Quentin Judge (USA) clinched his second win of the Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, just four days into the 2024 competition season by earning a victory in the $30,000 Traverse City National Grand Prix with new mount, HH Chaccothargo. Judge returned to the winner’s circle after earning the blue in the Traverse City Record-Eagle CSI3* Speed on Thursday with HH Medarco PS.
Entering the competition arena for only the third time as a partnership, Judge and the 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Chacco Blue x Conthargos) were the only pair to jump-off in under forty seconds, finishing on a double-clear time of 39.302 seconds. Of the six total horses to jump the Peter Grant (CAN) designed short track, it was Alexandria Beneson (USA) and her own Kara J D’Alve Z who took home the red ribbon (48.320 seconds). Judge bookended the podium on his second jump-off mount, HH Jamil Field, finishing in 41.599 seconds with one rail down.
HH Chaccothargo made quick work of stepping up the ranks during his debut at Flintfields Horse Park. “He jumped the 1.35m the first day and won it, he jumped the 1.40m the second day and won and now he won today,” said Judge of the mount he obtained from Germany’s Paul Schockemöhle. “He stepped up in each class every day. He's an awesome horse and I'm just getting to know him. This is the biggest we've ever jumped together.
The first clear in the opening round and the pacesetters in the jump-off, Judge and HH Chaccothargo had to leave little room to be caught while still developing as a duo in the show ring. “This was only our second jump-off together,” said Judge. “He's very careful and he really tries. I was really deep to the second jump and I had to wait so I could put my leg on at the base and he jumped out of his skin; he was really clever.
“Before today I knew he was a good horse, but this showed that he's going to be a great horse.”