Adrienne Sternlicht Shines Bright at Longines Masters of New York

The highly anticipated Longines Masters of New York officially opened on Thursday, April 25, with a five-star win for Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) to kick off four days of international show jumping competition at NYCB LIVE, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Longines Masters of New York runs April 25 through 28 as the third leg of the Longines Masters Series following stops in Paris and Hong Kong.  

Speed was the name of the game and no one played it better than Sternlicht who hails from nearby Greenwich, CT. A team gold medalist at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, the 25-year-old American turned and burned to capture the win in the Masters One EQ Exchange 1.45m. Forty-one of the world’s top ranked show jumping competitors took their turn over the track set by course designer Frank Rothenberger with Sternlicht posting the winning time of 26.11 seconds.

“He’s an awesome speed horse, he’s naturally very quick,” said Sternlicht of Fantast, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Starlight Farms. “I actually went into today not planning on going for the win, but I think sometimes in a smaller ring where all the distances are related you can pick up on a flow and everything happens nicely, you can have a really fast time. I honestly didn’t know I went into the lead when I jumped the last jump, but I am very happy. I will jump him in the Longines Speed Challenge tomorrow night and that will be his most important class of the week.”

While Sternlicht has her sights set on an inaugural victory in Friday night’s Longines Speed Challenge, her mount has already proven himself more than capable. Under the saddle of Canada’s Erynn Ballard, Fantast galloped to a convincing win in last year’s remarkable edition of the Longines Speed Challenge.

Ballard is back for another Longines Masters New York appearance, finishing second in Thursday’s Masters One EQ Exchange 1.45m with a new mount, Judge Hof Ter Zeedycke, a 10-year-old grey Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Skymaster, LLC.  Ballard, who immediately followed Sternlicht into the arena, gave it her best shot but fell just short with a time of 26.19 seconds to finish runner-up.  Ireland’s Darragh Kenny slotted into third with a time of 26.27 seconds riding Cazador LS for owner SHL Farm.

Demonstrating the Longines Masters tagline of “We Ride the World,” the five top finishers represented five different nations. Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire took fourth place with a time of 26.72 seconds riding Roulette BH while Daniel Bluman of Israel rounded out the top five after stopping the clock in 27.27 seconds with Colestina H.

If the Masters One EQ Exchange 1.45m was any indication, Friday night’s Longines Masters Speed Challenge promises to bring an adrenaline rush of excitement to New York!

Katherine Strauss Goes All In to Win Masters Two PonyApp 1.40m

A starting field of 25 competitors faced the Masters Two PonyApp 1.40m class with Katherine Strauss (USA) coming out on top riding her partner of five years, All In, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa had set the early pace with the time of 53.97 seconds riding Farrero but the 2004 Olympic Champion’s time would be overtaken by two young American women.  Only 20 years of age, Strauss used her youth to her advantage, completing the challenging track in a time of 53.05 seconds to move to the top of the leaderboard. Lindsay Douglass (USA), the 26-year-old co-founder of class sponsor PonyApp, came close to catching the leading time but fell short in 53.44 seconds to settle for second riding Butterfly Tibri Z.

“I’m so excited to be here, it’s really fun to have a show at home and support the New York community,” said Strauss, a native of Manhattan who is making her Longines Masters New York debut. “It’s so well done.  Everything is more than you could ever dream of.  I’m biased, but I think this is the best city in the world, and to have a horse show here adds a lot to the city and adds a lot to the sport.”

Israeli Flag Flies Following Ariel Bluman’s Victory

Riding for Israel, 25-year-old Ariel Bluman proved to be the fastest rider to tackle the Masters Two Longines Masters of Lausanne 1.30m competition. Riding Euphoria, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by R.J. Equestrian Group, Bluman sped to victory in a time of 20.16 seconds to claim victory.  Samantha Wight of the United States, who trains alongside Bluman, gave it her best shot but fell just short of the leading time, stopping the clock in 20.44 seconds riding Imagine van de Hermitage.  Having enjoyed a win in the opening class of the Longines Masters New York, Sima Morgello (USA) settled for third in the 1.30m competition having crossed the timers in 20.84 seconds riding Azur van Overis Z.

“For us, New York is home for half of the year so it is really awesome that we can all come as a team,” said Bluman whose husband and trainer, Daniel, is contesting the five-star division of the Longines Masters New York. “The whole family is here and clients are here.  It’s really cool to be all together at a really nice show.”

Sima Morgello Opens Longines Masters New York With a Win

New York’s own Sima Morgello had the distinction of winning the first event, the Masters Two EEM.TV 1.15m riding her partner of eight years, Zopala. Morgello and her small but mighty mare completed the speed track set by German course designer Frank Rothenberger in a time of 44.52 seconds to take the win over fellow American Ariana Tucker and Scarlet who stopped the clock in 45.07 seconds.

“I love that this is a hometown show for me,” said Morgello, 23, a local competitor who grew up in the Bronx and also competed in last year’s edition of the Longines Masters New York.  “I was really excited to come back this year. It’s always very well organized and beautiful horse show to be at.”

Completing the all-American podium, Natalie Dean rounded out the top three with a time of 45.98 aboard Maestro Vica v.d. Ark.

The Longines Masters of New York is on EEM.tv & CBS Sports

Watch the best riders of the world compete in the 2nd edition of the Longines Masters of New York! 
- EEM.tv (FREE): Thursday, April 25, at 7:45AM EDT to Sunday, April 28, at 6:00PM EDT

- CBS Sports: The Longines Speed Challenge on Friday, April 26, at 11:30PM EDT and Saturday, April 27, at 10PM EDT
The Riders Masters Cup on Saturday, April 27, at 11PM
The Longines Grand Prix of New York on Sunday April 28, at 9PM

For full information on the 2018/2019 Longines Masters, visit www.longinesmasters.com.

Final Results: Masters One EQ Exchange 1.45m CSI5*

1 FANTAST: 2005 BWP gelding by Toulon x Rubens du Ri d’Asse
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms: 0/26.11

2 JUDGE HOF TER ZEEDYCKE: 2009 BWP gelding by Winningmood x Toulon
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Skymaster, LLC: 0/26.19

3 CAZADOR LS: 2008 La Silla stallion by Casall La Silla x Dollar Dela Pierre
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), SHL Farm: 0/2627

4 ROULETTE BH: 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Moschino x Michellino
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE (GBR), Gochman Sport Horse LLC: 0/26.72

5 COLESTINA H: 2010 German Sport Horse mare by Colestus x Cardenio 2
DANIEL BLUMAN (ISR), Blue Star Investments and Kim Douglas: 0/27.27

6 DSARIE: 2008 KWPN mare by Veron x Ahorn
BEAT MÄNDLI (SUI), Grand Road Partners LLC: 0/27.59

7 EL PACHO: 2009 KWPN gelding by Cardento
ALBERTO MICHAN (ISR), Pablo Mejia Villa: 0/27.61

8 CHACCOLETTE: 2009 Oldenburg mare by Chacco Blue
LILLIE KEENAN (USA), Chansonette Farm LLC: 0/27.94

9 CORTNEY COX: 2009 Mecklenburg gelding by Carlo x Espri
PIUS SCHWIZER (SUI), HM-Stables Ag. and Pius Schwizer: 0/28.11

10 JIVA: 2009 BWP mare by Concorde (84.4140) x Nonstop
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/28.27

11 ALEX: 2004 Westphalian gelding by Arpeggio x Mon Cheri
JENNIFER GATES (USA), Evergate Stables LLC: 0/28.29

12 CASPAR’S LASINO: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Caspar x Lasino
DEVIN RYAN (USA), Market Street, Inc.: 0/29.16