McLain Ward & Princess Dalou H Crowned in the $32,000 Hermès Classic CSI 3* at Wellington

By Jumper News USA on January 19, 2025

Wellington, Florida, USA – January 18, 2025 – In Saturday’s $32,000 Hermès Classic CSI 3* – 1.50m on the grass derby field it was six-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward (USA) who captured a win on a newer ride for him in Princess Dalou H, owned by Stella Wasserman. The pair put in a completely clear effort through both rounds of the winning round format, taking the top position by nearly four seconds in the jump-off.

**McLain Ward** (USA) & **Princess Dalou H**

“This is a horse owned by Stella Wasserman who she’s been riding as a green horse for the last couple seasons,” he said of the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare’s (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Baloubet du Rouet) history. “She asked me to ride the mare in the fall and we started small and are building up.

“It’s always been a horse with tons of quality, a bit sensitive chestnut mare, which I’ve had success with,” Ward continued, recalling former mounts like Olympic mount Sapphire. “She’s really stepping up. This was her first 1.50m class and obviously on this field it’s always a big ask so we’re really thrilled with her.”

With 12 coming back for the jump-off on a clean slate and in reverse order of performance, Ward’s time put him going ahead of some of the faster riders in the class. He didn’t let that stop him from putting in the fastest round he could.

“She has incredible quality and is an incredibly careful horse,” he continued about Princess Dalou H. “She has a funny trait in that when you go fast she gets more careful. At the end of the jump-off she started to back up a bit. With experience that will solve itself.”

Ward knows as well as anyone the caliber of rider in Wellington and that any rider making the top-12 cutoff Saturday could be a contender for the win.

Venezuela’s Luis Fernando Larrazabal finished second on Check Me Out.

Peter Lutz (USA) took third riding Katriona.

“There were 12 in the jump-off so I knew it was going to be fast,” Ward said. “I had Richie [Vogel] and Jess [Mendoza] coming behind me, as well as Max [Wachman], all going to give it a try, so I knew I had to put a bit of pressure.”

With a win under his belt early on, he keeps looking ahead to the rest of the season with both new and seasoned partners, as well as a slate of clients with big goals for WEF.

“We have some veterans in Callas and Ilex who are seasoned, and First Lady also now is a veteran pro, so it’s wonderful to have those horses,” he said of his string. “Florida is a period where you have to perform at a high level but you’re also trying out some new combinations to see what’s going to work not only for the rest of the year but for the future.”