McLain Ward and Sapphire win Pfizer Million

Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward (USA) and his own and Blue Chip Bloodstock's Sapphire won the inaugural Pfizer Million Grand Prix on Sunday, 12 September at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

McLain and Sapphire bested a field of 43 high-performance riders before an energetic and enthusiastic crowd of thousands with the only double clear in the world's richest Grand Prix.

Course designer Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida, set a challenging and technical course that was decorated to the hilt by Flora Baptiston of Brazil.

"The course was brilliant," said McLain. "Steve has been a great course designer for years and he was a brilliant rider before that. Today was a great balance of tests."

After a successful week of show jumping custom jumps, exclusive to the Pfizer Million Grand Prix, were brought into the Strongid Stadium, including one used in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Steve's route featured a double combination of square oxers, Liverpools, an open water and a triple combination where element B was a Swedish oxer, which determined the fate of many competitors on the field.

It wasn't until the 32nd combination Charlie Jayne of Elgin, Illinois and The London Group's Athena that a clear was recorded, which resulted in thunderous applause.

"This was the biggest class I've ever competed in," said Charlie, a winner at HITS-on-the-Hudson in the USD$125,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix with Athena. "I felt the presence of the crowd and that we were all jumping for the fans today. HITS did a great job of getting an audience to come out for the class."

Canadian Olympian John Pearce and Forest View Farm's Chianto nearly joined Jayne and Athena in the jump-off, but a wide turn to the open water cost them expensively as they finished 0.5 seconds over the time allowed, finishing eventual third.

Third from last to go on the course, McLain and Sapphire completed the only other clear of the first round to go head-to-head with Charlie and Athena.

The jump-off included seven obstacles. Charlie and Athena were first to go and keen to set a strong target, but one down left some breathing space for McLain.

McLain and the uber-successful Sapphire were immaculate and their faultless round gained them the USD$350,000 (€275,884) first prize.

"I owe my career to Sapphire," said McLain, who now nears the USD$4,000,000 (€3,078,00) earnings mark on his mare. "I watched Charlie go and I've got to say, standing at the gate, I was nervous. There was a lot of money on the line."

Charlie was in prize of the victor, saying: "McLain is the best rider I've ever seen, probably will ever see, so it's an honor to be in second place. I'm grateful to be able to compete in a class like this. It was an excellent event today and I couldn't ask for anything more."

For full results, click here