Portuguese Victory for Ricardo Gil Santos in the CaixaBank Trophy at CSI3* Maeza

Sariego (Asturias), July 4th 2026.

The CaixaBank Trophy provided a fitting finale to an outstanding second day of competition at the sixth CSI3* Maeza. The class was decided in an exciting winning round, with the fifteen best combinations from the initial speed round qualifying for the final.

The time difference between first and second place tells the whole story: 43.26 seconds versus 43.28 seconds—just two hundredths of a second. That razor-thin margin separated Portugal's Ricardo Gil Santos and "Gatsby Diamond"from Spanish Olympian Eduardo Álvarez Aznar aboard "Harlequin des Flagues." Both riders entered the arena towards the end of the starting order and left nothing to chance in their battle for victory, which ultimately went the way of the Portuguese rider.

Third place went to another Spanish rider, Basque competitor Pello Elorduy, who stopped the clock in 43.96 seconds riding "Champenoise de Rampán."

Ricardo Gil Santos received the CaixaBank Trophy from Emilio Cuadrado, Commercial Director of CaixaBank for Asturias and Cantabria, accompanied by Christina Bares of Yeguada Finca Maeza and Álvaro Arrieta, President of Oxer Sport.

Grupo EULEN Trophy

The intermediate class, the Grupo EULEN Trophy, also produced a repeat winner, attracting 66 starters. For much of the competition, young Madrid rider Lucas Morote—competing in his first Junior season—held the lead, but experience and determination ultimately prevailed as Jesús Garmendia claimed victory.

The Grupo EULEN Trophy, run over 1.35m fences under a Speed and Handiness format, penalised each rail down with four additional seconds added to the rider's time. Riding "Nina Tilla," Jesús Garmendia completed the course in 54.98 seconds, narrowly beating Lucas Morote and "Gabriela Manciaise,"who finished in 55.50 seconds.

Third place went to a home combination representing Yeguada Finca Maeza, with Jairo Junquera and "Hades de Maeza" finishing in 56.02 seconds after another highly competitive performance.

Dimas García Omar, Regional Manager for Northwestern Spain at EULEN Flexiplan, presented the Grupo EULEN Trophy to Jesús Garmendia, accompanied by Christina Bares on behalf of Yeguada Finca Maeza and Álvaro Arrieta, President of Oxer Sport.

Grand Finale on Sunday

The CSI3* Maeza concludes on Sunday, July 5, with the final three classes of the competition, culminating in the prestigious Maeza Grand Prix. Competition gets underway at 10:00 a.m.