Roberto Teran Tafur (COL) was already a winner in international competition in Traverse City this season, but his latest victory may have been his most satisfying yet. Coming out of the ring aboard 18-year-old Dez’ Ooktoff as the final rider, he knew he had accomplished something unexpected by winning the $62,500 Traverse City CSI4* Welcome Stake.
“This horse has been with me for [almost] seven years,” Teran said of the Dutch Warmblood stallion (Colandro x Lys Rouge). “He took me to Tokyo, the [World Equestrian Games] in Denmark, second place in the Rolex Grand Prix, but he has never been a fast horse. We have been training on the rollbacks and speed every single week, and it’s paying off. He was really fast today, which was why I was so excited.”
With nine riders returning for the jump-off over Bernardo Costa Cabral’s (POR) track, Teran wasn’t expecting to come out on top given the caliber of competition.
“I told my groom, ‘I’m going to take it easy and focus on the Grand Prix,’” he said of his plan. “Then I did [fences] one, two, and three and everything started showing up. Then I saw the long one for the vertical after the combination. He rolled back fantastic and everything just happened.”
Making it sound easy, Teran and Dez’ Ooktoff finished their round in a time of 37.53 seconds, but everyone knew it was a tall order as they watched the pairs just ahead of them in the order. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) had laid it down with a crafty inside turn aboard Pegina VD Bisschop to take the lead, but was then topped by Charlotte Bettendorf (LUX) and Kalliope, who took the speed a notch higher.
“I think I galloped to the vertical before the last two; I did a few [strides] less than everyone else.”Asked where he believed he found the winning time, Teran pointed to one section of the course, “The rollback showed up great, and I’m pretty sure I did one or two [strides] less to the last one than the rest.”
Bettendorf finished second while Sweetnam rounded out the podium, underscoring the depth of competition during Traverse City Spring IV.
“I love this show,” Teran commented about Traverse City. “I have been coming here for decades now. They improve every single year, from the stabling to the footing to the jumps. It’s just a great energy and I love this place.”
With the Welcome Stake under his belt, now he can return to the plan he originally told his groom of focusing on the $116,500 Traverse City CSI4* Grand Prix. Returning with Dez’ Ooktoff, he knows he has a top competitor no matter the company, and that gives the Olympian added confidence.
“I’m very excited,” he said of Saturday’s class. “I’m sure we’re going to have a few clear fast ones before us in the jump-off, but now with this [win, I feel like] we can be on the podium no problem.”
The fourth week of the Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, continues Friday with the $62,500 Traverse City CSI4* Speed, plus the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby and $1,000 USHJA JR/AM National Hunter Derby in the Highstreet Arena. Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.
All results here.
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