It was a blue ribbon for Israel’s Daniel Bluman and mount Entano in the $70,000 1.50m Sunday Classic CSI 5* at Tryon International Equestrian Center.

The duo raced to the first-place finish in 41.599 seconds, besting the class of 34.

Riding into second place was Sharn Wordley (NZL) and his own Casper, a 2006 Oldenburg gelding (Contender x Baloubet du Rouet), completing the short-course in 43.607 seconds. Third place honors were bestowed upon Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and the Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC’s 2006 Hanoverian gelding (Caspar x Quidam de Revel), Bull Run’s Almighty, who ended their jump-off in 44.598 seconds.

Bluman and the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Namelus R x Numero Uno) owned by Over The Top Stables LLC, were one of five combinations to test the jump-off track, designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), and Bluman laid down a speedy round that nudged Wordley out of first.

“I thought it was a very good course,” Bluman said. “It was wonderful to have  some beautiful new jumps out there to jump now. The course designer did a good job. It was a fair, nice track. There were faults all over the place and it was technical and hard enough. It suited Entano well. He’s been jumping great lately and it was a positive result so I can’t complain.

“He is a fast horse naturally, so I was trying to focus on him and make sure he was relaxed. I had a chance to see Sharn go in the jump-off and I thought I could beat him. This horse is a little hard to turn here and there, but he has a big step and is fast and careful, so it ended well.”

This is the gelding’s first year jumping at a higher level, and Bluman explained that he is hopeful for the future with his mount.

“This is the first year he has done the more serious classes and he has already won two high ranking classes. I may bring him to Kentucky as a second horse to give him some indoor experience, then he will head to Florida to compete in Holiday & Horses at PBIEC to gear up for the winter season.

“I have high hopes for this horse. I have owned him since he was a seven-year-old and he has responded well to the work, so we are very excited about him.”

– Submitted article