Wellington, Fla. – February 26, 2026—Ireland’s Tom Wachman opened Wellington International’s highly anticipated Nations Cup week by taking home the blue in Thursday’s $32,000 CSIO4* Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 with 11-year-old Estonian Sport Horse mare Obora’s Laura. Week 8 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) is one of 12 weeks of international competition, which runs through March 29 in Wellington, FL.
Tom Wachman & Obora’s Laura are presented as winners of the $32,000 CSIO4* Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 by Valerie Arcuri (right), Key Account Manager for the Southeast Region. Obora’s Laura was also honored with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award from Laura Fetterman (left). Photo ©Sportfot
Twenty-one-year-old Wachman and Obora’s Laura, owned by Coolmore Showjumping, broke the timers in 66.24 seconds over course designer Steve Stephens’ one-round speed test, a qualifier for Sunday’s $200,000 JTWG, Inc. CSIO4* Grand Prix. “She’s a very good mare; competitive and careful. It was a tough enough track, so I was delighted with the way she performed today,” Wachman said of the mare by Luidam x Non Stop.
Just off Wachman’s pace was fellow Irishman Darragh Kenny and Colibelle Hero Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide owned by Elena A. Hass. The pair stopped the clock at 67.18 seconds with Jacob Pope (USA) on their heels in 68.06 seconds to close out the podium with Sherri Crawford’s Highway FBH, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion.
Tom Wachman & Obora’s Laura. Photo ©Sportfot
Wachman, who trains with Irish Olympian Cian O’Connor, combined footspeed with a focus on turning to take the win. “Cian and I worked the last couple of weeks on turning because there have been a few speed classes where I lost time in the turns. We have been practicing, and it worked out quite well today.”
Week 8 of WEF brings international competition to a peak with the 2026 FEI Nations Cup Wellington. Eight nations are represented with teams from Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Mexico and the United States. Wachman has been tapped by Chef d’Équipe Jessica Kürten to represent Ireland in the FEI Nations Cup, presented by Florida Coast Equipment, during Saturday Night Lights.
“I’m excited—I’ve never jumped on a team here before. It’s always a great atmosphere and competitive. There’s plenty of support for the Irish, so I’m looking forward to it,” said Wachman of the opportunity to ride for his home country. Wachman, who represented his home nation in a string of Nations Cup team appearances over the summer, contributed to a win for Ireland in La Baule, France.
Wachman—set to ride Coolmore Showjumping’s Do It Easy—is hopeful for a good showing in his Wellington Nations Cup debut. “He’s had a good bit of form lately and deserves the opportunity,” said Wachman.
For full results from the $32,000 CSIO4* Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 8, click HERE.
Cassidy Rein and Escorial K Speed to U25 Win
Action in the international arena wrapped up on Thursday with the BrainJuice U25 Welcome. Forty-eight up-and-coming competitors took to the speed track, but it was Canada’s Cassidy Rein and Escorial K, owned by the Rein Family LLC, who took the win. Rein, and the 15-year-old Oldenburg mare by Chaccos’ Son x Epsom Gesmeray set the leading time by a full second, finishing in 58.70 seconds.
U25 athletes will now take aim at the BrainJuice U25 Semi-Final Grand Prix taking place under the lights on Friday evening.
Cassidy Rein & Escorial K. Photo ©Sportfot
“She proved me wrong in the best way,” said Rein of Escorial K. “I’ve had her for three and a half years now, and we tried to sell her last year as a 1.30m horse because we all thought that’s where she would be happiest.
“When she didn’t sell, we tried some bigger classes in Europe over the summer, and she completely exceeded our expectations,” continued Rein, 21. Jumping at the two- and three-star level throughout the end of 2025, Rein felt Escorial K was the perfect pick for her 2026 U25 season.
The mare proved her strength, beating out early class leader Virginia Bonnie (USA) and Heldorado (Eldorado VD Zeshoek TN x Quick Star), owned by Nina Bonnie, who finished in second on a time of 59.86 seconds. Third was awarded to Hallie Grimes (USA) and Margriet de Mariposa (Nabab de Reve x For Pleasure), owned by Can We Keep It? LLC, finishing fractions behind Bonnie in 59.90 seconds.
Cassidy Rein & Escorial K are presented as winners of the BrainJuice U25 Welcome by Lisa Ellis, CEO & CMO of BrainJuice. Photo ©Sportfot
“The U25 continues to be a great series,” said Rein. “The WEF season can feel long and easy to get lost in at times, so having these U25 classes along the way makes it easier to set goals.”
Ahead of the final during week 10 of WEF, riders will get the opportunity to jump under the lights in the U25 Semi-Final this Friday, February 27.
“Saturday Night Lights is such a notorious event here in Wellington, so it’s special that we get to have a taste of that under the lights as U25 riders,” concluded Rein, who trains under the direction of Helena Stormanns. “It’s a great way to step in there for the first time with your horse and just enjoy it.”
For the full results of the BrainJuice U25 Welcome, click HERE.
For full results of WEF 8, click HERE.
