Continuing a banner day for Evergate Stables on Friday, Nayel Nassar (EGY) piloted the newly-acquired 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Ivory TCS (Falaise de Muze x Ukato), to the pinnacle position in the $32,000 Dodd Technologies 1.50m. As is often the case in the final few weeks of WEF competition, the 52 combinations came from a truly international field with over 14 countries represented in the field.
Oscar Soberon (USA) designed the single-round speed which saw minimal lead changes before Nassar laid down the gauntlet as only the eighth competitor in the order. The remainder of the field hurried in their efforts to overthrow his efficient time of 63.74 seconds but none would close the gap.
“She’s been a winner for her whole career and we're just trying to keep up that trend,” Nassar stated of the mare that was previously a mount of Ireland’s Daniel Coyle. “She’s proving herself to be a winner regardless of who's on her. She's so fast and she's a little short strided, so all those lines I never have to pull and can just keep coming. She’s also quick in the air so I think it's a combination of all of those things.
“I felt like I could keep galloping the whole way around and she seems to like it,” he added. “She gets sharper the more you dare her and today was definitely her day.”
The win was part of an overall successful day for team Evergate, having earlier won the $25,000 Lövsta Future Challenge 7-year-old Developing Jumper Final.
“I think we have a great team of people and horses, and we manage the horses well throughout the season,” Nassar described. “I was also hurt at the beginning of the year so I had a slow ramp up and it’s paid off the past few weeks coming into the end of season. The horses are still feeling fresh and the riders are fresh. It really does take a village and everyone’s been so on point this year it's starting to show in the results.”
The closest contender to Nassar was Michael Duffy (IRL), who piloted Rushy Marsh Farm LLC’s 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, RMF Cinnamo (Magic Park x Avon), into second place just a second behind in 64.75 seconds. Germany’s Richard Vogel made it a truly international victory gallop as he rounded out the top three with Caroline Mawhinney’s 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Hollywood V (MyLord Carthago*HN x Casall).