Ashley Bond Off & Running During Wellington International Annual Series
The 2026 Wellington International Annual Series christened June competition with a victory for Israeli Olympian Ashley Bond on Sunday in the $24,999 LeMieux Grand Prix riding Comme Ci Comme Ca for owner Agrippina Farms.
The Annual Series’ June season runs for two weeks, featuring hunter, jumper and equitation competition at Wellington International, home of the famed Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Learn more about the Annual Series HERE.
Bond took over the reins on Comme Ci Comme Ca, a nine-year-old Irish-bred mare (Comme Il Faut 5 X Diarado), at the start of the year, and they wasted no time getting to know each other. During WEF, the pair pocketed three top 10 international finishes.
“We are at a really good place with—we call her Cici—and after the success we had in the beginning, she has changed a lot in a good way,” said Bond, who took her time getting to know the mare. “I had to learn to ride her the way she wants to be ridden—she’s sensitive but wants a consistent connection. It’s been a good learning experience, and I’m excited about where it’s going to go.”
After a move from the West Coast a few seasons ago, Bond now calls Wellington home and is utilizing the 2026 Annual Series to introduce several future stars of the jumper ring.
“I love being able to be home and show in my backyard during the spring and early summer,” said Bond. “It’s nice not to have to travel yet. This is good preparation on great footing in a nice atmosphere. The horses benefit from all of it.”
Sunday’s win came in a jump-off time of 35.081 seconds for Bond over course designer Andy Christiansen’s tracks. Seven advanced to the tie-breaking round, with Andrea Torres of Wellington, Fla., finishing second on a time of 37.387 seconds riding her own Picara Polka Amouretta. Pablo Barrios, also calling Wellington home, rounded out the top three in 37.790 seconds in the irons of his own Don d’Alme C Z.
For complete results of the $24,999 LeMieux Grand Prix, click HERE.
Hunters returned to the derby field during June I for the $2,700 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby, presented by Parlanti, won by Marcus Au of Boca Raton, Fla., riding 9-year-old Storm Cat, owned by Catomine Farm.
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Ashley Bond Off & Running During Wellington International Annual Series – Wellington International
