North American show jumpers hit the grass Saturday for a share of $75,000 and qualifying points in the Keg Steakhouse & Bar World Cup at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley.

In the end it was the rider in the red jacket, California's Ashlee Bond, whose big smile said it all.

"I thought it would be a great course for Cadett because he's been jumping really big and everything was on a forward stride," explained Bond, who took first place.

Bond was third into the ring, riding ahead of one of the best speed riders in the world, Rich Fellers. "I knew who was behind me and there was a lot of people in the jump-off so I had to lay it down," Bond said.

Cadett 7 was flawless through each fence and an aggressive ride by Bond brought them home with a time of 34.23. Fellers finished in fifth after an early rail in his round.

- - -

Bond leaves B.C. next week for the Masters Tournament at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, where she'll join Richard Spooner, Fellers, and Beezie Madden on the Nations Cup team. In a quick call to Spooner following the victory gallop, Bond had her big smile on.

"You should have seen him jump, he was effortless," she relayed. "He's ready for the Masters."