NORTH SALEM, N.Y.--Zayna Rizvi, at 18 years old a youngster who is making her mark in international competition, won the $65,000 FEI 4* Welcome Stake at the Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows, Week 1, on Friday, Sept.13.
Zayna Rizvi on Exquise u Pachis (Photo by SEL Photography)Course designer Ken Krome built a challenging 16 fence, 1.50m course for Friday’s class, and Rizvi, last to go on Exquise Du Pachis, was clean in 35.83 seconds to win.
The Welcome Stake had 45 entries with 18 advancing to the jump-off.
Sarah Segal went early on Boreale De Fondcombe, setting the time to beat at 36.92 seconds.
Fresh off his win in Thursday’s $5,000 FEI 2* Speed Class, Simon McCarthy of Ireland then went clean in 36.46 seconds to take over the lead, but Rizvi was even faster in 35.83 seconds.
“I know my horse really well, and I know that she has a huge stride, so I tried to use that to my advantage,” Rizvi said. “I wouldn’t say there was any specific spot that I was going faster than Simon, but my mare is so good at turning and really helped me out in a few spots. Doing that tight rollback to the double and the tight turn into the second-to-last jump, she was right there with me the whole time. She was amazing, and I couldn’t have asked for a better result."
“WE CALL HER Patchy in the barn, and she’s just incredible,” she said. “She’s brought me around my biggest tracks so far, and she’s always giving me confidence and teaching me the ropes. Today’s first-round track was great for us. There were definitely some technical lines and questions, but she’s so great at adjusting and coming back to me. In the jump-off, there were places where you could use a mixed ride if you had it, and I’m lucky enough that I do with her. It was a great jump-off track, too. I’m very grateful to have a partner like her.”
McCarthy placed second and Segal finished third.
“I’m so glad that we have an FEI show at Old Salem in the fall now,” Rizvi said. “I actually haven’t shown here since 2019, so it’s really great to be back. I grew up around here, and being here again feels like coming home. I’m really excited about the rest of our week.”
Darragh Kenny of Ireland, who won Thursday’s $10,000 FEI 4* Two-Phase, rode Lightning to win the evening’s $32,000 FEI 2* Welcome Stake.
From a starting field of 58 in the 1.45m class, nine returned for the jump-off, with Kenny going clean in 34.00 seconds.
“I’m not quite sure how I did it,” Kenny said. “She’s a very quick horse, and we did similar numbers and turns as Sydney (Shulman Desiderio), whose horse is also very fast. I think in the end, it was just one of those things where it worked out for me today, and it would work out for Sydney tomorrow."
“My mare was very good,” he said. “She’s only 8 years old, and I’m very happy with her. I think she’s going to be a very good horse for the future.”
Shulman Desiderio of Israel on Villamoura was second, clean in 34.22 seconds, and four-time Canadian Olympian Mario Deslauriers was third in 35.66 seconds on Costa Quick PS.