Jordan Coyle (IRL) and Picador’s performance could not be topped in the $37,000 EquiSafe Global Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*, halting the speed phase timers at 25.146 seconds. Eugenio Garza (MEX) and Caracas, the 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Cachas x Unknown) owned by Nerijus Sipaila, earned second on a speed phase time of 25.43 seconds, while Kristen VanderVeen (USA) claimed the yellow rosette aboard Bull Run’s Almighty, the 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Caspar x Quidam De Revel) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC, on a time of 26.079 seconds.
Coyle and the 2007 British Warmblood gelding (Lupicor x Concorde) owned by Elan Farm toured the Ghuiherme Jorge (BRA) course design without seeing many riders go, he admitted, but having a naturally quick horse made all the difference. “I rode one horse before Picador in the class, so I kind of knew the distances. I didn’t get to see Eugenio go, but I saw Kristen’s ride and she was fast. Luckily, I have one of the fastest horses there is! The course was nice, but honestly, it’s the horse,” Coyle emphasized about where he gained the advantage in a class of 42 starters.
“The faster you go with him, the less chance there is that you’ll have a jump down. It’s ridiculous, but it’s the way it is with him. He was very fast to the double. I did seven strides, I believe, and I think everyone else did eight. He’s won so much this year, it’s hard to believe!” Coyle and team chose to stay close to home in New York for the majority of the year, and found that there was plenty of winning to be done at the national level.
“At Saugerties, it wasn’t FEI, but I don’t really need the FEI points. They’re not going to change my life, I don’t think. I stayed there for the money, and was very lucky I got some,” he shared. For the Tryon Fall Series, Coyle emphasized that he just had to add TIEC to his calendar after first experiencing the venue in 2019. “I was here last year and loved it. I was just coming back from my injury and it was my first show. This year is perfect! Why wouldn’t you come here? If you can get in, you should be here.”
Coyle relayed that he is thankful for how positive his year has gone, and that “everything seems to be going right. I can’t believe what’s happened since quarantine. I have good people with me, and obviously have a lot more horses [than before]. It couldn’t be going better than it is. Let’s hope it continues!” he concluded. Coyle will continue to compete throughout the Tryon Fall Series and will be one to watch in the $137,000 MD Barnmaster Grand Prix CSI 3* Saturday, which will be live streaming at www.Tryon.com/streaming.