Matthew Metell & Santiago Lambre Win Open Jumper Classes at Hampton Classic

While it’s been two years since the Hampton Classic last saw Matthew Metell of the USA, he made himself right at home in his first appearance back, winning the $10,000 Jaguar Open Jumper class on Tuesday, August 29, 2017.

Metell, who won his first grand prix on July 7, piloted the nine-year-old KWPN mare Donchalant (Larino x Amaretto I) to a leading time of 48.96s in Bridgehampton, NY. Atop the 1.40m track set by Ireland’s Alan Wade, the duo felled off 60 riders to take home the blue ribbon and the lump sum of the winning purse. While their partnership is only a few months in the making, they already have two grand prix wins under their belt, and their latest feat will join their list of growing accolades.

For 2nd place, the USA’s McLain Ward and the eight-year-old Zangersheide mare Bellefleur PS Z (Berlin x Quidam De Revel) finished with a time of 49.41s. Ward and Metell were the only pairs to break the 50-second mark in the “A” section of the open jumper class.

“I watched McLain go very fast on his little gray horse, and I tried to follow his track and hope [that] my horse had a little more foot-speed,” said Metell. “I took a little bit of a dicier shot at that inside turn. I cut in on that jump very aggressively, and I’m lucky she left it up in fact!”

For 3rd place, Ireland’s Richie Moloney and the 15-year-old Irish Sporthorse gelding  Slieveanorra (Voltaire x Flagmount Diamond) finished in 50.350s. A day prior, Moloney and Slieveanorra secured a 3rd place finish in the $30,000 Boar’s Head Open Jumper Challenge. Earlier on in the year, the duo won the $35,000 Welcome Speed Stake CSI3* at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, USA.

The full results can be viewed here. 

Santiago Lambre & D’Artagnan Win $10,000 Shamrock Ventures Open Jumper Class

In the “B” section of the same division, Mexico’s Santiago Lambre and the nine-year-old KWPN gelding D’Artagnan (Mr. Blue x Carthago) won the $10,000 Shamrock Ventures Open Jumper class. 62 entries competed atop the 1.40m course, with Lambre finishing on a time of 53.158s to secure the win in his first ever outing at the Hampton Classic.

“He is a very fast horse, which is good for this type of class,” said Lambre. “It was a very nice course, open without short turns, and there was a lot of space to gallop which is perfect for him.”

At the May 21st Kentucky Spring Classic, the duo put more milage on their budding partnership, finishing 1st in the $40,000 Bluegrass Grand Prix CSI3*.