Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) saw 63 entries test his course in the first round, with 21 qualifying for the jump-off. Garza Perez reflected that the course had allowed him to play to Caracas’ strengths: “The course was really fun to ride for me and I just wanted to try to go as fast as I could. He’s just a fast horse and we used it to our strengths and it paid off.”

Garza Perez continued to explain that this class was the 2009 Holsteiner gelding’s (Cachas x Unknown) “first big class” they had competed in since this spring. “He was fabulous. We weren’t trying to do anything crazy, because he’s just coming back, and we don’t want to mess up anything that we’ve done.”

This is Garza Perez’s third consecutive week competing at TIEC and although he and Caracas will not return to the Tryon Stadium again this week, he does plan to compete his other mount, Contago, in Saturday’s $72,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI 2*. “I love Tryon. I don’t have a complaint about it. It’s a fantastic facility for both horses and riders. It’s fun to be here especially when the weather is like this! It’s been a good three weeks in Tryon!”