Two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward ended the 2018 WEF circuit on a high note on Sunday with first and second place in the final event of the circuit, the $50,000 CP 1.50m National Grand Prix. With two mounts in the class, Ward claimed the victory riding Clinta for owner Sagamore Farms and was second aboard Bellefleur PS Z, owned by Susan Heller and Lilly Ward.
McLain Ward and Clinta. Photo by Sportfot Photography
Forty-five horses made up the order for the CP Grand Prix with 14 advancing to the jump-off course designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. Ward first took the lead riding Bellefleur PS Z, a nine-year-old Zangersheide mare by Berlin x Quidam de Revel who had already carried him to several wins this season. They stopped the clock at 34.737 seconds, which was only bested by Ward himself, this time on Clinta. The 11-year-old Oldenburg mare by Clinton x Lord Pezi crossed the timers more than a second faster in 33.696 seconds for the win.
Rounding out the top three, Rowan Willis (AUS) rode his own Shark to a double-clear effort in 35.730 seconds.
Ward added Clinta to his string just a week ago after first watching the horse compete in Aachen last summer and purchasing her from Paul Schockemöhle.
“I went and tried her in July and loved her,” said Ward of the mare previously developed by Germany’s Philip Rüping. “She’s a spectacular horse and I tried to get her bought a multitude of different ways, but it wasn’t very easy. They knew they had something special and I actually called them once a week for seven months with a new idea. Maybe the just got tired of me! The Sweeneys and Sagamore Farms stepped up and purchased her in January.
McLain Ward and Clinta in their awards presentation ceremony with ringmaster Steve Rector on the final day of competition at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo by Sportfot Photography
“We have five grey mares now that are all incredible, and one bay one that’s not so bad either,” joked McLain of his impressive strong at the moment. “I have great support from Double H Farm and the Harrisons, even during a difficult time of losing Hunter, right on down the line to Susie Heller, the Sweeneys and everybody who does everything they can to make our team as strong as possible. You really are building a team now in the sport. You can’t do it with one horse.”
After securing his first win on Clinta early in their career together, Ward has big plans, saying, “She is the most careful horses I have ever sat on. I think this is one to be a one-two punch with Azur. You can see it in the way she jumps; it doesn’t look real.”
After a week of rest, Ward will travel to the FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Paris, France, with HH Azur as reigning World Cup™ champions.
“We had a great season with some new horses that stepped up beautifully and performed wonderfully,” concluded Ward. “I could not have asked for more from any horse and I think we leave here with an incredibly strong string of horses.”
Final Results: $50,000 CP 1.50m National Grand Prix
1 CLINTA: 2007 Oldenburg mare by Clinton x Lord Pezi
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Sagamore Farms: 0/0/33.696
2 BELLEFLEUR PS Z: 2009 Zangersheide mare by Berlin x Quidam de Revel
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Susan Heller and Lilly Ward: 0/0/34.737
3 SHARK: 2008 AES gelding by Arko x Pilot
ROWAN WILLIS (AUS), Rowan Willis: 0/0/35.730
4 CHACOTE: 2007 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco-Blue x Quick Star
PEDRO MUYLAERT (BRA), Pedro Muylaert: 0/4/34.894
5 CHANDON BLUE: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco Blue x Landcapitol
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Mary Chapot: 0/4/35.010
6 ERES TU: 2009 Argentine gelding
LUIS PEDRO BIRABEN (ARG), Claudia Pedrozo & Luis Pedro Biraben: 0/4/37.043
7 CAPTAIN CARUSO: 2006 Irish Sport Horse stallion by Captain Clover x Caruso
CORMAC HANLEY (IRL), Cormac Hanley: 0/4/37.227
8 DUBAI: 2008 KWPN gelding by Cardento x Castello
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Sarah Ryan: 0/4/37.748
9 BOUCANIER: 2006 KWPN gelding by Ovidius x Joost
THEO GENN (USA), Taylor Reid: 0/4/37.794
10 CRACK ELLE CHAVANNAISE: 2008 SBS mare by Carving
MATTIAS TROMP (USA), Bayaert Farm Inc.: 0/4/39.399
11 USA NORMANDE: 2008 Selle Francais mare by Made in Semilly x Urbain du Monnai
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Paillot Equestrian: 0/8/35.688
12 MY PLEASURE: 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Flashlight 16 x Ruebens de Ri d’Asse
JUAN ORTIZ, Stransky’s Mission Farms Inc.: 0/8/36.993