News
McLain Ward Kicks off H & H with a win on Zhum CW
Nov 29, 2012
Equestrian Sport Productions' Holiday and Horses competition began on Wednesday, November 28, at the beautiful Palm Beach International Equestrian Centerwith a win for McLain Ward aboard Ilan Ferder and Missy Clark's Zhum CW in the $10,000 Welcome Stake. The Holiday and Horses show will have top classes each day through December 2 and is rated CSI 2*-W, Jumper 5*, and "AA". On Thursday riders will compete in the $33,000 Holiday and Horses Opener Grand Prix presented by Horse Gym USA. The $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m class is featured on Friday, and the $50,000 Holiday and Horses Grand Prix, a FEI World Cup qualifier, will be held on Saturday evening. Thursday's, Friday's, and Saturday's highlight classes count toward ROLEX FEI World Ranking points. The feature class on Sunday is the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
A total of 46 entries showed in Wednesday's $10,000 Holiday & Horses Welcome Stake jumping a course set by Anthony D'Ambrosio, of Red Hook, NY. Twelve competitors were able to clear the first round course without fault, and after four of those entries opted not to jump off, eight advanced to the short course. Five jumped double clear in a race against the clock.
First to go in the jump-off, Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC's Eregast Van't Kiezelhof led the way with a clear round in 35.984 seconds and held onto the lead through six more rounds until McLain Ward and Zhum CW entered the ring, last to go. Ward and Zhum CW captured the win with their time of 35.001 seconds to push Sweetnam into second place. Third went to Richie Moloney and Equinimity LLC's Bailey with a clear jump-off in 36.525 seconds. Fourth place was awarded to David Blake aboard Pine Hollow Stables' Shalimar in 36.865 seconds. The final clear round and fifth place honors went to Schuyler Riley and South Beach Stables' Andretti in 39.243 seconds. Luis Larrazabal and Gustavo Mirabal's G&C Lepanto had the fastest four-fault round in the jump-off in 35.836 seconds to place sixth.
McLain Ward rode to victory on Wednesday in his first time ever showing Zhum CW for owners Ilan Ferder and Missy Clark. Ward flew into Florida from Europe on Tuesday evening, rode the horse briefly, and then showed him to the win one day later.
Final Results: $10,000 Holiday & Horses Welcome Stake
1. Zhum CW, McLain Ward, Ilan Ferder: 0/0/35.001
2. Eregast Van't Kiezelhof, Shane Sweetnam, Spy Coast Farm LLC: 0/0/35.984
3. Bailey, Richie Moloney, Equinimity LLC: 0/0/36.525
4. Shalimar, David Blake, Pine Hollow Stables: 0/0/36.865
5. Andretti, Schuyler Riley, South Beach Stables: 0/0/39.243
Source: Press release from Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.