A total of 45 combinations challenged the track set by Peter Grant (CAN) and Joey Rycroft (CAN) with 12 qualifying to return for the jump-off. Farrington and the 13-year-old Holsteiner mare by Casall x Corrado took off at a full gallop and didn’t stop, crossing the timers in 39.13 seconds. The pair elected to do 12 strides to the second jump on course, while most of their competitors two or three less [strides], which gave Farrington and Austria 2 the opportunity to angle the Lugano Diamonds oxer for a more direct route to the third jump on course.
“I tend not to count in very long lines,” said the world number seven rider, Farrington. “I like to ride off what I feel the horse needs. She’s a small horse so if you are running and jumping too long or too flat, you risk a rail, so I think it’s better to run up to the jump and get their hocks underneath them. It allows them to get more height and make a short turn about a stride out when I land. It’s different styles for different horses, but that’s what suited my horse.”
The first to post a double-clear effort was Spencer Smith (USA) aboard Ayade Hero Z, a 10-year-old Zangrsheide mare owned by one of his students, Ransome Rombauer, finishing less than one second off the mark in 39.95 seconds.
“She’s a super mare,” said Smith. “She came from Eric Lamaze when I was working there. He bought her as a seven-year-old and then sold her to Ransome. She’s taken her through the High Amateur-Owners and the U25s. Every once in a while, I grab her back and jump a big class with her. She’s so game; I know if I’m on it, I can win.”
Smith is one of the United States’ top up-and-coming professionals. The 25-year-old rider already has multiple top 10 finishes in CSI3* competition at WEF this season with a string of talented horses, and he’s only nine spots away from cracking the top 100 in the world rankings lists.
Rounding out the top three was Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) aboard Katanga Van Het Dingeshof, his own 11-year-old mare by Cardento 933 x Tabelle DIngeshod Z, with a double-clear effort in 42.48 seconds.
“It’s great to be here and see a little bit more of what my horses can do,” said Philippaerts. “So far, this mare is doing really well; she’s jumping very good. She’s one of my best horses so I’m really excited for what she can do the rest of the season here.”
“In Europe there’s not too much going on,” said Philippaerts. “I brought five horses with me. It’s a long enough season we can give the horses long breaks between the classes and try to compete a little bit. It’s going to be really nice after having not much to jump in Europe over the summer, to get the chance to jump some of the bigger classes.”
It was no surprise to the crowd to see Farrington put forth a speedy effort; after all, he’s one of the most familiar faces in the International Arena’s winner’s circle. After Friday’s win, he felt confident but did not take the task of a tough track lightly.
“Often in those classes where you’re riding a horse that you know is capable of winning the danger is always that you beat yourself,” he said. “A lot of times you put in a great round, and my goal is to go quick enough to hopefully nick his time and not overcook it where I’m two seconds faster than I need to, and I end up having a rail down towards the end. I was really just trying to do the best for my horse.”