McLain Ward Leads All-American Podium in $37,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round VI CSI 3* – Section A

By Jumper News USA on March 29, 2023

Wellington, Florida, USA – February 17, 2023 – International jumpers moved back to the stunning derby field at Equestrian Village during KASK-sponsored WEF 6. A who’s who of show jumping battled for a qualifying place in Sunday’s Grand Prix CSI 3* over tracks designed by Ana Catalina Cruz Harris (MEX) in the ^CHF$37,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round VI CSI 3*.

After 101 horses tested the course, 20 returned for the tie-breaking jump-off. In a California Split, Mclain Ward (USA) and René Tebbel (UKR) were respectively the winners of Section of each of the two sections of the contest. Ward and Vins vd Tojopehoeve Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Vagrant Z x LBH Calvados) owned by Ardencote Stud topped Section A of the class. The duo stopped the clock at 37.89 seconds in their jump-off debut together.

“That’s the first time I’ve ridden the horse in a jump-off and he gave me a great feeling in the first round,” said Ward, who recently took over the ride from fellow U.S. athlete Laura Kraut. “Laura and Nick Skelton were kind enough to let me ride this horse and bring him along in Wellington this season. He’s done young horse classes at places like Aachen, so he has a lot of experience.”

Vins vd Tojopehoeve Z was previously campaigned to the level by Julie Welles (USA) and is now stepping up even further with Ward, a two-time U.S. Olympic team gold medalist. “We felt it was time for him to come back to the states and move up. We started in the 1.35m this season and the horse responded beautifully.”

Fellow U.S. rider Jimmy Torano (USA) took second in Section A with his own Chewbacca HCC, and Laura Kraut (USA) claimed third place riding Dorado 212 for owner St. Bride’s Farm.

Final Results – ^CHF$37,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round VI CSI 3*

1) McLain Ward (USA) & Vins vd Tojopehoeve Z – 0 / 0 – 37.89

2) Jimmy Torano (USA) & Chewbacca – 0 / 0 – 38.05

3) Laura Kraut (USA) & Dorado 212 – 0 / 0 – 39.12

FULL RESULTS

Source: Press Release from Equestrian Sports Productions