WASHINGTON, D.C.--Abdel Saïd OF Belgium on Arpege du Ru won the $63,000 Welcome Stakes, and Nina Mallevaey of France on My Clementine won the $32,000 Accumulator Costume class Thursday evening, Oct. 24 at the Washington International Horse Show
There are 34 riders competing in the international jumper division representing 13 countries, and of the 34, 14 are Olympians, including U.S. team silver medalists McLain Ward and Laura Kraut from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
In the Welcome Stake, 11 from the starting field of 33 made the jump-off over a course set by Nick Granat.
Going sixth in the jump-off, Saïd on Arpege du Ru finished clean 31.61 to win over Mark Bluman of Columbia on Ubiluc, clean in in 33.20, and Conor Swail of Ireland on Vital Chance de la Roque, clean in 24.01.
“Tonight's class was very winding with a lot of turns,” said Saïd. “I thought the turn to the FEI jump I took a lot of risk because I knew that would be easy for her. She's really brave and smart to a vertical. I think one to two was also very fast, and that's where we won it.”
Saïd has ridden Arpege for seven years and has won five star grand prix classes and speed classes.
“SHE'S JUST an amazing winner,” he said. “She doesn't give you so much feel over the jump; she's not strong but she's also not light, and her balance is quite low. Her biggest quality is her heart, and she's so smart. She really knows where the jumps are.”
Saïd is competing at Washington for the first time, after deciding to base a business in the U.S.
“Washington is an incredible horse show,” he said. “I wanted to try the indoor shows. I've heard so much about them and about their history, so I really wanted to come to Washington.”
In the $32,000 Accumulator costume class, 27 competed, with riders given points for each fence cleared and a final “joker” fence that could give them an additional 20 points if cleared, or take away 20 points if was down.
Despite going so early, third in the class, France’s Nina Mallevaey on My Clementine lived up to her "The Incredibles" costume by going clean to get the maximum 65 points and finish in 43.61, a time no one could catch
“She’s simply amazing,” said Mallevaey of My Clementine. “I’ve been riding her for six months, and she’s just so smart and fast and careful. She’s just so fun to ride.”
“The costume was actually my groom’s idea, and I think she did a great job,” she said of her "The Incredibles" attire. “I know my horse is quick across the ground and careful, so I wanted to try to win, and she was just awesome.”
McLain Ward went as the United States’ first president George Washington, and riding First Lady also got 65 points, finishing in 43.76 seconds to place second place, while Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain, riding as Cruella De Vil and101 Dalmatians on In The Air was third with 65 points in 44.61.
Airline pilot Carly Anthony on her trusted airplane Jet Blue won the $3,000 Best Costume Award.
Kristen Vanderveen also had a great costume, going as Little Bo Peep, while her mount Bull Run's Faurstino de Til was completely covered with a coat of sheep's wool, but she left behind a bit of wool with every stride, which may have been the one thing that prevented her from winning the Best Costume Award..