Ireland’s Daniel Coyle is picking up right where he left off on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ circuit. Fresh off a win in the $250,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto with Legacy, Coyle kicked off his time at the Las Vegas National CSI4*-W with victory aboard Ivory TCS in Wednesday's $25,000 CSI4*-W 1.45m Las Vegas National “Lucky Sevens” Two-Phase Stake, presented by Blenheim EquiSports.
Brazil’s Anderson Lima built a track for the November 16 class that saw rails fall in various locations throughout the course for exactly half of the 32 entries.
The very first rider in the ring, Conor Swail, was one of the 16 entries that saw no faults at all. The Irish rider, who currently sits in second in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League standings, set the time to beat at 31.69 seconds aboard his own Theo 160.
Skylar Wireman, 17, and Coolio 23, owned by Shayne Wireman, were the first duo to narrowly best Swail’s leading time, as they crossed the finish in 31.58 seconds after executing a slick inside turn that Swail had not.
Coyle and Ivory TCS (v. Falaise de Muze), owned by Coyle and Ariel Grange, were the 25th in the order of go, and they edged out Wireman for the win by just over one-tenth of a second, stopping the clock in 31.45 seconds.
“The two-phase competition is always one that takes a little bit out of everybody,” explained Coyle. “Usually everybody’s pretty close because there’s not a lot you can do in the second half. If you can win it, usually that means you’re pretty fast. It keeps it a little bit more of a level playing field for everybody.”
The Las Vegas National CSI4*-W marks only the second show indoors for 9-year-old Ivory TCS, and this Saturday’s $150,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Las Vegas, presented by Walter Oil & Gas, will mark the Dutch Warmblood mare’s second World Cup Qualifier class.
“She did her first World Cup class in Kentucky a few weeks ago; she’s very competitive, and thankfully, she won today,” said Coyle. “I don’t really know how she is indoors. I guess I can say she’s good now because she just won! I’ll know after this week.”
This week also marks Coyle’s first time in the city of Las Vegas.
“I’ve never been to Las Vegas before, and I didn’t know if it was the right place for me to go or not!” joked Coyle. “Thankfully, now that I’m here, it’s good!”
For full results of the $25,000 CSI4*-W 1.45m Las Vegas National “Lucky Sevens” Two-Phase Stake, presented by Blenheim EquiSports, click here.
Kaitlin Campbell Captures the Win in the $10,000 CSI4*-W Blenheim EquiSports “Three of a Kind” Speed Classic
The second FEI win of the day went to Kaitlin Campbell and Sun Warrior in the $10,000 CSI4*-W 1.35m Blenheim EquiSports “Three of a Kind” Speed Classic, presented by Charles Ancona.
Campbell and the 8-year-old gelding were the final pair to enter the ring at the South Point Arena, and the time to beat had been set at 54.64 seconds by Australia’s James Arkins and Joevaro N (v. H5 Elvaro), owned by Abigail Evans.
“There were a lot of fast riders, but [Sun Warrior]’s super-fast across the ground, so I knew if I went for it, I’d have a chance,” explained Campbell, who did in fact go for it, stopping the clock in 53.90 seconds for the win.
Kaitlin Campbell on Sun Warrior - Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
With Campbell clinching the victory, Arkins finished in second, and Conor Swail and Errol (v. Luidam) rounded out the top three with a time of 55.04 seconds.
“Pretty much everyone else did five strides to five strides across the middle; I did six strides to six strides, but his stride is just so fast,” said Campbell, who has had the ride on Sun Warrior for owner Linda Starkman for the past two years. “Then in the last turn, I’m pretty sure that I did one less back to the red vertical coming home.”
Campbell continued, “His owner, Linda Starkman, bred him herself; she owned the mother. She’s just been the best owner for him. Everything I ask her, she’s just super supportive, so I’m just super thankful that she trusts me with him.”
While Campbell has resided in California for the past seven years, she hails from the across the country, and for her, competing at the Las Vegas National CSI4*-W is reminiscent of her year’s spent showing on the East Coast.
“I grew up on the East Coast doing Harrisburg and Washington and the National – all the ‘Indoors,’” said Campbell. “This is the closest that I get to Indoors, so I like it here.”
For their wins, both Campbell and Coyle received a Blenheim EquiSports prize giving coolerette, an Ethel M Chocolates Epic Premium Chocolate Gift Basket, an Ogilvysaddle pad and a Topline Design Ribbon Wreaths custom picture frame and gift certificate.
For full results of the $10,000 FEI 1.35m Blenheim EquiSports “Three of a Kind” Speed Classic, presented by Charles Ancona, click here.
The Las Vegas National CSI4*-W, host of the Marshall & Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, continues through Sunday, November 20, with the featured $150,000 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Las Vegas, presented by Walter Oil & Gas, taking center stage on Saturday evening, November 19. Admission is free for all events, with the exception of Saturday night, with tickets available for purchase here.
Copyright photo: Andrew Ryback Photography