Jordan Coyle and Picador (Brewster, NY) galloped to victory in the $25,000 Nutrena® Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort (TIEC) to conclude Tryon Fall 6 competition. Ken Dickey (Phoenix, AZ) and Rocking D Ranch’s Opium du Soufflet, a 2009 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Ogano Sitte x Nicky du Soufflet), were the short-course trailblazers, unfortunately going off course at the last fence to receive second place. Connor O’Regan (Upperville, VA) navigated the 2012 Belgan Warmblood mare (Hunter’s Scendix x Cleopatra van Spalbeek) owned by Dynomite Ranch, LLC, Mendini DR, to a third place finish on a time of 78.186 in the first round, with a single time fault keeping them from the speed test.

Coyle and the 2007 Anglo European gelding (Lupicor x Kind of Magic), owned by Elan Farm, were one of 39 entries to challenge the long course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), with only two pairs gaining entry to the jump-off. Dickey was first to go, and his navigational error at the end of the course paved the way for a pressure-free jump-off experience for Coyle. The pair ended up on a time of 38.51 seconds with one rail down, but Coyle shared that it was nice for Picador to end his time at TIEC on a high note after a difficult two weeks.

“He [Picador] won the first class last week [$37,000 EquiSafe Global Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*] and things just didn’t work out in between, but it’s good he won today. The course rode tough… much tougher than I expected,” Coyle revealed. “Since we’re going to Kentucky next week I wanted to jump today just as an easy round. But there was nothing easy about that: it was as tough as any of the FEI classes!”

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