Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) Fidelity Investments week five, Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Florida, USA
McLAIN WARD topped an extraordinarily fast jump-off to take the first five-star grand prix of this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival.
With 12 first-round clears, anyone wanting to win this $401,000 (£310,600) Fidelity Investments-sponsored class clearly needed to pull off something special. McLain delivered as the ninth to go, piloting Noche De Ronda to a margin of more than two seconds over compatriot Kent Farrington, a known speed master with last year’s Aachen grand prix winner Gazelle.
“The stress doesn’t get less. It’s like a drug — I love it, but it’s killing me at the same time,” said the 44-year-old winner. “I have a couple of students doing the sport at an incredibly high level, and it’s very engaging to be with them and see them prosper and grow.
“I’m still nervous for these big nights; I really find great pleasure in the fight. The victories are nice and the things that come along with them, but the battle between people like Kent and I and several others is what really gets our blood up.”
The 11-year-old winner Noche De Ronda has been with McLain for about a year and belongs to Marilla van Beuren, Bob Russell and her rider.
“Marilla has been an avid follower and equestrian for many years and she had a dream to own a grand prix horse,” explained McLain.
Denne historien er fra February 13, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra February 13, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat
‘Happy hunting, everyone'
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'Monaco deserved this victory
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'It had to end sometime'
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Winter him well
A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but what’s the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season
Neat feet
Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead
In bygone days
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'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life
