The 2026 season didn’t start off well for McLain Ward. A special mount, Imperial HBF, was injured, then colicked and could not be saved. (read his story here)
McLain mourned but as always, he kept going forward. Saturday night, less than two weeks after Imperial passed, the Olympic multi-medalist rode High Star Hero to victory in the $500,000 Modon Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival. It was the fourth time McLain won that 5-star, having done it three times previously on another memorable horse, HH Azuur.
McLain Ward and High Star Hero
What made this victory even better was the fact that like Imperial, High Star Hero’s owner is Michael Smith, a great supporter of McLain and the sport.
It wasn’t an easy way to win, because McLain went first in a five-horse jump-off the son of Zazu. Speedsters including Gangster Montdesir, ridden by McLain’s close friend, European Champion Richard Vogel of Germany, able to take a shot at the leading time of 39.14 seconds over the route designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio.
Richie had won a $500,000 class two weeks earlier with the Selle Francais stallion and sure enough, he handily beat McLain’s mark, finishing in 37.34 seconds.. But the back rail of an oxer fell to short-circuit a possible victory, putting him fourth.
Riding a former Kent Farrington mount, Landon de Nyze, Mark Bluman of Colombia came close to McLain, but not close enough, clocked in 39.71 seconds for his clean trip. Taking the final place on the podium was Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam with the most experienced horse in the class, James Kann Kruz,who, like Richie’s horse, is by Kannan.
Mark Bluman, McLain Ward and Shane Sweetnam
Going first in a tiebreaker isn’t everyone’s favorite position, but McLain didn’t mind.
“I don’t think it was the worst spot to be in with those guys coming behind me. I kind of rode my round and let them chase me. Tonight it worked out for us; sometimes it goes the other way.”
He and Richie are rivals as well as pals, and when they face off against each other, there are no holds barred. Richie liked riding after McLain in the tiebreaker.
“I definitely prefer to have him in front of me, rather than after me. It’ll be on us to catch him,” said Richie, who did beat the clock, but not McLain.
“It’s incredible sport,” said McLain, ranked tenth in the world.
“Almost every week, they just get faster and faster. Hats off to the horses and the competition and the level of the sport.
“We’ve had a bit of a challenging start to the year with a few things,” he mentioned, in addition to the loss of Imperial.
“I think for me and all the people that are beside me, it’s a great win, it means a lot.
McLain Ward and High Star Hero. (Photo ©Sportfot)
“I always start the year, I think, a little rusty, and then give myself a wake-up call. Maybe that’s why this grand prix has been great to us.
“I had to do what I thought was the winning plan, and the horse responded beautifully. He’s been jumping great for the last six months, and I couldn’t ask for more. Tonight, it was inches—it was phenomenal competition, and once in a while you end up on the top end.”
He added, “My team has rallied and put their heads down—it’s been a grind, and I’m proud of them, proud of the horse and proud to bring this home tonight.”
It was Mark’s first 5-star with Landon, but even so, he admitted, “I’m not competing to be second, so I was a little disappointed with myself—not with the horse—because I could have taken more of a risk going into the double.
“In the qualifier (Thursday], I took a risk to the double and had it down, so I was cautious.”
Mark noted, “I come from Colombia, and it’s not a country with a horse background, so to be sitting here with people that I grew up watching riding horses, it means the world.”
The class drew 30 starters, but Kent, last year’s winner of the class who is the world number two, and Britain’s Ben Maher, world number three, sat this one out. They will have their shots; there’s a lot of jumping to com at WEF, with the $1 million Rolex class the finale at the end of March.
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