Andres Rodriguez (VEN) and the talented grey mare S.F. Ariantha proved too quick to beat in the $127,000 Tryon Estates Grand Prix CSI 3*, the final Grand Prix of the 2015 season at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Rodriguez and S.F. Ariantha flew through the timers, securing the fastest double clear effort of the night, finishing with a time of 43.26 seconds. Andrew Kocher (USA), winner of the $34,000 Suncast® FEI 1.50m Welcome Stake this week, narrowly missed the mark set by Rodriguez, finishing only a tenth of a second off the pace with a time of 43.36 seconds. Christine McCrea (USA) and Wannick WH rounded out the top three with a time of 44.50 seconds while Denise Wilson (USA) and Galous recorded the fourth double clear effort of the night. After six consecutive weeks of elite hunter and jumper competition, the Tryon Fall Series will conclude tomorrow, Sunday, October 25. The competitive class of 34 entries tested a difficult and expansive track designed by Oscar Soberon of Mexico, with only six entries advancing to the jump-off round. Rodriguez has been a figure of consistency throughout the past two weeks of FEI competition hosted at TIEC, earning multiple wins aboard his two top mounts Caballito and S.F. Ariantha. Rodriguez and Kocher finished an incredible week of competition at TIEC, as both riders battled for supremacy in each of the major FEI classes hosted throughout the competition week at Tryon Fall 6. Rodriguez and S.F. Ariantha finished second behind Kocher in this week's $34,000 Suncast® FEI 1.50m Welcome Stake, while Kocher and Uppie de Lis have continued to add top finishes to their flourishing partnership. Abigail McArdle (USA) and Cade were the first combination on course in the jump-off, finishing a fast round but a single rail dropped in the double combination would ultimately keep them out of the top three spots. Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Rosiere Vesquerie attempted to catch Rodriguez in the jump-off, but rails dropped at the large Animo oxer would prevent the duo from securing a double clear effort for the night. S.F. Ariantha is truly captivating to watch in the ring as the scopey 2005 Dutch Warmblood mare (Corland x Uriantha) tackles the largest Grand Prix courses with incredible ease while Rodriguez expertly guides from the irons. The gifted mare will serve as Rodriguez's Olympic hopeful mount as the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, rapidly approach. Final Results $127,000 Tryon Estates Grand Prix FEI CSI 3*: 1. S.F. ARIANTHA, 2005 Dutch Warmblood mare by Corland x Uriantha ANDRES RODIGUEZ (VEN), Robert & Sofia Castro: 0/0/43.26 2. UPPIE DE LIS, 2001 NRPS gelding by Andiamo x Lorraine ANDREW KOCHER (USA), BTS Entertainment & Sales: 0/0/43.36 3. WANNICK WH, 2003 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Heartbreaker x Elseroodnoot CHRISTINE MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 0/0/44.5 4. GALOUS, 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Touchdown x Huff & Puff DENISE WILSON (USA), Blue Gate Farm LLC: 0/0/45.33 5. ROSIERE VESQUERIE, 2005 Selle Francais mare by Narcos II x Java de la Vesquerie LAUREN TISBO (USA), Tequestrian Farms LLC: 0/4/43.75 6. CADE, 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Heartbreaker x Tridentina ABIGAIL MCARDLE (USA), David McArdle: 0/4/44.5 7. ELOUISE DE MUZE, 2004 Belgian Warmblood mare by Nabab de Reve x Vodka Orange de Muze RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 4/77.42 8. CAPALL ZIDANE, 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding Concorde x T RONAN MCGUIGAN (IRL), Ronan McGuigan: 4/77.97
