Luiz Francisco de Azevedo & HFG Quaman Prevail in the $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 3*

By Jumper News on 2 02America/Sao_Paulo June 02America/Sao_Paulo 2023

Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA – June 01, 2023 – Thirty-nine horse and rider pairs tackled the course set by Ivan Tagle (ARG) in Thursday’s $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International), with Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) and HFG Quaman marking the fastest time in Tryon Stadium with 36.22 seconds in the jump off.

Francisco de Azevedo celebrated his second consecutive international Welcome Stake victory, after winning Tryon Spring 4’s $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2* on his other mount Nashville. Francisco de Azevedo commented that HFG Quaman, the 2013 gelding (Diamant De Semilly x Quidam’s Rubin) owned by Santa Cecilia Stables LLC, has become an important player in his show string. “It’s always easier for the rider when you have a horse who loves to play the game, and who’s always ready to compete.” He added, “We’re really proud of him, and now he’s showing that he can be really important for us.”

**Jacqueline Ruyle** (USA) & **San Chano**

Jacqueline Ruyle (USA) rode her own 2009 Oldenburg gelding, San Chano (Sandro Boy x Chacco-Blue) to claim reserve honors, stopping the timers at 36.41 seconds.

**Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso** (DOM) & **Uris** de La **Roque**

Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso (DOM) rode Uris de La Roque (Capital x Quick Star), the 2008 Selle Français gelding owned by Aram Ampagoumian LLC to third place, with a time of 37.99 seconds.

Francisco de Azevedo and HFG Quaman were the first pair to go clear in round one of Thursday’s Welcome Stake. With only eight competitors continuing on to the jump off, he noted the complexity of the preliminary course. “It was difficult, and it was tough. The time allowed was really short.”

Technical soundness and speed were integral to Francisco de Azevedo’s success in the first round, he shared. “I took the risk, and I was the first clear,” he recapped.

**Luiz Francisco de Azevedo** (BRA) & **HFG Quaman**

The Brazilian rider and his mount were also the first to go clear in the jump off, being one of only eight pairs to do so. Francisco de Azevedo said of the jump off, “I knew there were a lot of fast competitors after me. So again, I took the risk, I did eight strides from [fences] one to two, which was normally nine. And then I think I was maybe one of the only ones to have seven strides up to the double, which helped me a lot. Again, if I don’t have this kind of horse, it’s truly impossible to have those results.”

HFG Quaman and Francisco de Azevedo will be competing under the lights in Tryon Stadium during the $146,000 Bobcat Grand Prix CSI 3* at Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home. Francisco de Azevedo looks forward to competing with both Quaman and Nashville, also owned by Santa Cecilia Stables LLC, in the Grand Prix.