Kent Farrington (USA) and Austria 2 Take the Win in the ATCO Cup
The second day of the Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ CSI 5*, presented by Rolex, started with yet another victory for former World #1 rider Kent Farrington (USA) in the International Ring.
FEI course designer Peter Grant (USA) did not go easy on the riders this morning, offering a 530m track over 12 obstacles (14 jumping efforts) which saw several eliminations. Three riders, out of a field of nearly 30, made it through to the jump-off: Ashlee Bond (ISR), Conor Swail (IRL), and Farrington.
The jump-off featured a short 350m track with a time allowed of 53 seconds. Bond started out with a fast pace and a clean trip, putting the pressure on Swail and Farrington to beat her time of 41.83 seconds. Swail went next, and his quick pace cost him a rail over the final oxer, to finish on 4 faults and a time of 42. 52 seconds.
Farrington and Austria 2, the 13-year old Holsteiner mare, were last to go, and managed to keep all the rails up while laying down a fast enough time to nudge Bond out of the first place position. This was the second win for the pair in the International Ring this year, after having also won the TELUS Cup during the 2021 Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’. Top Canadian in the class was Brian Morton with Crusador Z in 4th.
Ashlee Bond (ISR) and Donatello 141 Win the Pepsi Challenge
Ashlee Bond (ISR) cantered out of the International Ring a winner today, for the second day in a row of the Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ CSI 5*, presented by Rolex. After her victory yesterday in the Trimac Cup, Bond returned to the ring today with another first place finish, this time aboard the 10-year old Westphalian gelding, Donatello 141.
The 1.55m course, designed by Peter Grant (CAN), featured 13 obstacles over a 560m track, and a time allowed of 84 seconds. This was another challenging course put forward today by Grant, which only saw 6 riders go clear into the jump-off out of a starting field of 34.
“(Grant)’s usually not as tough as (Leopoldo Palacios),” Bond commented about today’s course. “I thought (Grant) did a really good job…I was really impressed with his courses today, and I’m excited for Saturday.” Bond was referring to the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, which takes place on Saturday, September 18.
Bond also spoke to reporters more about her partner, Donatello 141, who she also recently took the Tokyo Olympics. “We’ve had him since he was just turning six (years old), so I know him extremely well,” she said. “He’s just super game! He knows the job, he gets it…and he loves it here. He’s just a really special guy.”
Bond had some company in the jump-off, including McLain Ward (USA) and HH Azur, and Mario Deslauriers (CAN) with Uris De La Roque, who were ultimately 5th. It was Bond’s time of 41.63 seconds that put her ahead of the other clear rounds, edging out Zoe Konter (BEL) and Davidoff De Lassus in second place by over 3 seconds.
Results here.
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