THERMAL, Calif.--Ireland’s James Chawke on Daido van’t Ruytershof Z won the $32,000, CSI5*-W 1.45m Welcome Speed on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Desert Circuit 4.
James Chawke on Daido vant Ruytershof Z (High Desert Sport Photo)That was the first CSI5* win of his career.
A field of 36 competed over the one round speed course set by Alan Wade and Colm Quinn. with 13 going clean.
Chawke went in the middle of the order, and he easily shaved more than a second and a half off the previously leading time to take over the top spot in 61.78 seconds.
Canada’s Tiffany Foster on Battlecry finished second in 63.43, and Skylar Wireman on Cielo was third in 64.50 seconds.
Wireman, who has had a very successful circuit so far, used the class on Tornado as a school for the up-coming World Cup class, and was clean in 74.31 to place 11th.
Wireman is one of the four chosen to represent the U.S. in the first League of Nations competition in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 13 along with Natalie Dean, Callie Schott and Sarah Segal.
NETHERLAND'S Mathijs Van Asten on Noberlina VD Laarseheide Z was fourth in 65.2, with Tiffany Foster of Canada on Anton fifth in 67.95,Nicolas Gamboa of Colombia sixth in 69.64, and Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25, who also used the class as a school for bigger classes coming up, was seventh in 70.70
“I’m really happy,” said Chawke of his inaugural CSI5* victory. “I thought the track was very good. Alan always builds a good course. I actually didn’t think it was so easy; all the lines were a bit the same in that everyone kind of had to do the same number. So, it was just trying to be quick around the turns.”
Chawke has ridden Daido van’t Ruytershof Z for almost exactly two years.
“She’s a really quick horse." said Chawke. "She’s very careful and very game. She’s spicy for sure. She has her own opinions, but she’s very sweet.”
