In front of a sold-out crowd, a true test was built by 2024 Paris Olympic Games course designer Gregory Bodo (FRA) who made his U.S. debut exactly one year ago at the same event in Wellington. Despite the challenging first round, eleven pairs managed to advance to the tie-breaking jump-off. Nine of the world’s top-20 athletes made up the original order with five nations represented in the jump-off. 

For the second ‘Saturday Night Lights’ in a row, German Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk led off with his Paris 2024 partner Checker 47 (Comme il faut x Come on). They set a standard that remained at the top until Farrington returned to challenge. 

Acknowledging the tough position Kukuk was in returning first, Farrington said, “In the end, our time was fractions faster. That's the difference of being a tiny bit more inside or outside in a line, and I think that's probably where I caught him today.

“I'm very proud of this horse,” continued Farrington of 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Greya (Colestus x Contender). “I've been riding her since she was six and she's an incredible athlete. It's a great feeling to ride this horse in the ring; she's a fighter and incredibly careful. It was fun sport [tonight], regardless of the outcome. It’s nice to come out with the win but I was thrilled with the horse either way.”

By less than four tenths of a second, Farrington bested Kukuk—winner of the WEF 3 NetJets CSI4* Grand Prix earlier this season and the 2024 Rolex Grand Prix at Wellington International. The U.S. Olympic team silver medalist broke the timers in 35.11 seconds to Kukuk’s 35.45 as he held onto the runner-up position. 

“I'm really pleased with Checker; he jumped his third grand prix here and third clear round. I'm very happy about that,” said Kukuk of the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding (Comme Il Faut 5 x Come On) owned by M.H. & Partner Gbr & Madeleine Winter-Schulze. “My basic instinct told me after I came out that it wasn’t enough today and I knew exactly who was going to beat me. I tried my very best and I got a good jump-off. I think we had exactly the same strides everywhere, but in the end I got a slow jump to the last.”

Kukuk is focusing Checker on the five-star offerings while spending his first full season in Wellington and acknowledged that his number-one goal is to defend their title in the $750,000 Rolex U.S. Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix during the finale week of the season.

Up-and-coming U.S. phenom Mimi Gochman sat at the evening’s closing press conference as an equal with some of her heroes after finishing third aboard 10-year-old Inclen BH (Stakkato Gold x Raphael). They finished third in 36.43 seconds. 

“It feels incredible,” said 20-year-old Gochman. “My horse jumped amazing and we had a really good plan that I tried to stick to as close as I could. When you're competing against people that you've looked up to your whole life, it's a cool feeling and I'm super grateful to be here.”  

Of her DG Sport Horse-owned mount, Gochman said, “He's one of the smartest horses I've ever worked with. He has the perfect ability to do everything and he learns so quickly. We've been working on our consistency jumping clear rounds. He's always game and he's really quick across the ground.

“I've grown up watching ‘Saturday Night Lights’ and dreamt of doing well here,” continued Gochman of the electric venue that Wellington International provides. “To have this support and be able to sell out a crowd like this is really incredible for our sport.” 

To conclude the night, Denise Moriarty was awarded the Double H Farm Grooms Award and $500 prize for her care and preparation of Greya. Natalie Dean (USA) was also presented with the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award in recognition of her consistent performances throughout the week.