Bond takes Pepsi Challenge with Donatello
American-born Israeli rider continues her record of success at Spruce Meadows
The past two days at the Spruce Meadows North American show jumping tournament pretty much could be summed up in two words. Bond. Ashlee Bond. An American-born rider who now competes for Israel, Bond has enjoyed enviable performances on the International Ring. On Wednesday, she won the Trimac Cup with her nine-year-old mare Contefina LVF.
Then in the first event on Thursday, she and Contefina made it a memorable jump-off in the ATCO Cup, finishing second to Kent Farrington and Austria 2 in an extremely quick jump-off.
Not done yet, she came into the afternoon's 1.55m Pepsi Challenge with more winning on her mind, this time with 10-year-old gelding Donatello 141. Second to start in the six-horse jump-off, Bond and her Olympic mount watched as American Mclain Ward and HH Azur clipped the last fence in a time of 41.63 — and all of a sudden it was doable.
Bond's 41.44 clocking would not be caught.
“I had a feeling ... Mclain had the last jump down — but I actually had his time which I'm always aiming to go against his time. Because if you can beat Mclain, you can beat anyone,” said Bond, 36. “When I knew I had his time, I relaxed a little. I tried to not leave any room and it worked out today.”
Belgium's Zoe Conter and Davidoff De Lassus were second — the only other double clear — and Ward and HH Azur finished third.
Bond, who has been coming to Spruce Meadows on and off for more than a decade, joined the September Series for last week's Masters tournament. Thus, it took a while for Donatello to settle in.
“Last week, he felt a little bit unsure so maybe I should have come for all three weeks,” said Bond, who finished 11th individually with Donatello at the 2020 Olympic Games.
“But it took him just two classes to really get into the field and realize what effort he had to make. Today he came out and felt amazing, just as good as he did in Tokyo. It takes a special horse to jump here.
“I know him extremely well which is always a big advantage, especially at the top sport. He's super-game. He knows the job. He gets it. He's just come off the Olympics and I feel he really rose to the occasion. Coming from there to here is a good thing because it's big show jumping and bigger show jumping.
“Hopefully, we'll do as good or as close to this good on Saturday (for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup grand prix). Top 3 is always nice.”
Contefina LVF, meanwhile, is just nine years old and already exhibiting championship qualities.
“This is her very first time here I think,” Bond said. “Last week I put her in the All-canada Ring and she won the metre-45 and she handled that arena very well. But then the International Ring is a whole different ball game. So she went out in the metre-50 three-star grand prix, which was a big ask. She was a little bit impressed.
“That made me want to stay for this week. She was so good yesterday; she cruised around. Today was tough and one of the biggest classes she's ever jumped and I was really impressed with how she handled it.
“Her being double clear ... I was so happy. Being second to Kent, you're not upset with that. I'm excited for her future.”
In the 1.50m ATCO Cup, she posted a sublime 41.83 in the three-horse jump-off. But there was no stopping the habitually tough Farrington and his newer partner Austria 2, slicing into that time to clock 40.85. It was the third win of the September Series for the pairing. Irishman Conor Swail and Gamble were third.
There are two events in the International Ring on Friday, starting with the Francis Family Jumper at 11 a.m., followed by the Scotiabank Jumper at 2 p.m.