LA BAULE, France--McLain Ward on the 12-year-old gelding High Star Hero won the CSIO5* 1.50m Prix FFE / Generali speed class on Thursday, June 5 at La Baule.
McLain Ward on High Star Hero (Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson)The class was the first qualifier for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule.
“I thought Hero jumped spectacular today,” Ward said. “He has a big stride, and he covers the ground well, so I was kind of trying to leave out numbers everywhere. I did not do the leave-out to the last; I felt I was quite good on the clock, and with it being the Grand Prix qualifier I did not risk it all but it worked out well.”
"Hero is owned by Mike and Wendy Smith, great supporters of ours and of the team,” Ward said. “I have had him for about six or seven months, and we have had some really good results. We are working on trying to keep him a little bit more consistent, and he was great in Rome winning the Grand Prix qualifier, and now a great start to the week here.”
“I have done a few five-star Grand Prix classes with him, and he has had some very good results so I have high hopes for him for the future," Wad said. "But first we are going to try the derby with him this week so let’s see how that goes.”
A TOTAL of 64 competed in this Table A class against the clock, where Gregory Bodo of France had designd a 12-fence track which included three doubles.
Faults spread out, although many clipped a rail on the last line towards the in-gate, either at the marine-themed La Baule-oxer at no. 10, or at the penultimate combination at 11ab.
As no. 26 in the ring, Riccardo Pisani of Italy on Chacco’s Lawito PS was the first to post a clear round below 64 seconds, finishing in 63.73 to go into the lead.
Although it looked difficult to beat Pisani, Cian O’Connor of Ireland on the 9-year-old gelding Gengis Kann de Londe finished clean in 62.71 seconds, a new time to beat for the 22 left in the class.
Then, with only nine left to go, Ward gave a masterclass in accuracy, efficiency and style as he, riding in a gust of rain and wind, braved not only the unpredictable coastal weather in La Baule but also bettered the time to beat by a full second, finishing in an incredible 61.61 seconds, a beautiful round appreciated by the as-ever fantastic crowd at the François André Stadium.
Ward is no stranger to recently riding in the rain, having competed in cold and windy downpours a the Devon Horse Show, also winning a speed class there on La Serra.
None of those last nine riders could catch Ward for the win, with O’Connor placing second and Pisani third.
Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden finished fourth on Steely Dan in 63.80 seconds, followed by Peder Fredricson of Sweden fifth on SV Vroom de La Pomme in 65.10 seconds.
The Nations Cup is at 7:30 a.m.. Eastern Friday morning and will be live streamed on ClipMy Horse.
There will be 10 teams competing, with the U.S. team of Lillie Keenan, Spencer Smith, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward going eighth of the 10 teams in the order of the first round.
