Daniel Bluman Takes Top Honors in Saturday’s $74,000 Hampton Classic 2* Grand Prix
Jumper Champions Crowned at the 2022 Hampton Classic Horse Show
Defending Hampton Classic Grand Prix champion Daniel Bluman (ISR) added another FEI win to his name on Saturday, riding Cachemire De Braize to victory in the $74,000 Hampton Classic 2* Grand Prix with a fault-free time of 35.790 seconds.
The Hampton Classic, August 28-September 4, is one of the world’s most prestigious horse shows, offering more than $1 million in prize money during a full schedule featuring competitors at every level from young children in leadline to Olympic, World, and World Cup Champions. The Classic also has competitions for riders with disabilities.
“Cache has been with us for about three years,” Bluman said of his, Alex Yadgarov, Mikhail Ilyaich and Over The Top Stables LLC’s 10-year-old Selle Français gelding. “He came out of an auction a few years ago, and I’ve been working with him since. He’s got a lot of talent, and he’s definitely fast. He’s had almost ten international wins. He’s a very good horse, very competitive, and has his own way of going.”
Course designer Alan Wade of Ireland set a difficult 1.45m course with 16 jumping efforts for the 2* Grand Prix, challenging a field of 45 entries representing 12 countries for the top prize. First to go clear in both the initial and jump-off rounds was American Karl Cook. He and Fecybelle, Signe Ostby’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, set a tough time to beat at 37.300 seconds.
“We had a really good string for this class,” Bluman said. “Alan Wade of course did a good job, but we don’t expect anything less from him. It was a difficult track for the Two Star level, but Cachemire is a Five Star horse. He’s done a lot of Four Star grands prix, so he’s really at a level where he has experience and scope to spare. He gave me a really, really nice first round, then was great for the second. I knew I had to lay it out in the second round because I had some fast riders coming, and Karl had already had a good jump-off. I just focused on my plan, and it worked out.”
Bluman’s blistering time of 35.790 seconds was 1.5 seconds ahead of Cook’s, setting the bar too high for his fellow competitors to catch. Cook and Fecybelle ultimately earned second place with their time of 37.300 seconds, while Switzerland’s Beat Mändli finished in third. Mändli and Grant Road Partners LLC’s 10-year-old Selle Français mare Chartraine Pre Noir stopped the clock in 38.770 seconds.
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