Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and Magnolia Mystic Rose put in a speedy 35.115 second jump-off round to take the win in Thursday’s $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Jenni McAllister (USA) piloted Escada V S, a 2007 Swedish Warmblood mare (Escudo 19 x For Feeling) owned by Viksberg Sateri AB, to second on a time of 36.743 seconds, while Beezie Madden (USA) and Chic Hin D Hyrencourt, the Abigail Wexner-owned 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Taran de la Pomme x Elanville), rounded out the podium on a time of 38.674 seconds.
Menezes and the 2008 Brazilian Sport Horse mare (Zirocco Blue VDL x Unknown) owned by RM Agronegocios Eireli, who have been partnered since the mare’s appearance in 2019’s Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and have since collected solid placings together in Wellington, FL, were able to place themselves comfortably in the lead after speeding through the Oscar Soberon (USA) designed track, he explained. “She’s a really good horse, and a fighter in the ring. You can always count on her!
“The course was pretty difficult, and a very technical course. I think the course designer did a good job making it different from a two-star to a three-star,” Menezes detailed. “I think if he does a similar course at night for the Grand Prix, you won’t have too many clears. With the pandemic, we’re in a bit of a funny situation where five-star horses are gathering to jump two and three-star shows, and I think the course was technical and difficult enough.”
His mount in particular was up for the technical challenge, Menezes elaborated. “She [Magnolia Mystic Rose] had a little bit of vacation time, and she has a lot of blood and character coming back, so I decided to give it a go today. She’s the type of horse who gets better every time she shows. [In the jump-off,] I had a strategy to take one stride out in the first line and it worked, so I kept on. It worked out!”
A first-time competitor at the venue, Menezes noted that he is “very impressed by the facility in all aspects. The footing feels great, the stables are fantastic, and I’m walking one of my horses on the Glades as we speak [via phone]. It is amazing for the horses to be able to walk outside and be closer to what they’re used to in nature. I’m very impressed by the showgrounds.”
While “it’s difficult to make a plan during a pandemic,” Menezes predicted that if he’s unable to travel to Europe this summer, he’ll likely be seen at TIEC more often. “It’s a very good place for the horses, and I hope I can come back!”
For full results from the $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3*, click here.
VanderVeen and Faustino de Tili Blaze to $37,000 Wednesday Classic Win
Kristen VanderVeen grabbed both ends of the podium in the $37,000 Wednesday Classic CSI 3* with Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili and Bull Run’s Almighty on Wednesday in Tryon Stadium, sailing to a 36.005 second jump-off round to take first with “Frosty” and stopping the timers aboard “Almighty,” the 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Caspar x Quidam De Revel) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC, in 36.51 seconds for third place. Eduardo Menezes (BRA) and Ennebel Van Het Posthuijs, the 2009 Dutch Warmblood mare (Numero Uno x Argentinus) he co-owns with H5 Stables, claimed second place with a time of 36.127 seconds.
VanderVeen noted that the 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Berlin x Darco) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC was so excited to be back in Tryon Stadium that he nearly turned her right out of the saddle during their speedy rounds:
“I really liked the course when I walked it. Actually, my horse was pretty fresh since he’s been on a little vacation, so it was nice that we got to do a jump-off so we could kind of smooth everything out. Oh my goodness, he is so pumped to be back,” she emphasized. “He loves Tryon, he’s flying on the footing and he turns so fast that he almost turned me right off of him!”
When VanderVeen entered the ring aboard Bull Run’s Almighty, she had already set a sizable distance between herself and the rest of the pack, and knew she probably wasn’t going to be able to beat herself, she explained. “[Bull Run’s Almighty] has been so good, and very consistent – it’s hard to beat Frosty on any horse, so I knew a little bit that we were just playing for second or third, but I was really happy with how he went. I’m still a little up in the air as to who jumps in the Grand Prix, because I’ve been lucky that they’ve all been jumping really well, so I’ll make a decision later in the week,” she concluded.
For full results from the $37,000 Wednesday Classic CSI 3*, click here.
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