Woodside, California, USA – August 11, 2024 – It was a tough track in the $50,000 Stephen Silver Grand Prix but one rider reigned supreme. No jump off was needed as 21-year-old Sophia Siegel was the only rider to jump clean on two different horses over Meghan Rawlins’ course. Ultimately, A-Girl and Unchained 2 were the only horses to not drop a rail of the thirteen initial starters. 

As both the owner and rider of A-Girl (A-Dur x Sandbergs Carina), Unchained 2 (Uriko x Anka VIII) and the fourth place finisher Immer Fortuna (Berlin x Corione Fotuna), Siegel says she is “blessed and grateful” to have three horses that can compete at this level.

A-Girl is no stranger to the winner’s circle having recently competed with Siegel at the 2024 FEI World Cup Finals (Riyadh). When asked about A-Girl, Siegel couldn’t help but smile. “She’s my main girl, my queen, my top dog. She’s my everything.”

Second place horse Unchained 2 is described as a chill and forgiving gelding who Siegel plans to move up to the FEI level soon. Walking into the ring on her final horse, Siegel knew she had already won and was able to truly enjoy the round, saying it was a “really fun ride and that she couldn’t stop smiling”.

Now a student at Stanford, Sophia Siegel has been coming to the Menlo Charity Horse Show since she was six year old riding ponies. She feels as if she’s grown up at Menlo and is thankful for the wonderful sponsors and the beautiful facility. 

Third place went to Matt Archer (USA) and Luigi VD Bishop clocking in a time of 78.358 as the fastest four faulter.

Before the Grand Prix, a special retirement ceremony was held on the Grass Jumper Field for Rhys Farm’s Jarpur (Ogano Sitte x Warkant). Purchased for Lindsay Archer, the 2009 gelding is no stranger to the winner’s circle, claiming six grand prix wins with 78% of his lifetime starts with four faults or less. Jarpur single handedly brought Lindsay’s FEI ranking from 1193 to 379 and is retiring with lifetime earnings of $193,000. 

Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry is known for their expertise in jewelry designed around individual gemstones and exceptional stones. Timepieces are curated from independent Swiss watchmakers recognized for their imagination and technical excellence. Visit Stephen Silver in their boutique at the Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel and experience the truly rare gemstones that are seldom found anywhere else in the world. The winner of the Grand Prix is receiving a Le Regulateur Louis Erard x Massena LAB Gold watch generously donated by Stephen Silver. Limited to 178 pieces, this watch shows hours, minutes, and seconds divided over three registers with hours at 12 o’clock, central minutes, and small seconds at 6 o’clock. The subsidiary dials as well as the outer dial ring are plated with gold and then brushed to contrast both in color and in texture to the frosted center, creating a clear and legible dial. All three hands are blue steel and the dial is double signed. 

Final Results – $50,000 Stephen Silver Grand Prix

1) Sophia Seigel (USA) & A-Girl – 0 – 83.454

2) Sophia Seigel (USA) & Unchained 2 – 0 – 83.070

3) Matt Archer (USA) & Luigi vd Bisschop – 4 – 78.353

Source: Press Release from Menlo Charity Horse Show

Photos: © Menlo Charity Horse Show / Alden Corrigan Media

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