Chill dude. That’s how Kendall Bourgeois (USA) describes Twingo-Star JW VD Moerhoeve—better known as Tommy around the barn. But don’t be fooled by his laidback “here to graze” demeanor in the prize giving. When he crossed the start timers for Saturday’s Langley Grand Prix 1.40m presented by Costa Palmas at Thunderbird Show Park, the seven-year-old BWP gelding (Big Star x Diamant de Semilly) proved he’s anything but casual.
Bourgeois and Tommy saved the best for second-to-last in the six-horse jump-off, stopping the clock at 39.49 to edge out Bryna Closson (USA) and Meteoric Rise by two tenths of a second for the win. Ayla Martinoff (CAN) and Calloway took third, with the fastest time of the day—36.77 seconds—but collected four faults at the final fence.
Steffen Buhling set the track, and it was Bourgeois who cracked the code.
“I walked nine [strides] from the first two fences in the jump off, and I thought it was an easy spot for my horse to step up and do the eight,” Bourgeois explained. “I met [fence] one nice, maybe a hair quieter. I was a little bit up the eight [strides], but I got it done. I was most proud of the roll back after that. He’s a very young horse, and that’s been a little bit of our weakness—keeping it smooth and forward through the turns—and he jumped the vertical awesome.”
Their inside turn to the final line clinched it. “I think what really helped us in the jump off,” she said.
Tommy came into Bourgeois’s string last fall, purchased by Imagination Lane LLC client Cameron Brown with an eye toward amateur competition. The young gelding continues to exceed expectations.
“We’re just developing him and bringing him along the rankings, and he’s turned into quite a fun little horse for me to put some miles on,” said Bourgeois. “The goals change every day. The more we’ve asked of him, the more he’s risen to the occasion. So I’m quite optimistic about his future.”
That optimism is born from his quick-learning nature. Earlier in the week, Tommy showed his green side—but by Saturday, the lesson had clearly stuck.
“Tommy is a very chill dude, very quiet, very easy going—until he’s not,” Bourgeois said with a laugh. “He caught me off guard earlier this week. He got a little green with the flags at the top of the ring. So we did what we could to kind of rebuild him on Thursday, and it worked out great.”
tbird’s West Coast Classic continues Sunday with the $20,000 Open 1.25m ‘Seize the Day’ Speed Derby in memory of Vicki Gourlay, the $20,000 Country Lane Farm Open USHJA 3′ Hunt & Go Derby and the $50,0000 Foxstone Stables USHJA International Hunter Derby 3’6”.
$20,000 Langley Grand Prix 1.40m presented by Costa Palmas
Rank | Rider | Horse | Nation | Owner | Faults & Time
1. Kendall Bourgeois | Twingo Star JW VD Moerhoeve | USA | Cameron Brown | 0 / 0 39.49
2. Bryna Closson | Meteoric Rise | USA | Bryna Closson | 0 / 0 39.73
3. Ayla Martinoff | Calloway | CAN | Ayla Martinoff | 0 / 4 36.77
4. Laina Summers | Greannanstown Max A Million | USA | Bayview Farm | 0 / 4 39.80
5. Jenni Wymer | Capri 111 | USA | Juliet Le Dorze | 0 / 4 40.53
Full results here.
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