It was fantastic to see the sheer delight on the face of Zazou Hoffmann (USA) after her first major CSI 5* win in the AON Cup 1.50m competition on day two of the ‘North American’ Tournament, presented by Rolex. The 26 year old from Santa Monica California, rode W Zermie, a 14 year-old mare she’s been competing with for the past year. Hoffman had this to say about today’s big win, “This is unbelievable – I was not expecting this at all today and I could no be happier!” She continued, “I picked up a really strong gallop to start and I think from one to two I really caught some time – then I just never picked up off the brake for the rest of the way. The most difficult part of this afternoon was having to wait and see the rest of the competitors go after me – it was probably the most stressful thing I’ve ever had to watch!”
The young and talented Hoffmann not only beat out a top roster of 51 competitors but most impressively was able to defeat her fellow American and current ranked world #1 rider Kent Farrington. It was closed but in the end Farrington would fall behind by 0.09 seconds on a double clear score for second place riding, Dublin.
Canada’s Eric Lamaze would take the third placing with his stunning Chestnut gelding, Chacco Kid, an 11 year-old Oldenburg. Lamaze rode a fantastic round, but finished just behind Farrington by 0.90 seconds, double clear and looking hopeful towards a great weekend with the horses in fine form for the rest of the week at the ‘North American’ Tournament, presented by Rolex.
