Of the 31 entries representing 14 nations competing in Saturday’s $200,000 Old Salem Farm FEI 4* Blue Diamond Cup, five successfully navigated Alan Wade’s 16-effort, 1.55m track and made it to the jump-off. All maintained their faultless rounds until the end, but it was Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) who came out on top in 39.11 seconds aboard Origa V/H Zuid-Pajottenland (Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve x Ogano sitte).
Jump-off pathfinders Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) and Quimi Del Maset set the time to beat with their double-clear score of 40.50 seconds in the $200,000 Old Salem Farm 4* Blue Diamond Cup, but they were quickly unseated when Marilyn Little (USA) and La Contessa (License x Cornet's prinz) stepped into the ring. Fresh off their victory in Thursday’s $65,000 Old Salem Farm 4* Welcome Stake, Little and her 10-year-old Mecklenburg mare tripped the timers in 39.85 seconds.&
The following two riders, Jonathan McCrea (USA) and Jessica Mendoza (GBR), weren’t quite fast enough to catch either of those times. Then Sternlicht galloped around the course with Starlight Farms 1 LLC’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, securing her victory in 39.11 seconds.
“Going last is always a big advantage,” Sternlicht said. “Marilyn is always so fast, so I said, ‘Any day that I can beat Marilyn and La Contessa is a good day.’ I was able to really take advantage of my horse’s stride and his bravery; I knew that I could do (Fences) #1 to #2 in seven strides on the bend where Marilyn’s horse really had to keep going, so that helped us get back to the next fence quicker. I really trusted my horse because he’s so game and has so much scope. I knew that if I did it right and gave him a good chance, he would fight for me.
“He was actually out for a year, but he’s a horse that I really believed in when I first sat on him as an 8-year-old,” she added. “I’m overwhelmingly, emotionally proud of him and the way he’s come back. I’ve always said he gave me one of the best feelings I’ve ever had on a horse, and to see him really get his time in the spotlight is just amazing.”
Little and La Contessa ultimately landed in second place, with Ashe Cawley and Louisburg Farm’s 11-year-old C.D.E. gelding rounding out the podium. Mendoza finished fourth in 41.19 seconds aboard Ascadina PP Z (Asca Z x Ginus) , Ammann Equestrian LLC’s 9-year-old Zangersheide mare. McCrea earned fifth for his 42.18-second time with Chaccotilino PS, Windsor Show Stables’ 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding.
