Ward and Catoki Speedy Again in $36,600 CSI4*-W Accumulator at WIHS 2021

McLain Ward and Catoki. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Jump Media Press Release

The cooler temperatures and pouring rain didn’t stop McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, and Catoki, the 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Catoki owned by Ward, Bob Russell, and Marilla Van Beuren from taking home the top prize in Thursday evening’s $36,600 International Jumper Accumulator class at the 2021 Washington International Horse Show in Tryon Stadium. The pair finished with 65 points in a blazing time of 46.82 seconds.

“I only get on Catoki a couple [of trips] out because he’s so aggressive, so in the pouring rain it’s a perk [not having to get on him any earlier],” said Ward.

Ward said he had been reflecting on the accumulator format earlier. “I was just commenting, particularly in indoors, we used to have a real speed division and an accumulator was a little bit of an egg and spoon class. It was smaller, typically,” he shared. “It’s interesting that [the fence height] is now 1.45m from the second jump on. It’s a different type of competition but it’s fine, that’s how the sport is evolving and it’s nice to have a good, competitive speed horse to do these classes.”

Though WIHS has not yet returned to its hometown of Washington, D.C., Ward is glad that the show has continued on. “I think the WIHS organizing committee should be commended for running the show the last two years,” he commented. “Obviously, most of the other indoor events in the COVID period has been canceled or postponed. The WIHS organizers made huge efforts to make these events happen, albeit in a little bit of a different setting. I know there is a lot of work being done trying to see where the future location of the event will be. I know they want to try to stay in the Washington area and I hope that they can find a great location because it’s a great event.”

Catoki is currently entered in the $50,000 Speed Final as well as the $25,000 Land Rover Puissance, both taking place Friday evening, but Ward says the jury is still out on whether they’ll take on the high jump competition. “He actually won a six bar class once with another rider in Poland, so we’ll see,” he said.

Ringmaster Steve Rector, McLain Ward and Catoki, Virginie Casterman, WIHS President Vicki Lowell
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography


Puissance or not, Ward and Catoki are a speedy combination and will be a pair to watch tomorrow night. “He’s either the winner or has the fastest time with an unlucky rail down at the end when we try to go too fast, but he certainly wins his fair share,” concluded Ward.

As the winning rider, Ward took home the Crown Royal Trophy, and the pair were awarded The Sue Ann Geisler Memorial Trophy donated by the Washington International Horse Show for their win.

Second place with 65 points and a time of 49.49 seconds went to Molly Ashe-Cawley (USA) and the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding Berdien by Bustique owned by Louisburg Farm. Third place went to Sydney Shulman (ISR) also with 65 points in a time of 49.87 seconds and the 11-year-old Selle Francais mare A Toi de Prim’ by Conterno Grande owned by Maggie Hill.

Final Results: $36,600 International Jumper Accumulator Class

1 CATOKI: 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Catoki x Cartello B
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Marilla van Beuren, Bob Russell & McLain Ward: 65/46.82

2 BERDIEN: 2011 Zangersheide mare by Bustique x Querlybet Hero
MOLLY ASHE CAWLEY (USA), Louisburg Farm: 65/49.49

3 A TOI DE PRIM’: 2010 Selle Francais mare by Conterno Grande (OLD) x Diamant de Semilly
SYDNEY SHULMAN (ISR), Maggie Hill: 65/49.87

4 KALINKA VAN’T ZORGVLIET: 2010 BWP mare by Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Flipper d’Elle
KARL COOK (USA), Signe Ostby: 65/50.38

5 HYPERBOLICS: 2012 KWPN gelding by Berlin x Tlaloc M
ANDREW BOURNS (IRL), Co-Pielet, LLC: 65/50.93

6 ABSOLUTE DU MIO: 2010 gelding by Mylord Carthago*HN x Cylverado d’Inxent
ALESSANDRA VOLPI (USA), Alessandra Volpi and Michelangelo Volpi: 65/51.48

7 SEMPA FIDELIS: 2009 Hanoverian mare by Stakkato Gold x Concetto Famos
GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 65/52.06

8 BOKAI: 2006 KWPN gelding by Up To Date x Ferro
CATHERINE TYREE (USA), Catherine Tyree LLC: 65/52.12

9 LAFAYETTE VAN OVERIS: 2011 BWP gelding by Kashmir van Schuttershof x Tauber van het Kapelhof
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms 1 LLC: 65/52.34

10 DOUGIE DOUGLAS: 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding by VDL Douglas x High Roller
KATHERINE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners, LLC: 65/52.87

11 BILLY NALA: 2012 mare by Billy Mexico x Billy Congo
LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Alexander LLC: 65/53.63

12 SANDILOT PS: 2012 Oldenburg gelding by Stakkatol x Grandilot
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), Esperanza Imports LLC: 65/53.78