Heidi Austin-Fish came into the final round of the WCHR Professional Finals at the Capital Challenge standing in seventh place aboard Lisa Mills’ Vanity. But her second-round performance with the bay Oldenburg was the best of the evening on Oct. 6 (87.40 points) and catapulted them to the top of the class in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Their 173.85 points for the two rounds edged class leader Louise Serio and Dream Date (173.75) by .10 points. Dream Date’s second round was beautiful but marred by two significant rubs, which scored 85.55 points from the five-member panel of judges, and left them with the reserve championship.

Austin-Fish, 48, of Chicago, Ill., was thrilled with Vanity’s performance and for the chance to show everyone the mare’s talents. “She’s had a hard luck story along the way,” said Austin-Fish, “she’s always been one of my favorites, though, and I thought some day she’ll be famous.”

In a touching ceremony before the class, Ashford Castle received the Heard A Rumor Perpetual Trophy presented to a horse that has shown exceptional ability and epitomizes the important partnership of show hunter and hunter rider. Ashford had retired at age 17 with 14,210 points in the regular working hunter division and 15,054 points in the small junior hunter division. He was accompanied center ring by some of his many owners, friends and riders, including Craig, Frances and Corrine Lindner, Pamela Dudley, Havens Schatt, Kathy and Gerry Newman, Emilie Hamilton and Tom Wright. All braided and gleaming under the lights, Ashford Castle looked like he was excited to be in the spotlight and kept Corrine on her toes as she led him out of the ring. He now enjoys his days in the lush pastures at Shawna Dietrich’s farm in Louisville, Ky.