Israel's Daniel Bluman riding Ladriano Z.

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Bridgehampton, NY - From August 27 through September 3, the 42nd annual Hampton Classic Horse Show featured more than 200 classes of hunter, jumper and equitation classes for horses and riders of all ages and abilities. They competed in six beautifully manicured show rings across 60 acres.

Riders from twelve nations, including Olympic and World Cup champions, competed in four FEI classes that culminated with a brilliant win by Israel's Daniel Bluman riding Ladriano Z in the $300,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix CSI**** presented by SOVARO®.

Bluman also won two other FEI classes - the $86,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4**** presented by Longines, and the $40,000 SOVARO® Speed Stake; both of these wins came with Bacara d'Archonfosse. Ireland's Richie Moloney proved that consistent results yield big returns as he earned the $30,000 Longines Rider Challenge as the Classic's leading open jumper rider.

Moloney received a lovely Longines timepiece and a check for $30,000. In the five years the award has existed at the Classic, Moloney has won it four times.

Located near the Hamptons' famous beaches, restaurants, nightclubs and boutiques, the Hampton Classic is a real celebrity hot-spot. Among those in attendance at this year's Classic were Jimmy Fallon, Mariska Hargitay, Brooke Shields, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Michael Bloomberg, Ramona Singer and LuAnn de Lesseps, Donna Karan, James Lipton, and Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Of the 31 world-class horses in the Grand Prix, only three advanced to the jump-off with clean rounds over the course designed by Alan Wade of Ireland. After an early clear by Brianne Goutal of Royal Palm Beach, FL, on Nice De Prissey, reigning Longines FEI World Cup Champion, and six-time Hampton Classic Grand Prix champion, McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, assured a jump-off with a clean round on HH Callas, much to the joy of the excited crowd that filled the VIP stands and bleachers all around the ring. When Bluman, who entered the ring third-to-last, jumped a clean round, the crowd went wild.

The jump-off turned out to be all about strategy and precision. Goutal tried to secure another clear by being accurate rather than fast, but unluckily knocked a rail for four faults. Ward then entered with the knowledge that Bluman was still to come. He tried to force his hand by setting the fastest time of 44.10 seconds, but two rails at the last two fences cost him the win, and ultimately the Longines Rider Challenge as well.

"HH Callas was great today," said Ward. "I thought she jumped beautifully in the first round. With Daniel coming behind me in the jump-off and with the week that he has had, I knew I had to put enough pressure on him. If I could do it over again, I would probably put another stride to the second-to-last jump, as it was a little bit at the end of the mare's stride and that is not the best way to be for her."

Bluman entered the ring knowing that a clean round would give him the win and the two-time Olympic veteran delivered, posting the only clean round of the jump-off, in a time of 46.09 seconds.

"When I walked the course I honestly thought there were going to be a few more clean rounds," said Bluman. "I think the course was nicely built, careful enough, big enough, as Alan's courses have been all week. I don't think there was any place where the horses really had to struggle. It played out the perfect way, only three in the jump-off, which is beautiful because you get to go in knowing you already have a nice piece of the pie."

Source: Event press release

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