Wellington, Fla. – March 21, 2026—Israeli Olympian Daniel Bluman showed off new talent in his own Malina on the way to a win in the $62,500 Adequan® CSI4* WEF Challenge Cup Round 11, a qualifier for Sunday’s $200,000 WeatherTech CSI4*Grand Prix at Wellington International. Hosting 12 consecutive weeks of international competition, WEF runs through March 29 in Wellington, FL.
Daniel Bluman & Malina. Photo ©Sportfot
Andy Christiansen’s (USA) jump-off track saw nine out of a forty-nine pair line-up with Bluman and the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare making light work of the track, crossing the timer beam at 52.2 seconds. The win marks the pair’s second four-star victory together after the young mare was produced through the Bluman Equestrian Program. Malina competed in the young horse finals in Wellington with Daniel’s brother Steven.
“She’s a fantastic horse, but a bit green. She can be sensitive, but has a lot of scope, always wants to be clear, and wants to work with you,” stated Bluman of the mare that’s been a part of the Bluman family since she was six. “She’s naturally fast—I don’t have to go 100% to be able to win a class like today. I think she’s going to have a very bright future.”
Watch The Winning Round
Purchased in Holland with the help of a family friend and Israel’s Chef d’Equipe Hans Horn, the mare’s lineage is just one factor that makes her so special to Bluman. “She’s well-bred (Aganix Du Seigneur x Mylord Carthago HN). I love the breeding, and I love the mare so we’ve been working to produce a young horse, and we are very happy that she is finally now getting to this level.
“As much as I like competing, there’s nothing I like more than producing a horse from the beginning,” continued Bluman. “She went to my brother first, but then you fast forward and she’s my favorite nine-year-old. That’s the beauty of producing horses—it’s a day-to-day thing, and it requires a lot of patience, but I think that that’s the most beautiful part of our sport.”
Right behind Bluman, Adrienne Sternlight (USA) claimed second place with a time of 53.15 seconds riding Faquitol-S, a 16-year-old Dutch-bred gelding owned by Starlight Farms. Rounding out the podium at 54.16 seconds was Chloe Reid (USA) and her own Crossover 4, a 13-year-old Hannovarion gelding.
Daniel Bluman & Malina are presented as winners of the $62,500 Adequan® CSI4* WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 by Valerie Arcuri, Key Account Manager for the Southeast Region at Adequan®. Photo ©Sportfot
With some successful rounds at the 1.55m level under their belt already, Bluman plans to bring the mare down a notch while they prepare to tackle the rest of the season. “This is a year of evolving and learning, doing different things, traveling for the 1st time to Europe and possibly jumping in the major leagues. She’s got a lot of good things to do and to grow into.”
For complete results of the $62,500 Adequan® CSI4* WEF Challenge Cup Round 11, click HERE.
Two Champions Crowned in International Hunt & Go Derby
With identical scores of 190, Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, Fla., and Elizabeth Towell Boyd of Camden, S.C., tied for top honors in the $15,000 International Hunt & Go Derby, presented by Marshall & Sterling/Great American, to highlight Friday of Week 11 on the grass derby field at Wellington International’s (WEF) Equestrian Village. The two riders settled for a tie after a mutual agreement to save their horses’ legs for the $50,000 USHJA International Derby to take place the next day, March 21.
Victoria Colvin & Et Cetera. Photo ©Sportfot
Elizabeth Towell Boyd & MTM Crossed My Mind. Photo ©Sportfot
In the “hunt & go” format, where riders jumped a classic phase and a handy phase over one course, 24 combinations took to Ken Krome’s (USA) track. Judges Michael Newman of Powder Springs, Ga., and Todd Karn, of Fayetteville, N.Y., were in agreement on Colvin’s Et Cetera and Boyd’s mount MTM Crossed My Mind.
Colvin, riding the 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Glade Run Farm, posted a classic round score of 92 and a 98 in the handy phase. “He’s a first-year green, so he’s still a little new to it as it’s his second derby. He went out there and was really great today. The course wasn’t too daunting, it was quite nice for him.
“I tried to have a smooth and efficient round. I wanted to be handy, but not too much, so I got four points for that, and because he is still a little green, I had to hold his hand a little more,” continued Colvin of the gelding she began riding last year during the indoor season. “We ended up in a tie because we’re both showing in the class tomorrow, so we thought to save their legs for another day.”
Colvin is currently leading the 2026 Professional Hunter Rider Standings, sponsored by YETI, at WEF by nearly 1000 points.
Elizabeth Towell Boyd on MTM Crossed My Mind & Victoria Colvin on Et Cetera are presented as winners of the $15,000 International Hunt & Go Derby, presented by Marshall & Sterling/Great American. Photo ©Sportfot
Riding MTM Crossed My Mind, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Hodgkiss Farm, Boyd scored a 93 in the classic round and 97 in the handy round. “Being tied with Tori Colvin is great, she’s an amazing rider, friend and a great competitor. I think if it were derby finals or the big class on Saturday, we would have jumped off, but a win is a win, so I’ll take it,” exclaimed Boyd of her delight with the day’s results.
When not being piloted by Boyd in the higher stakes classes, MTM Crossed My Mind can be found in the junior hunter rings with his younger rider, Addy Grace Anderson. “The owners were so wonderful to understand and give him to me for the week since Addy did him in Week 9. He’s a very quiet horse, so we don’t want to overdo him.
“He’s got a great brain, he’s a real trier, and I think late in the circuit, it’s nice to get on the grass, change up the scenery for the horses and the riders. Kenny Chrome did a great job, the course flowed really well, and the hunt and go was great,” stated Boyd, speaking on the opportunity to ride on the grass derby field.
Third-place honors were awarded to Greg Crolick of Clarkston, MI, riding Chappy, a 15-year-old Mecklenburg gelding, for owners Carole Chase. With scores of 91.5 and 96.5, they finished on a final 188 total.
For full results of the $15,000 International Hunt & Go Derby, presented by Marshall & Sterling/Great American, click HERE.
