Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – November 15, 2018 – Riding for the United States, Richard Spooner took the victory with Michael Wang’s Arthos R (Namelus R x Mermus R) in the $35,000 Blenheim Jumper Classic CSI 4*. Set in a power and speed format over Anthony d’Ambrosio’s track, Spooner galloped in thireteenth in a class of forty-five entries. Riding a smooth track with tight inside turns at his ‘Master of Faster’ pace, Spooner finished in a smoking time of 23.18 seconds that could not be beaten.

No strangers to the winner’s circle, Spooner and Arthos R carried on from their success at last year’s Las Vegas Nations CSI 4*-W, where the parin won the FEI 1.50m Las Vegas Winning Roud Classic. ‘Arthos is a wonderful horse and is very easy for me to ride. To show him in this class is like riding on angel’s wings.”

D’Ambrosio’s course included related bending lines, two combinations and technical inside turns in the speed phase. Of his handy mount, Spooner said: “I know I don’t have to run too fast because I can make it up in the turns. With a horse that’s easy to ride, it makes everything pleasant for me as a riders.”

Spooner and Arthos have developed a great partnership over the past two years. “Kasey Ament did a lof of fantastic work with him before I got the ride. Since then, he’s been gradually developing and did the World Cup Finals speed round last year in Paris and some of the World Cup qualifiers the year before. He’s a spectacular and I am grateful to have the ride on him.”

Thirty-two more entries tried to top Spooner’s clean effort and quick time. Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) and Picobello Choppin PC (Mozart des Hayettes x Diamant de Semilly) came closest, stopping the clock in 24.26 seconds, to pick up a second-place finish. Just a half of a second slower, Egypt’s Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Lucifer V (Lord Pezi x Grandeur), owned by Evergate Stables, round out the podium with no penalties and a time of 24.74 seconds at the end of the second phase.