Ashlee Bond (ISR) recorded her first career five-star grand prix victory riding Donatello 141 in the $401,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI5*, on Saturday, March 7, at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
Forty riders went to post in the “Saturday Night Lights” feature, four of which found the path to a clear round to advance to the jump-off over a course designed by Alan Wade of Ireland. Riding out of the first spot in the jump-off, Bond and Donatello 141 rocketed through the course in 39.64 seconds to set the winning pace.
“My horse felt like he really jumped the first round so beautifully and he is a naturally really fast horse, but he does have a bit of a smaller stride, so in this type of jump-off, Daniel had probably a bit of a bigger advantage,” Bond explained. “[Donatello] lightly rubbed the first jump and then I was like, ‘Oh okay, I can push it a bit more than I was originally planning to,’ and it worked out today.”
Following Bond, 23-year-old Lillie Keenan (USA) piloted Chansonette Farm LLC’s Fasther through the short course, stopping the timers in 40.61 seconds. They would finish in third place. Beezie Madden (USA) and Abigail Wexner’s Darry Lou put on the speed from the start, but an unfortunate rail for four faults in a time of 39.97 seconds relegated them to fourth place.
“I was really happy with how I rode the first round and I was really upset with myself for how I rode the jump-off,” admitted Keenan. “My horse is the best horse I’ve ever ridden, and I’ve ridden a lot of special horses. He’s ridiculously talented, brave, and has all of the ability. In the jump-off, I should have gone faster and believed in it a bit more, but I couldn’t have been happier.
“Six months ago, I never would have thought I’d be here with this horse,” she continued about the 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Vigo d’Arsouilles x Farmer. “Not for lack of his talent and ability, but my riding and my confidence level in this horse. I should have gone faster because I know the horse would have left all the jumps up, but I’m thrilled to be in third behind these two guys.”
Riding out of the final spot in the jump-off, fellow Israeli rider Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Lawito x Baloubet du Rouet owned by Over The Top Stables LLC, finished just off the pace in 39.96 seconds to settle for second place.
“I don’t think I rode very well the first round,” said Bluman. “I didn’t stick to my plan and I honestly just didn’t ride well. There are times you ride amazing and you have one down, and there are times you ride incredibly bad like I did tonight, and the jumps stay up. For the jump-off, I gave it a go, but I didn’t want to push the limit. I thought the horse had already covered for me in the first round and so I felt I needed to cover for him in the second round and give him a safe ride.”
For Bond, the ability to say she is now a five-star grand prix winner isn’t taken lightly. She said, “The feeling is surreal. It hasn’t really hit me, the emotions of tonight. Not only was it my first five-star grand prix win here, but it was my first five-star grand prix win ever. I’ve gone clear in a few, but winning it was not there yet.”
Bond rode Donatello 141, who is owned by her family’s Little Valley Farms, in the horse’s first five-star grand prix just a few weeks ago, but this was the first time she felt ready to push for speed. Thanks to their three-year relationship, Bond knew what she could ask for over the short course at this 1.60m level.