Press release from Spruce Meadows
The International Ring was up and running early on day one of the 2019 Spruce Meadows 'North American' Tournament, presented by Rolex. With a large number of competitors entering the FEI 1.45m division, two competitions ran today.
The second group of 1.45m horses made their way through the clock tower on the International Ring to challenge FEI Course Designer Santiago Varela's (ESP) 535m track. Seventy-one horse-and-rider combinations made an effort to jump a clear round under the time allowed of 81 seconds. The top twenty-five competitors of this competition qualify for a competition later this week.
Young Brain Moggre of the United States has had a successful first trip to Spruce Meadows thus far and laid down a quick clear ride with a time of 59.81s aboard MTM Flutterby that seemed unbeatable. Teammate Andrew Kocher (USA) and the 8 year-old Oldenburg gelding, Squirt Gun, really wanted the win. The pair pushed through the finish line on a clear ride to beat Moggre with a time of 59.80s taking the win by just 1/100th of a second. Luiz Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) finished third riding HBR Dance.
"I feel like he's (Squirt Gun) the best horse I've ever had. I was pretty sure he wasn't going to hit poles, just as long as you can do the right job as the rider," Andrew Kocher commented on his young horse Squirt Gun.