World No. 10 rider Mclain Ward claimed victory in the $500,000 Modon CSI5* Grand Prix at Wellington International on February 22, 2026, aboard High Star Hero. The American led wire-to-wire with the first clear round and a jump-off time of 39.14 seconds. Mark Bluman and Shane Sweetnam finished second and third in a tight competition.
The event took place under Saturday Night Lights during Week 7 of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Florida. WEF features 12 weeks of FEI competition, including four five-star events, running through March 29. Mclain Ward, a six-time U.S. Olympian, rode the 13-year-old Belgian-bred gelding High Star Hero (I Am Moerhoeve's Star), owned by Michael Smith, to set the pace on Anthony d’Ambrosio’s 1.60m track. Only four riders advanced to the jump-off, representing different nations.
Ward and High Star Hero clocked 39.14 seconds in the jump-off, despite an extra stride to the final fence. Mark Bluman of Colombia, riding 13-year-old Landon de Nyze (Comilfo Plus Z x Quadrillo) for owners Over The Top Stables and Daniel Bluman, finished second in 39.71 seconds. This was Bluman's first five-star grand prix with the horse, which previously competed under Kent Farrington, winning team gold and individual silver at the 2023 Pan American Games. Irish Olympian Shane Sweetnam placed third on 13-year-old James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising), owned with Gizmo Partners, in 39.91 seconds. The top Canadian, Mario Deslauriers, finished 11th on Genial de B’Neville.
Ward reflected on the pressure: “You always feel pressure, and all these guys are super-fast riders with very fast horses—I knew they were going to risk everything to win.” He noted High Star Hero's strong form over the past six months and praised his team amid a difficult start to the year, following the death of his horse Imperial HBF from colic complications a week earlier. “It’s been a difficult start to the year,” Ward said. “My team has rallied and put their heads down—it’s been a grind, and I’m proud of them, proud of the horse and proud to bring this home tonight.” This marked Ward's fourth win in a WEF 7 grand prix, his last in 2020 with HH Azur.
Bluman expressed disappointment in not risking more: “I’m not competing to be second, so I was a little disappointed with myself—not with the horse—because I could have taken more of a risk going into the double.” Sweetnam highlighted his horse's consistency: “He hasn’t knocked a fence in a grand prix since Dublin (August), and that’s ridiculous.” Ward also commended the Wellington community's growing engagement with equestrian sports.
French rider Nina Mallevaey received the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award for Week 7 after a fifth-place finish on Dynastie de Beaufour. Ward's groom, Edvin Soto, won the Double H Farm Grooms Award and $500.
