Spencer Smith and HHS Seattle Sail to a Win in $32k Adequan CSIO4* WEF Challenge Cup Round 8

Spencer Smith & HHS Seattle. Photo © Sportfot

Spencer Smith (USA) has been extremely consistent with a competitive group of horses so far during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), but on Thursday of Week 8, he opened Nations Cup week with his first Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup win of the season by topping the $32,000 Adequan® CSIO4* edition.

“This is a great horse,” Smith said of the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (HHS Chantilly Lace x Cavalier Royale). “I’ve had him for two years now. He was bought by Don and Nancy Stewart, and they have supported me with the horse and let me keep riding him and competing him.”

Though the horse is quick across the ground, Smith wouldn’t have pegged this as the ideal class for HHS Seattle, with the grand prix qualifier set in speed format for WEF 8.

“He’s more of a grand prix horse; he’s not really a speed horse,” Smith noted. “He’s jumped a lot of grand prix this year, but he’s also pretty quick in a speed round. It was nice to get him going a bit and just let him go. He’s very naturally fast.”

The pair came home in a time of 65.06 seconds, more than two seconds faster than second place, which was awarded to Laura Kraut (USA) and Dorado 212, owned by St. Bride’s Farm LLC. Marilyn Little (USA) claimed third with La Contessa, owned by Marilyn Little LLC.

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