McLain Ward debuted a new mare, Kyrlanthe, at this week’s Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and on Friday, October 20, the pair made the debut week a winning one in the $30,000 1.30m Commonwealth Classic.
Kyrlanthe was just recently imported to the U.S., and the PNHS in Harrisburg, PA, marks the 8-year-old mare’s first show in America. However, with Ward in the irons, Kyrlanthe looked every bit a seasoned veteran to the compact ring at the PA Farm Show Complex.
The duo was one of eight entries from Friday night’s 23-horse starting field that navigated the first-round, Nicholas Granat-designed course without fault. From there, speed was the name of the game, and Kyrlanthe immediately rose to the challenge.
“She's been so nice to ride and so willing to do what we’re asking her,” said Ward, who also finished second with Kyrlanthe in Thursday night’s $15,000 1.30m Welcome. “Last night, I actually went in just wanting to make some neat turns, which she did beautifully. I had such confidence with her – even in the one day of showing her – that I thought, ‘Eh, we’ll give it a little go tonight,’ and she responded beautifully.”
When Ward and Kyrlanthe returned to the ring for the jump-off, the time to beat had been set at 32.771 seconds by two-time defending champion of the class, Christian Coyle, this time aboard Gydine, owned by Christian Coyle Show Stables.
Kyrlanthe made short work of that time, stopping the clock in 31.293 seconds to ultimately secure the win and relegate Coyle and Gydine to second place. Rounding out the top three with a time of 33.536 seconds were Laura Chapot and Kanjer P.
“She is a really exciting mare,” said Ward of Kyrlanthe, who had been previously competing in Europe with Willem Greve. “We brought her here to kind of learn what she was all about. She's a talented horse, I think she has a great brain, and she’s going to have a great future. We have high hopes for her.” With the win in Friday night’s $30,000 Commonwealth Classic under his belt, Ward will now look to defend his title in Saturday’s $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National aboard last year’s winner, First Lady, and his second mount, Quimi Del Maset.