Stillwater, New York, United States – June 21, 2025 – The Saratoga Classic II continued last Saturday with the highlight classes of the week. In the $25,000 Saratoga Grand Prix, Christian Coyle (IRL) won his fifth grand prix at Saratoga Horse Shows with the ever-speedy Ma Pomme de Tamerville.
With 11 in the jump-off and as the fastest of three double-clears, Christian Coyle (IRL) notched his fifth grand prix victory in three years with the same horse at Saratoga Horse Shows. He and Ma Pomme de Tamerville, his trusty chestnut mare and partner of nearly three years, fended off Mimi Gochman on two of her three horses in the class.
Coyle was clear in 36.728 seconds, while Mimi Gochman (USA) and Iron Maiden, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Clarimo x Kashmir van’t Schuttershof) owned by Rocking Basilisk Farms, were second in 37.282 seconds.
Gochman also rode Lumiere BH, owned by Mimi Snow Spot Horse LLC to third in 39.346 seconds. Lumiere BH is a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Akarad Hero Z x Darco.
Coyle went in the middle of 11 in the jump-off and was able to see Gochman ride her first horse over the shortened course, designed by Ken Krome. While he was “as quick and neat” as possible after the first line, he did have to add a stride in one line while Gochman left out a stride.
“My horse is naturally fast,” said Coyle. “She doesn’t spend a lot of time in the air, and she’s quick with her legs. She’s always going, and she kind of lands running. She was great there today.”
After riding “Pomme” for a year, Coyle purchased the mare himself. She has become a part of the family and has a place at his farm forever, even when she lets herself out of her stall and is found grazing in the garden. She isn’t a typical “chestnut mare” and is sweet, clever, and good with Coyle’s daughters, who stand on a ladder to feed her treats over the stall door.
“She’s going nowhere,” he said. “She the best, and she will be my broodmare when she’s done showing.”
Through embryo transfer, Coyle has already started breeding her and is hoping to welcome a foal by Cumano, the world champion ridden by Jos Lansink. “She is well bred, but she’s got the heart of a lion, and she’s a real fighter,” he said of the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Deauville Van T&L x Contendro II). “I’m thinking with Cumano, if you breed maybe a little bit more scope and a huge canter, if she could put the rest to it, then it would be awesome. I would be over the moon regardless, if I could get something.”
For Gochman, the Saratoga Classic II was a perfect way to become more familiar with her two new horses. She has ridden Lumiere BH for four months, and it was her first competition with Iron Maiden, who formerly jumped at the five-star level with Colombian Olympian Roberto Teran.
“That was a really exciting result for him,” she said of Iron Maiden. “We’re just trying to get to know him. There are definitely some things that I need to work on, but I think that we have a good future ahead of us. I’m really excited.
“Lumiere has a really big stride, and I need to learn where and when I can leave out, but he was amazing,” she added. “He’s very quick for such a big horse, and I have to figure him out a little bit more. He’s very careful, and he tries very hard. I’m very excited for his future too.”
While Gochman showed often at Saratoga when she was young, this is her first time competing at the White Hollow Farm venue. “I think the facility is great. There was plenty of space, the footing is great, and there was plenty of room to flat,” she said. “I had a lovely time. I just got these two new horses, and I was trying to figure out a good place for them to get to know me, and for me to get to know them. I thought, ‘This is a perfect place. It’s close to home, and the classes will be competitive.’ I thought it was a friendly first show for them, and they loved it.”
Coyle agreed, “It’s fantastic show. It feels family run and kind of laid back and chill, but it’s organized. It’s a beautiful facility. It’s brilliant, and is definitely one of my favorites in the calendar, that’s for sure.”
Final Results – $25,000 Saratoga Grand Prix
1) Christian Coyle (IRL) & Ma Pomme de Tamerville – 0 / 0 – 36.728
2) Mimi Gochman (USA) & Iron Maiden – 0 / 0 – 37.282
3) Mimi Gochman (USA) & Lumiere BH – 0 / 0 – 39.346
Source: Press Release from Jump Media for the Saratoga Horse Shows
Photo: © SHS / Jess Wyndhurst Photography
Discover more from JUMPER NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: CSN, English, Jumper News Ireland
