Bridgehampton, New York, USA – September 3, 2023 – Only two horse-and-rider combinations made it to the jump-off of the $425,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI 5* on Sunday: 2018 World Equestrian Games Team Gold medalist Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) and two-time Olympic veteran Daniel Bluman (ISR).
In the end, only Bluman finished on a double-clear score, claiming the Hampton Classic Grand Prix title for the second time aboard his 2022 FEI World Championship and 2023 FEI World Cup Finals mount, Ladriano Z. Bluman is now one of four riders to have won the Grand Prix on three occasions, having topped the field in 2017 with Ladriano Z and 2021 with Gemma W.
One of the world’s most prestigious horse shows, the annual Hampton Classic features competitors at every level from young children in leadline to Olympic, World, and World Cup Champions. The Classic also has competitions for riders with disabilities.
The first of 40 starters representing 12 countries challenged Alan Wade’s $425,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI 5* course. The highly technical track featured 17 jumping efforts set at 1.60m, and spectators watched with bated breath as the first 30 riders racked up faults around the ring.
Sternlicht was the first to successfully complete the task aboard the Starlight Farms’ 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Faquitol-S. Bluman wasn’t far behind with the 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding he co-owns with Blue Star Investments and Over The Top Stables LLC, guaranteeing the crowd a jump-off.
“Ladriano Z is a veteran of the sport,” Bluman said. “He’s been around and felt amazing the other day in the qualifier. I actually like when the course goes with not too many clear rounds. Ladriano is a big horse and I had to take a lot of risks to try to win, so I was actually more motivated to see just Adrienne’s clear round before me.
“Adrienne had a beautiful round, so I just focused on what I had to do,” he continued. “I had to ride a very fast track around the course in case I knocked one down so I could still finish in second. Ladriano is a very special horse, and it’s been rare in his entire career that he has more than one rail down. I was very confident and very grateful for this horse today.”
Sternlicht’s partnership with Faquitol-S only began at the end of 2022, and despite being an older horse, he completed his first 5* grand prix with her in April. “He’s the only horse I have jumped to this level this year,” Sternlicht said. “I think he keeps getting better. For me, it’s so rewarding to see the horse improve, and it gives me more confidence in myself because I believed in him from the start. I was just thrilled for him and my team today.
“I think the course was pretty delicate everywhere,” she added. “Alan is such a master at course building, and part of the reason is because every single fence comes into play out there. That’s a huge testament to his designs.”
Finishing third with the fastest four-fault round in 79.70 seconds was Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) aboard Condara, Victoria Heurtematte’s 11-year-old Mecklenburg mare.
“It was my lucky day to have the fastest time with four faults,” Larrazabal said. “Normally, you don’t take a podium spot with a rail down. I’m very grateful to have that little bit of luck today, and I’m so happy with my mare. I knew she could do it from the first time I sat in the saddle. She’s a special mare who always wants to jump. I committed to my plan early on, and even though she got a little excited toward the last fence, I’m very happy with her performance today.”
Final Results – $425,000 Longines Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI 5*
1) Daniel Bluman (ISR) & Ladriano Z – 0 / 0 – 37.17
2) Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) & Faquitol-S – 0 / 4 – 38.24
3) Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) & Condara – 4 – 79.70
Source: Press Release by Marty Bauman / Classic Communications for The Hampton Classic Horse Show
Photos: © KindMedia
Discover more from JUMPER NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: CSI 5*, English, Jumper News Israel
