TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Mclain Ward on a new moun, Hialita B, won the $62,500 American Gold Cup CSI2* Grand Prix on Saturday, Sept. 19.
McLain Ward on Hialita B (Photo by Natalie Suto)Ward was one of nine in the jump-off over the course set by Alan Wade and finished clean in 36.09 to win over Erynn Ballard on Ravallo van de Helle, clean in 36.31, while Ariana Marnell on Dagny was third in 37.51.
Six were clean in the jump-off, with Shane Sweetnam of Ireland on Loulou MPSZ fourth in 38.17,Alessandra Volpi on Candy Luck Z fifth in 39.54, and Della White on Gucci sixth in 41..42.
“This is actually my first show with this mare of Mike Smith’s,” Ward said. “She’s been a top horse with Thaisa Erwin of Austrralia the past several years at the highest levels of the sport, and was the alternate for the Australian team at the World Championships in Aachen. I took over the ride about a week ago. We did a couple small classes and I’m excited about the future with her.”
“She knows her game so I knew I could trust her and she’s a naturally very fast horse. Even though we’re inexperienced, I know what her experience is.”
This was just the start for Ward and Hialita B, with the partnership continuing to build from here.
“She’s actually going to do the five-star in Greenwich next week, not the Grand Prix, but she’ll show in other classes,” he said. “We’ll keep building the relationship and see where it goes.”
Owner Smith echoed his excitement seeing Ward pilot Hialita B and looks forward to what their partnership can produce.
“I’m all about [the U.S. Equestrian Team],” Smith said. “McLain and I have been friends for a long time and we’re having a lot of fun together. I knew this horse would shine and do great things under him. This was the plan and we’re going to see what he can do. I’m so happy for the horse; she deserves a win.”
“I feel glad to be part of the team,” he said. “McLain is a great person, a good friend, and such a fabulous rider. Whenever I go in the ring I try to think, ‘What would McLain do and how would he look doing it?’”
Hialita B could be a contender for classes like the American Gold Cup in upcoming years for Ward, who is still eager to add a win in the prestigious class to his résumé.
“I’m feeling good,” Ward said of his preparation for Sunday’s event. “I have a great entry in Jordan Molga, also owned by Mike, and it’s one of two classes in the world that’s eluded me in my career — the Gold Cup and the Grand Prix of Aachen — so hopefully we can change that.”
Daniel Bluman on Gemma W won the $62,500 American Gold Cup CSI5*-W Winning Round
With the top 10 returning in round two, Bluman wasclean in 31.81 to win.
“For the jump-off I really know the horse I’m riding and how special she is,” Bluman said. “I know that when she can go at her best speed she’s the one to beat. All I wanted to do was the same thing I told Daniel Coyle right in front of me, and I beat him by a fraction. It went my way today but it could’ve been his way.”
Coyle of Ireland on Calippo 57 finished in 31.84 seconds, putting him just narrowly in second place., and Christian Kukuk of Germany on HK Carrera finished in third.
“Every time you have a class with so many great riders and horses you want to get competitive,” Bluman said. “Gemma jumped just one class last week and won it and she jumped only this class this week and won it too. She had an amazing couple weeks here.”
Looking ahead to Sunday, Bluman is taking a different approach than usual, knowing it’s time to step up a younger mount and teach her how to jump a major five-star grand prix course.
“Tomorrow we’re with Malina who’s 9 years old,” Bluman said of his ride for the American Gold Cup. “It’s her first ever World Cup Qualifier and second ever 1.60m class. It’s really more for the experience and to keep building her up. But already with this win we can be very happy with the week we’re having so far. It’s always great to be here in Traverse City and delighted that Gemma takes one more win for her tally.”
“It’s going to be an incredible day of jumping, the Gold Cup always is,” he said. “You’re going to see some of the best horses in the world competing so I think it’s going to be a great class. On my end I hope it’s a great experience for my horse and I get to enjoy a beautiful grand prix day.”
