It was fantastic to see the sheer delight on the face of Zazou Hoffmann of the USA after her first career CSI 5* win in the AON Cup 1.50m competition on day two of the ‘North American’ Tournament, presented by Rolex at Spruce Meadows.
The 26-year-old from Santa Monica California, rode W Zermie, a 14-year-DWB old mare (Rubert R x Voltaire) she’s been competing with for the past year.
“This is unbelievable – I was not expecting this at all today and I could not be happier!” Hoffman commented, shortly after outriding some of the top riders in the world.
“I picked up a really strong gallop to start and I think from one to two I really caught some time – then I just never picked up off the brake for the rest of the way,” she added. “The most difficult part of this afternoon was having to wait and see the rest of the competitors go after me – it was probably the most stressful thing I’ve ever had to watch!”
Last week, before Hoffman starting winning big, we sat down with her to discuss her first season at Spruce at the top level. Don’t miss that interview right here.
The young and talented Hoffman not only beat out a top roster of 51 competitors and a jumpoff of 17, but most impressively was able to defeat her fellow American and current Longines FEI Ranked World No. 1 rider Kent Farrington. It was close but in the end Farrington would fall behind by 0.09 seconds on a double clear score for second place riding Dublin (Cobra x Calido).
Canada’s Eric Lamaze would take the third placing with the stunning 11-year-old gelding, Chacco Kid (Chacco Blue x Come On.) Lamaze rode a fantastic round, but finished just behind Farrington by 0.90 seconds, double clear and looking hopeful towards a great weekend with the horses in fine form for the rest of the week at the ‘North American’ Tournament, presented by Rolex.
See the complete results of the AON Cup at this link.