World-renowned course designer Alan Wade (IRL) set a challenging course with 16 initial jumping efforts for the Welcome Stake, narrowing a field of 39 entries representing ten countries to only six in the jump-off. Only three rode double-clear rounds, with Dinan’s time of 39.400 seconds holding up against her competitors.
“I’ve had Brego for about three years,” Dinan said. “He’s 16 now, and he’s just a superstar. I sound like a pony kid, but I love him so much and am so grateful to ride him. He makes my job easy out there. I actually got him in the late winter/early spring of 2019, and our first horse show was here at Old Salem. Since then, he’s always been great here. I was excited to bring him back here as his first show since the World Cup™ Finals in Leipzig about a month ago. I’m happy that he felt so good after a competition like that.
“I really love this horse show,” she added. “My family’s farm is exactly five minutes down the road. I’ve timed it to a T – five minutes door to door. It’s a show that’s always been really important to us. I did my first Short Stirrup show here, and it’s always been a big moment in our calendar. It’s great to see the facility looking so good, with the team behind it putting in all these renewed efforts and making what has always been an amazing show even better. We’re super happy and fortunate for that, and to win at a place like this is great.”
source: Phelps