Tryon Summer VI saw Kristen Vanderveen (USA) take first and second-place honors in the $35,000 1.45m Classic Stake CSI 2* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), guiding Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili through the short-course in 35.528 seconds and steering Bull Run’s Prince of Peace to second, putting in a clear jump-off round of 36.664 seconds. Vanderveen shared the podium with Manuel Torres (COL) for his efforts aboard Christofolini H, a 2007 Rheinlander gelding (Canto 16 x Balou Du Rouet) owned by Andrea Torres Guerreiro, for their 37.124 second performance in the jump-off.
Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili. Photo by Sportfot
Vanderveen, who previously complimented the Oscar Soberon (USA) course design earlier in the week, had already clinched the lead aboard “Frosty,” the 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Berlin x Udarco) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five, LLC, when she concluded the jump-off aboard Bull Run’s Prince of Peace, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Cardenio x Contender) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Six, LLC, to claim the red rosette as well.
Though Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili won the $35,000 Welcome Stake CSI 2* on Thursday just a day prior, Vanderveen noted that she had meant for Friday’s Classic Stake to be a more conservative effort as she brings the stallion back into work after a recent break. “In the jump-off I wanted to go quick and competitive with Frosty, but nothing too risky. He’s so naturally fast; I forget that I don’t need to try so hard. I actually kind of felt like I left a little bit of space for somebody to get me, but it just goes to show how fast he really is, because it ended up not really being that close,” she explained.
“It’s comfortable going in with [Bull Run’s Prince of Peace] knowing you’re first with Frosty,” admitted Vanderveen. “And ‘Prince’ is still learning, so I want him to learn the jump-off, and the only way to learn is by going fast. My plan on him was to push it, and test out where we’re at, and keep getting him competitive and looking for the jumps.”
Vanderveen was undecided at the time about her strategy for Saturday, but ultimately opted to save both Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili and Bull Run’s Prince of Peace for another day, as most of the competitions ahead for the two mounts are daytime competitions, and Bull Run’s Almighty was chosen to compete under the lights.
Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili in their presentation ceremony, donning ribbons for her first and second place finishes. Photo by Sportfot
“We have a lot of daytime showing with them coming up. For the younger horse, Bull Run’s Prince of Peace, the night class is a big atmosphere here, so I’m going to wait and finish out the daytime stuff with him and then start moving him into Grand Prixs later.
“[Bull Run’s] Almighty is one of my greener horses, and I’m trying to develop him. He’s a little bit older than Bull Run’s Prince of Peace, so he’s ready, but he just needs more time under the lights. I think it’s a good thing to keep pushing him and giving him the experience.”
Vanderveen and “Almighty,” the 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Caspar x Quidam De Revel) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Six, LLC, had just one rail down in the first round to finish eighth in the $70,000 Ingles Grand Prix CSI 2* as the fastest four-fault round.