Thermal, CA – January 30, 2025 – Some of show jumping’s biggest stars are at the Desert International Horse Park this week for the $340,000 CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ – Thermal, but in Thursday’s $32,000 CSI2* Champion Shavings 1.45m Speed, none shone brighter than Ali Ramsay and Diamond.
Ramsay and the 10-year-old Hanoverian mare, owned by Strasburg Morin Inc., blazed to the win on January 30, with a time of 64.57 seconds. The pair was the 12th of 34 entries to jump the Alan Wade-designed track, and immediately after they left the Grand Prix Arena, Megan McDermott and Alanine de Vains entered the ring to give them a real run for their money.
McDermott flew over the final DIHP oxer in 64.70 seconds to ultimately finish in second place just off Ramsay’s time. Rounding out the top three with a time of 65.76 seconds were Peter Petschenig and Its The Senator 111.
“I thought it was a great track,” said Ramsay (CAN). “It had a lot of opportunity to leave out strides on the rollbacks; I like to count the strides in the rollbacks. People normally think I’m crazy when they watch me counting those strides, but I think that’s where you can really make up time. That’s probably where I won it today.”
Ramsay has only been partnered with Diamond for two short weeks, but the duo meshed straight out of the gate, with Ramsay showing the mare in a week of national competition prior to stepping up to the CSI2* this week.
“It was kind of an instant click,” said Ramsay. “She seems to be just my type. My goal was to win this class, so that’s cool that that happened. She’s a lot of fun. My type is a smaller horse. I love the mares. Careful, scopey, fighters. That’s everything that she is.”
Ramsay’s initial plan was to jump Diamond solely in Thursday’s class, but with the mare’s strong performance, she now also has her sights set on Saturday’s $63,000 CSI2* City of La Quinta Grand Prix – as Ramsay is never quick to pass up an opportunity to jump in the DIHP Grand Prix Arena.
“This ring – since they’ve taken over with new management and redone it – is, I would say, my favorite ring to ride in in the world right now,” concluded Ramsay. “I love coming here. It’s just really a great place to be.”
For full results of the 32,000 CSI2* Champion Shavings 1.45m Speed, click here.
