Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA – October 14, 2023 – Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Wonder If were the fastest double-clear entry of the day. In a stiff competition with 49 entries and 18 pairs qualifying for the jump-off round over the track set by Peter Grant (CAN) at the Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort.
Derbyshire had her work cut out for her to emerge victorious with her own 2012 Anglo-European Warmblood mare (Cevin Z x Bolivar) in the CHF $60,000 Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday afternoon, posting a jump-off time of 40.42 seconds.
Ilan Bluman (COL) and Acajou, his own 2015 Bavarian Warmblood mare (Casallco x Chico’s Boy), stopped the timers in 41.04 seconds to claim the red ribbon.
Roberto Teran Tafur (COL) and Santana, the 2013 Holsteiner gelding (Cascadello I x Carthago) owned by Rocking Basilisk Farm LLC, grabbed their piece of the pie in a time of 41.47 seconds to walk away with third place.
Derbyshire was building on an already successful stint at Tryon International, adding to her CHF $112’500 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 4* win, and she emphasized that she was thrilled to continue her winning streak, this time on a horse that “makes you feel like you can do anything.”
“Every time you walk into the ring on that horse, you know you have a chance of winning. She’s a little horse with big heart,” Derbyshire said of the mare, who is coming back from a month break in competition. “She always tries her best, and she always leaves the jumps up! She’s amazing.”
Derbyshire admitted that her winning time might have been due to an extra stride, she revealed. “I had the advantage of watching the first few go, and they did the leave out to the oxer through the middle, and they were having the front rail. I actually chose to add a stride there and roll back tighter on the next one. I think that’s where I got it,” she theorized. “Although she’s not the scopiest horse, she makes up for it with a big heart, and she’s so fast. There’s nothing she feels like you can’t do, so it makes you believe that, too.
Final Results – CHF $60,000 Grand Prix CSI 2*
1) Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) & Wonder If – 0 / 0 – 40.42
2) Ilan Bluman (COL) & Acajou– 0 / 0 – 41.04
3) Roberto Teran Tafur (COL) & Pepita vd Rollebeeck – 0 / 0 – 41.47
Source: Press Release (edited) Sarah Madden for Tryon International
Photos: © Natalie Suto Photography / Sarah Sturgis
Categories: CSI 2*, English, Jumper News Great Britain
