All but two of the 31 entries in Sunday’s $400,000 Longines Hampton Classic grand prix had some issues along the intriguing course set by designer Nick Granat for Sunday’s $400,000 Longines Hampton Classic grand prix. Until the last horse went at the Long Island show, world number one Kent Farrington had stood alone with a perfect trip on his 12-year-old super mare, Greya.
But 22 rides after that lone clear round, his friend and often-rival, McLain Ward, also turned in a perfect trip with a relatively new mount, Lestro vd Valckenborg. It set up a jump-off in which the crowd was treated to a duel of champions.
Kent, who had won the class twice previously, was fault-free in a time of 41.82 seconds after a strategic cut to the Brain Juice oxer, the seventh fence on the shortened course. McLain got a good angle on the obstacle before that, the wishing well vertical, but went a bit wider at the oxer, which may have been where he lost an instant to end up on 42.56 seconds and take second place.
Kent Farrington and Greya on their way to the win. (Photo by Kind Media)
He missed out on his eighth win in the class (he already holds the record for victories.) But McLain’s effort secured the Longines Leading Rider title, and offered good consolation, carrying a $20,000 check.
Third place went to the fastest of the 4-faulters in the first round, 2024 Olympic individual gold medalist Christian Kukuk of Germany on Akarad Tivoli Z. When you consider that familiar expression, “The cream rises to the top,” how much better does it get than Kent, McLain and Christian as that top three?
“I think Greya’s results speak for themselves,” commented Kent, who in April won the FEI World Cup Finals in Texas on the same horse, over a route laid out there by Nick Granat’s Hampton Classic assistant, Anderson Lima.
“I’m a big sports fan, and stats don’t lie. She is incredible,” Kent enthused.
“She’s a phenomenal athlete, and she really showed that today. Jump-offs like these are actually the most uncomfortable for me, because you’ve got a guy like McLain who can pull off something crazy at the end.
“It’s really exciting with how much risk you want to take. If I go all-out and have one down, I hand him the win, but if I don’t put enough pressure, he can take those extra risks and beat me. It’s really a measurement of how much risk to take. I tried to measure that well today, and luckily, it paid off. But it was still too close for my comfort.”
McLain, who had won Friday’s qualifier on a different horse, said, “I’m thrilled with Lestro. He’s a young, up-and-coming horse. This was his biggest Grand Prix start of his career. Less than a year ago, we were jumping 1.45 meters, so his progress and the way he performed today were brilliant. This is a 5-star for a great deal of prize money at one of the best venues in the world; it should be hard.”
Yup. Six riders retired after the route got the better of them and their horses.
“Arguably the best horse-and-rider combination in the world right now was the only other clear,” McLain noted,, “and I found that quite motivating.
“I had nothing to lose in the jump-off in some ways, but at the same time, my horse is a little less experienced. I had a plan and in a couple of places didn’t pick up on the stride, which maybe would have brought things a little closer, but I’m thrilled to be second to that combination.”
Christian said about making his debut at the traditional end-of-summer competition, “I talked to a couple of people, including Kent, and they were already excited about coming here.
“So I made a plan to join them, and I’m super, super happy I did that. I was impressed by the atmosphere, by the sport, by everything around the event. To be honest, even if I’d jumped clear, I would have sat in the same position,” he pointed out.
He could not have won, he believes.
“There would be no chance. I’ve only had this horse for six months, and he’s quite green at this level. It’s just his second Grand Prix, so we are not as experienced in a jump-off like that. We had some fantastic sport today, and I think the crowd was thrilled. That’s what we aim for in shows like this; the excitement and the atmosphere are what make it such a special event.”
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