosandro Van Parbeemd. Fifty-seven competitors came forward over this speed track with Jessica and the nine-year-old Arezzo VDL stallion claiming a 0.26 second advantage to win. Fresh from the Balmoral Grand Prix win, Joe Fernyhough and Calcourt Countdown slipped into second place with George Whitaker only fractionally behind for third aboard Peanut.
Chris Franks beat 62 rivals to the top of day one’s 2* Gold Tour 1.40m two-phase with the 13-year-old Kannabalou (Balou Du Rouet x Kannan) with 1.61 seconds in hand over Joe Clayton, in second on Expenditure. Joe Fernyhough jumped Iejoor into third.
William Rekert galloped to the top of the penultimate day’s 2* Gold Tour 1.40m speed with the 13-year-old mare Christian Street (Christian 25 x Poker 49), beating 27 challengers with a handsome 5.85 second advantage. Michael Whitaker jumped an easy round on the nine-year-old Annyalla Silverado for second and Harry Bateman eased Chacoon Star into third.
Harry secured victory in the 2* Silver Tour 1.35m Final on Casablanca WW. The 56 starters were reduced to 10 for the jump-off, Harry edging ahead on the eight-year-old Casall x Lux Z stallion to celebrate a o.24 second win. Ireland’s Adam Morgan finished second on Carrickview Clarissa and Jake Saywell slotted Mister SFN into third.
Sandy McLean posted four wins. Pino claimed two 2* Silver Tour 1.30m classes for Sandy, the Plot Blue x For Pleasure nine-year-old topping the initial day’s speed, outpacing 69 rivals to win by almost two seconds, and the 64-strong two-phase 24 hours later with 2.07 seconds to spare. Houdini (Escape Z x Amazing Jigsaw) topped day one’s Six-year-old 1.20m two-phase for Sandy by 2.41 seconds. BE Brabant stepped up to the plate to mark Sandy’s final win in the concluding Seven-year-old Final. Seven of the initial 21 starters returned for the jump-off, Sandy steering the Cuick Star Kervec x Ultimo gelding into a win with more than three seconds to spare over fellow Breen Equestrian rider Liam Hayes (IRE) on BE VBalencia.
Olivia Sponer scored a victory double on Crazy Girl, winning the 40-horse 1* 1.20m two-phase by 1.06 seconds and the final day’s 1* 1.25m Final. Ten of the original 28 accessed the jump-off with Olivia and the Corlensky G x Ars Vivendi 17-year-old powering to a 1.34 second win.
Tom Harrison was another double winner, taking the 1* 1.15 Small Tour Final on Lumina De Villa D’Arto. Ten from a field of 46 contended the jump-off, Tom and the 10-year-old Astrello x Casco mare speeding to a 4.34 second win. Tom also topped a 22-strong Seven-year-old 1.30m speed with Opium VD Kruisselbrink by almost eight seconds.
Image: Wellington International
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