Edited press release from Wellington International

Ashlee Bond (ISR) knows she has something special in Night Wish (Naldo x Catano), and now the rest of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) can see it, too. Three years out from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Bond is beginning to feel confident about her campaign for a spot on the Israeli team after jumping to win on Friday at Wellington International in the $62,500 Adequan® CSI4* WEF Challenge Cup Round 11.

Bond was the last one to advance into the jump-off in the winning round format, coming back on four faults but wiping the slate clean. It did mean she had to jump off first, but she didn’t let the pressure get to her. “At WEF you never think you’re going to win going first, no matter how fast you think you are,” said the California native now based in Wellington. “Anyone behind you can win. It was a really nice and pleasant surprise and a big win for this horse. I’m really excited.”

Ireland’s Jordan Coyle was the next fastest—just .03 seconds behind Bond—piloting Keep Me With You N.C. (Le Tot de Semilly x Indoctro), owned by Falkirk Farm. Alise Oken (USA) took third with Forrestal (Don Diarado x Allegreto), owned by Hi Hopes Farm.

Bond found her winning horse two years ago through the same connection that found her Olympic mount from Tokyo and Paris, Donatello 141. “It was definitely not smooth sailing; he had a rearing issue and he was quite opinionated,” Bond said of her start with Night Wish. “I worked with Leo Rauscher and he spent two weeks with him and completely turned this horse around. Now he’s a machine. I’m really proud of the work because this was almost a lost cause. The fact that we’re here a year after he did his first 1.40m is really special.”

The ride on “Sparky” nowadays is similar to that of Donatello 141, which helps Bond to focus and choose the plan that best suits her horse. She doesn’t get caught up counting strides and trying to beat everyone else, but her natural speed often gets the job done.

“He’s naturally very quick and super careful so I don’t really have to worry about the jumps,” she explained. “I let him dictate that forward rhythm today; I didn’t push him. His stride is not huge so in the lines I was able to ride up where most people were slowing down. Overall, I was able to keep a faster clip around the whole thing, and he turns so well and is really game.”

Bond has been moving Night Wish up and down the levels through the WEF season, an approach that is paying off in consistent results. “He feels confident and I think today prepared us really nicely for Sunday,” said Bond, who thinks the best is yet to come for Night Wish, who is only 9 this year. “His ability is the most I’ve ever felt on a horse. I just have to be smart about picking and choosing the classes. My goal is for him to do the FEI World Championships next year at Aachen, and LA is my end goal. I think this horse has a good shot at jumping clear every day. I’m working backwards from three years to today.”