The main event Friday afternoon at Del Mar International was the $36,500 Hermès Sellier Sunshine 1.45m speed class. Thirty-four combinations tackled the Alan Wade (IRE) designed course that saw faults spread across the field as riders put the pedal to the floor. Only 9th to go in the order was Andrew Ramsay (USA), and he put in a round that no one could catch aboard California, a 15-year-old grey Holsteiner mare.
"She's naturally very quick and the course just played into our hands," said Ramsay, who has had the ride on California for four years. "We have a pretty good partnership and I know her well. This was the class we were aiming for this week and she pulled through for me."
Mariano Maggi and Sanvano top the CaptiveOne Grand Prix qualifier
Thursday evening was a fantastic one at Del Mar International with the $36,500 CaptiveOne Grand Prix Qualifier 1.50m. The Alan Wade designed course was tackled by 63 horse and rider combinations and consisted of 16 efforts including one double and one triple. From that large field, 14 advanced to the jump off, and it was Mariano Maggi (SWE) and Sanvano who set a pace no one could catch.
"I was very, very happy with him," said Maggi of the 10-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding owned by Uma O'Neill. "He has a lot of scope and a lot of potential. He's a little bit green but I am very happy with him."