Navigating Thursday’s $32,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2* with two mounts, Alison Robitaille (USA) found herself among the top three, ultimately claiming the win with Oakingham Lira (Tornesch 1042 x Del Piero P B). Robitaille and her own 2013 Anglo European mare secured the win on a jump off time of 36.87 seconds across the Colm Quinn (IRL) course. Ali Ramsay (CAN) marked 37.70 seconds on the clock for reserve honors with Bonita VH Keizershof Z (Bustique x For Pleasure), the 2011 Zangersheide mare owned by Ramsay Equestrian Inc. Rounding out the podium with her second mount, Robitaille and Dagny (Durrant x Verdi), the 2014 Swedish Warmblood mare, stopped timers with a clear 40.04 seconds for third.
With her winning mount returning from off-season rest, Alison Robitaille was thrilled with the results. “Oakingham Lira is a horse I've had for almost three years now. She's just amazing, we get along so well. We've always had great chemistry from the start,” Robitaille stated. “She had a little time off this winter, and this is her third show back in international competition, so it's great to have her back.”
With fourteen competitors moving on to the jump off, Robitaille artfully strategized her first two jumps with Oakingham Lira. “I tried to angle fence one a little to the outside so I could really keep going in the seven strides to fence two, to make it a little faster. She's just a very naturally fast horse, so once I got the seven strides from one to two, I just tried to keep it the same the whole way around.”
With plans to partner with both Oakingham Lira and Dagny in Saturday’s $65,000 Bobcat Grand Prix CSI2*, Robitaille shared that she is preparing her equine partners with a light day of work following the Welcome Stake, and is looking forward to competing under the Tryon Stadium lights. With all hands on deck, Robitaille expressed her appreciation for her team. “I'm really thankful for my grooms, Mary Glyer and Izzy Phillips. They're fantastic!”
Enjoying Tryon International’s family-friendly atmosphere, Robitaille shared that she has some extra helping hands. “My daughter is here with me – she normally doesn't travel with me to the shows, so this is really cool. I told her she's my good luck charm!”
With her winning mount returning from off-season rest, Alison Robitaille was thrilled with the results. “Oakingham Lira is a horse I've had for almost three years now. She's just amazing, we get along so well. We've always had great chemistry from the start,” Robitaille stated. “She had a little time off this winter, and this is her third show back in international competition, so it's great to have her back.”
With fourteen competitors moving on to the jump off, Robitaille artfully strategized her first two jumps with Oakingham Lira. “I tried to angle fence one a little to the outside so I could really keep going in the seven strides to fence two, to make it a little faster. She's just a very naturally fast horse, so once I got the seven strides from one to two, I just tried to keep it the same the whole way around.”
With plans to partner with both Oakingham Lira and Dagny in Saturday’s $65,000 Bobcat Grand Prix CSI2*, Robitaille shared that she is preparing her equine partners with a light day of work following the Welcome Stake, and is looking forward to competing under the Tryon Stadium lights. With all hands on deck, Robitaille expressed her appreciation for her team. “I'm really thankful for my grooms, Mary Glyer and Izzy Phillips. They're fantastic!”
Enjoying Tryon International’s family-friendly atmosphere, Robitaille shared that she has some extra helping hands. “My daughter is here with me – she normally doesn't travel with me to the shows, so this is really cool. I told her she's my good luck charm!”