Nassar Wins the Numbers Game in West Coast Cup CSI 4* at Tbird

By Jumper News on 2024-06-04

Langley, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – May 31, 2024 – The West Coast Cup CSI 4* – 1.45m Friday morning proved to be quite a numbers game, and Nayel Nassar (EGY) caught on quickly.

Colm Quinn’s (IRL) first round track tested riders with a robust track and a tight time allowed, and after 20 combinations jumped the first round, just two advanced to the jump-off. Nassar and Edgard de Prefontaine outpaced Mario Deslauriers (CAN) and Genial de B’Neville to secure the first international victory of their partnership, despite Nassar adding strides in the first two lines of the shortened track.

**Nayel Nassar** (EGY) & **Edgard de Prefontaine**

The winning time was 35.41 seconds, with the runners-up crossing the timers in 36.06 seconds. Shawn Casady (USA) and Castelissimo finished third as the fastest four-faulters from the first round (4/64.5s).

“I think the time allowed probably played a big factor. It was extremely tight, and the course did take some jumping. There was a very delicate triple about halfway through, a delicate skinny toward the end and then two oxers to finish is never easy,” Nassar detailed. “A combination of all those things and not so many in the class plays a numbers game for you.”

Nassar has only been paired with the 14-year-old gelding since the very end of last year. The bay was scouted toward the end of last season, impressing with a strong effort at the Belgian Championships with Virginie Thonon (BEL).

Still experimenting with tack and building experience in jump-off situations, Nassar determined that his best course of action over the short course would be to prioritize quick turns over leaving out strides.

“I’m still kind of figuring him out against the clock,” Nassar said. “I didn’t really want to go on any of the leave-outs because, he does get a little ‘shooty’ at the jumps. I wanted to keep reinforcing him to take his time. So, I actually added up in the first line and the second line, but it helped out, because those lines were followed by tight turns, so I could get some shallow landings in places and then just get away from the jump as quickly as possible.

“With him, it seems like most of the time needs to be made up in the landing and not necessarily to the jumps.”

In Canada for the early part of his summer season, Nassar plans to next test his mount with a trip to Calgary to compete at Spruce Meadows.

“He’s an extremely sensitive guy, so that will be a lot for him to take in there, but I think it’ll be good experience for him,” Nassar said. “Hopefully he’ll leave that circuit better than he starts it.”