The American and the extraordinary mare who is "smarter than everybody else" keep the Rolex Grand Slam dream alive at the Dutch Masters.
McLain Ward
The US rider topped a nine-horse jump-off in the Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix during WEF Week 5’s ‘Saturday Night Lights’.
The American rider closed out the WEF Premiere at Wellington International aboard his 'sportscar of a horse' Catoki.
The American rider becomes the new Rolex Grand Slam Live Contender with his victory aboard the great mare HH Azur.
Kent Farrington won the afternoon event with Austria 2, while fellow American McLain Ward and Catoki took the evening feature.
The US rider has found yet another winning partner, while Canada's Mario Deslauriers and Bardolina nab third place in the rich class.
The first qualifier for Sunday's prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, the Turkish Airlines-Prize, was taken by the US rider.
The pair defended last year's title at the conclusion of the 2022 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows in North Salem, NY.
Friday's win aboard Contagious puts the American at the top of the leaderboard going into Sunday’s World Cup title decider.
It is an exciting Final field of 36 that will vie for top honours at the Exhibition Hall in Leipzig, Germany.