Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) and Caillou flew through the short-course timers in 38.827 seconds to claim victory in the $70,000 1.50m Welcome Stake CSI 4*, a highlight jumper class during the 90th Tryon Riding & Hunt Club (TR&HC) Charity Horse Show Tryon Spring VI at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Fernando Cardenas Jr. (COL) and his own Quincy Car, a 2004 Oldenburg stallion (Galiani Car x Amour Parfait), put in the only other clear jump-off round to earn the red rosette in 40.132 seconds, while Samuel Parot (CHI) and the Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc. entry Thriller P, a 2004 Swedish Warmblood stallion (Cardento x Lucky Night), rounded out the podium on their four-fault, 36.294 second short-course performance.
Louis Pedro Biraben and Caillou. Photo by Sportfot
Fifty entries tested the Alan Wade (IRL) course before six horse-and-rider pairs returned to tour the short course. Biraben and the 2007 gelding were second to go and were uncatchable after putting in a fast and clear performance. Biraben complimented his mount’s success in the past year, saying, “He finished the Wellington season nicely and then [did well] in Kentucky. Now he has a win here after competing well last week.”
“It rode really nicely,” said Biraben of the track. “There were not so many clears today. When I walked it I thought there would be ten, maybe twelve clear, and to have only six return in such a big field and others with so many faults on different obstacles throughout the course is significant.”
Louis Pedro Biraben and Caillou in their presentation ceremony. Photo by Sportfot
Based on today’s top performance, Biraben explained that he has changed his plan to include piloting Caillou in Saturday’s $204,000 Coca-Cola Grand Prix CSI 4* instead of Colorado 210, who finished on 15 faults, he joked: “I don’t know what happened with [Colorado 210], but Alan is a top course designer. It was a very nice course to ride, with distances maybe a little bit short, but still very nice.”
After competing for the past two weeks at TIEC, Biraben plans to take the next two weeks off before setting off on a tour that includes competing in Kentucky, two additional weeks of competition at TIEC, and tentative appearances at competitions in Michigan, Chicago and New York.
For full results from the $70,000 1.50m Welcome Stake CSI 4*, click here.