The Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix featured a field that included six of the world’s top 10. Clear rounds were not easy to come by over tracks set by Alan Wade (Ireland), who has been tapped as the course designer for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. However, nine horses advanced to the tie-breaking jump-off, with riders representing five nations.
The jump-off pathfinder, Marilyn Little (USA) set the time to beat at 41.92 seconds aboard her own La Contessa, an 11-year-old Mecklenburg mare (License x Cornet’s Prinz). Six rounds later, Thaisa Erwin and her Paris Olympic mount Hialita B matched Little’s footfalls in perfect unison to cross the final timers in a rarely seen dead heat aboard the 14-year-old Dutch-bred mare (Emerald x Vaillant) owned together with Michael Smith. Little and Erwin shared second-place honours on the podium.
Re-watch the action via ClipMyHorse.TV here.
Darragh Kenny returned as the penultimate challenger aboard Eddy Blue, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Eldorado vd Zeshoek TN x Chacco-Blue) owned by Carol A Sollak. He used the horse’s massive stride and quickness across the ground to stop the timers at an uncatchable 41.77 seconds.
Since 2010, an Australian rider has not finished on a five-star Grand Prix podium at WEF. Erwin changed that on Saturday with her tied second-place finish. “When I saw the time, I thought it must have been an error, but grateful that we could be here on the podium,” she said.
“I’m grateful to break the long streak of no Australians here, and I hope this is the first of many,” continued Erwin, who admits that the road to Hialita B’s success has not been simple. “She is a difficult horse to manage on the ground and to ride, and I’ve taken a lot of time. Luckily, she has taught me a ton of patience, because you need that to be around her. But she gives me her heart every time.”
Erwin was awarded the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award to close the night.
WEF hosts 12 weeks of FEI competition — four of which are five-stars — running through March 29.
Kenny, Little, and Erwin will now focus on aiming their three horses from Saturday’s podium at the $1m Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix, a Rolex Series event, at the end of the season.
Watch the action via ClipMyHorse.TV.
Source: Wellington International press release, edited by Equestrian Life
