Course designer Ken Krome built a challenging 16-effort, 1.50m course for Friday’s $65,000 FEI 4* Welcome Stake at the 2024 Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows, where Zayna Rizvi (USA) answered all the questions and soared above her fellow competitors. The last pair to enter the ring, she and Exquise Du Pachis (Vagabond de la Pomme) posted a faultless 35.83-second time for the win.
The $65,000 FEI 4* Welcome Stake featured 45 entries representing eight countries in the Old Salem Farm International Arena, with 18 advancing to the jump-off. Sarah Segal (USA) returned early on with Boreale De Fondcombe, setting the time to beat at 36.92 seconds. Fresh off his win in Thursday’s $5,000 FEI 2* Speed Class, Simon McCarthy (IRL) was the first to knock her down the leaderboard with his double-clear score of 36.46 seconds, but Rizvi was even faster in 35.83 seconds.
“I know my horse really well, and I know that she has a huge stride, so I tried to use that to my advantage,” Rizvi said. “I wouldn’t say there was any specific spot that I was going faster than Simon, but my mare is so good at turning and really helped me out in a few spots. Doing that tight rollback to the double and the tight turn into the second-to-last jump, she was right there with me the whole time. She was amazing, and I couldn’t have asked for a better result.
“We call her Patchy in the barn, and she’s just incredible,” she added of The Exquisite Group’s 14-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare. “She’s brought me around my biggest tracks so far, and she’s always giving me confidence and teaching me the ropes. Today’s first-round track was great for us. There were definitely some technical lines and questions, but she’s so great at adjusting and coming back to me. In the jump-off, there were places where you could use a mixed ride if you had it, and I’m lucky enough that I do with her. It was a great jump-off track, too. I’m very grateful to have a partner like her.”
McCarthy earned second place for his performance aboard Ilan Ferder’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Narcotique V/H Dingenshof. Segal finished third with Horatio Street Ventures LLC’s 13-year-old Selle Français mare.
“I’m so glad that we have an FEI show (at Old Salem) in the fall now,” Rizvi said. “I actually haven’t shown here since 2019, so it’s really great to be back. I grew up around here, and being here again feels like coming home. I’m really excited about the rest of our week.”
Darragh Kenny takes another win!
Darragh Kenny (IRL), who claimed top honors in Thursday’s $10,000 FEI 4* Two-Phase presented by Eastern Hay, also returned to the podium on Friday, piloting Lightning to victory in the evening’s $32,000 FEI 2* Welcome Stake presented by Old Salem Farm. Fifty-eight entries representing nine countries contested Krome’s 16-effort, 1.45m track, with nine returning for the jump-off. Kenny and Oakland Ventures LLC’s 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare brought home the win with their blazing double-clear score of 34.00 seconds.
“I’m not quite sure how I did it,” Kenny said. “She’s a very quick horse, and we did similar numbers and turns as Sydney (Shulman Desiderio), whose horse is also very fast. I think in the end, it was just one of those things where it worked out for me today, and it would work out for Sydney tomorrow.
The $65,000 FEI 4* Welcome Stake featured 45 entries representing eight countries in the Old Salem Farm International Arena, with 18 advancing to the jump-off. Sarah Segal (USA) returned early on with Boreale De Fondcombe, setting the time to beat at 36.92 seconds. Fresh off his win in Thursday’s $5,000 FEI 2* Speed Class, Simon McCarthy (IRL) was the first to knock her down the leaderboard with his double-clear score of 36.46 seconds, but Rizvi was even faster in 35.83 seconds.
“I know my horse really well, and I know that she has a huge stride, so I tried to use that to my advantage,” Rizvi said. “I wouldn’t say there was any specific spot that I was going faster than Simon, but my mare is so good at turning and really helped me out in a few spots. Doing that tight rollback to the double and the tight turn into the second-to-last jump, she was right there with me the whole time. She was amazing, and I couldn’t have asked for a better result.
“We call her Patchy in the barn, and she’s just incredible,” she added of The Exquisite Group’s 14-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare. “She’s brought me around my biggest tracks so far, and she’s always giving me confidence and teaching me the ropes. Today’s first-round track was great for us. There were definitely some technical lines and questions, but she’s so great at adjusting and coming back to me. In the jump-off, there were places where you could use a mixed ride if you had it, and I’m lucky enough that I do with her. It was a great jump-off track, too. I’m very grateful to have a partner like her.”
McCarthy earned second place for his performance aboard Ilan Ferder’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Narcotique V/H Dingenshof. Segal finished third with Horatio Street Ventures LLC’s 13-year-old Selle Français mare.
“I’m so glad that we have an FEI show (at Old Salem) in the fall now,” Rizvi said. “I actually haven’t shown here since 2019, so it’s really great to be back. I grew up around here, and being here again feels like coming home. I’m really excited about the rest of our week.”
Darragh Kenny takes another win!
Darragh Kenny (IRL), who claimed top honors in Thursday’s $10,000 FEI 4* Two-Phase presented by Eastern Hay, also returned to the podium on Friday, piloting Lightning to victory in the evening’s $32,000 FEI 2* Welcome Stake presented by Old Salem Farm. Fifty-eight entries representing nine countries contested Krome’s 16-effort, 1.45m track, with nine returning for the jump-off. Kenny and Oakland Ventures LLC’s 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare brought home the win with their blazing double-clear score of 34.00 seconds.
“I’m not quite sure how I did it,” Kenny said. “She’s a very quick horse, and we did similar numbers and turns as Sydney (Shulman Desiderio), whose horse is also very fast. I think in the end, it was just one of those things where it worked out for me today, and it would work out for Sydney tomorrow.