Parker, CO – June 21, 2016 – Colorado local and German native Natascha Gates of Elizabeth, CO, and Quickie soared to a win in the $40,000 Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Super 8 Grand Prix presented by Trapper’s Chop House on Saturday, June 18, at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP), during week two of the Summer in the Rockies Series (SIR).
Quickie lived up to his name, showcasing his speed in the biggest class of the week, and finished the short course in 41.25 seconds. Armando Hassey of Parker, CO, guided S&L Zeppelin to second place, collecting four faults and completing the jump-off with a time of 37.92 seconds, while Mark Martens of the Netherlands piloted Indoktro K Van’t Kattenheye to third place with a time of 38.58 seconds and four faults.
Gates entered the final phase of the class with the only goal being to leave the poles in the cups. “I honestly just wanted to ride a clear round. I thought to myself, there are only five in the jump-off and the worst that can happen is finishing in fifth,” said Gates. “That was my strategy. I just wanted to stay clean and accurate.”
Quickie, a 2006 Oldenburg gelding (Quality x Shira) has been under the guidance of Gates for almost his entire career, as she purchased the gelding as a foal, and then imported him to the United States as a three-year-old.
“He’s ten now and to see and experience the whole process from when he was started to now makes me very happy.”
Armando Hassey and S&L Zeppelin. PC: SportFot
Quickie showcased his continued progress to Gates on Saturday evening, finishing a competitive clear effort in the first round to move the pair forward to the jump-off round, which featured five combinations including last week’s winners Armando Hassey and S&L Zeppelin.
Quickie and Gates will return to compete next week at CHP before taking a few relaxing weeks off in anticipation of contesting the two biggest weeks of the Summer in the Rockies Series, weeks VI and VII.
“If I stay healthy and my horse stays healthy, that will be the plan,” she added.
Natascha Gates and Quickie in their presentation ceremony with Meg Krueger of CHP, Micah Bittick of Super 8 Parker, Kenny Martin, Director of Operations for Parker Hotels Group and Trapper’s Chop House, alongside Jonathan Martin, Assistant General Manager of Holiday Inn Denver Parker.
Competition at CHP continues on Wednesday, June 22, with the start of the Summer in the Rockies III featuring the $50,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix on Saturday, June 25.
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