Tryon Summer V competition continued at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) on Thursday, July 12, with a first-place finish in the $35,000 1.45m Welcome Stake CSI2* for Darragh Kerins (IRL) and the Remarkable Farms LLC entry Silteplait de Circee, who jumped to a quick time of 36.807 seconds to take the lead. Second place honors went to Todd Minikus (USA) and the Autumn View Farm owned Excel, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Douglas x Quick Star), who completed their jump-off round in 37.112 seconds. Third place was rounded out by Stefano Baruzzo (ARG) and the 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding Copa Cabana (Cartano x Cash) owned by Stransky's Mission Farms INC., who stopped timers in 39.13 seconds.

After a successful summer record to date, including a top finish in the Tryon Summer III Tryon Resort $5,000 1.40m Speed Stake CSI2*, Kerins and the 2006 Selle Francais stallion (Ephebe For Ever x Laudanum) bested 30 other horse-and-rider combinations to land in the winner's circle once more.

"This is my second summer riding him. He jumped here last year," commented Kerins. "He's quite a blood horse. We know each other well now and he knows my moves and I know his. He's been a really consistent horse. He's had so many second-place finishes and today was great because we pulled out the win."

Kerins complimented the class lineup and explained his thoughts on the Catalina Cruz (MEX)-designed course. "I thought the course was difficult enough. I thought the time allowed was a good amount today, usually those times are very tight. There were a lot of good horses and riders and we still had ten clear, so it was a competitive jump-off."

Of his mount, he continued, "He's a great horse to have in the string and he's very competitive. In the jump-off, he was fast and quick. He's fast, but he's quite sensitive, so you have to let him go quick without putting too much pressure on him. If everything comes together well, then we are usually golden."

Kerins plans to challenge Saturday's highlight class, the $70,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Grand Prix CSI2*, before giving his mount some time off. "He's going to show here on Saturday night and he'll also show here next week, then I'll let him have a couple of weeks off before we move on to the next show," he concluded.