Marina Azevedo (BRA) set the track for the evening’s event, which welcomed eight teams of three riders in the unique MLSJ format.

Team Helios, led by Helena Stormanns, got off to a strong start in round one, with two riders recording clear efforts, making the cut into the top four. In round two, Michael Duffy (IRL) aboard RMH Clinton Son (Clinton x Heartbreaker) and Rene Dittmer (GER) with Cody 139 (Casall x Quidam de Revel) produced two more clears to secure the team’s spot in the gold-medal jump-off. Returning in second place, the rest was up to final rider Roberto Teran (COL) and Dez’ Ooktoff (Colandro x Lys Rouge).

Teran was the only Team Helios rider with previous experience in the MLSJ format, and his jump-off round proved to be a clutch one. He put just enough pressure on Julien Anquetin (FRA) and Blood Diamond du Pont (Diamant de Semilly x Arpege Pierreville), who came up short, taking the silver medal for the Roadrunners. Bronze went to the Trelawny Trailblazers after the day’s fastest jump-off time from Philip McGuane (IRL) and Paso Doble SCF (Diktator van de Boslandhoeve x Cassini I).

“The second round was so important for us to be on the podium and be top two,” Teran reflected after the win. “That’s why we sent in the faster guys in the second round. They did a great job, and I just had to do a clear round. It happened and we’re here.”

Teran knew he could depend on his partner Dez’ Ooktoff, the big-strided 17-year-old stallion he’s piloted at the world’s top events.

“He has jumped all over the world – Aachen, Olympics, World Equestrian Games – he’s one of my top horses,” Teran continued. “He has given me everything. He can jump any five-star in the world, and he’s just a sweet guy.”

Helena Stormanns was intentional about crafting her team, which also includes her son, Tony Stormanns (GER), Richard Vogel (GER), and Genevieve Meyer (USA).

“I like having experienced riders,” she said of her thought process when selecting athletes. “It’s good to get a couple young ones on there, like Genevieve or Tony, but you need good, solid riders to get the job done. I’m so proud we got to win this week. We have a good mix of experienced riders and young riders.”

Duffy, at just age 30, checks both of Stormanns’ boxes, as he’s competed all over the world and in various international team competitions. With RMF Clinton Son, Duffy didn’t touch a pole throughout the two rounds of jumping.

“I’ve done lots of global tours and nations cups, so when the opportunity came up it was super to come and see new parts of the world and a new format,” Duffy said of his opportunity to join the MLSJ tour. “The jump-off aspect made it very interesting and competitive. It’s another feather in our cap as riders.”

Dittmer and Cody 139 are newer to the five-star level as a pair, but in their first visit to Traverse City, they proved they belonged in MLSJ action.

“I got Cody last year and since then he’s developed unbelievably,” Dittmer said of the 10-year-old gelding. “He showed today he’s ready to do this. It’s a lot of pressure when you come in, and I was thinking about how fast I need to go in my round because there were a couple teams with one down. I wanted to, for sure, jump clear. It’s exciting.”

With a revised format this year, including the opportunity to earn team points at each stop in the Qualifier and Grand Prix, Teran is excited for the rest of the season to come.

“I think it’s great because every year they keep improving and making it more exciting and competitive,” he shared. “It’s great that the grand prix points are also included. Every year it’s a little bit better and we’re excited.”

Team Helios now sits atop the leaderboard, but only by a margin of one point. Maccabi United is close behind, just missing the podium but benefitting from Daniel Bluman’s (ISR) win in the 5* Qualifier earlier in the week.

Five-star riders will return to the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring for Saturday’s $340,000 B&D Builders CSI5* Grand Prix.