Press release from Traverse City Horse Shows
Cathleen Driscoll (USA) has a lot to smile about after her week at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors. Following her victory Friday aboard Magnolia, Driscoll scored her first FEI grand prix win with Dame De Pique in the $73,800 NetJets CSI2* Grand Prix to close GLEF II.
Twelve pairs managed to jump fault-free over Bernardo Costa Cabral’s (POR) track and advance into a highly competitive jump-off. Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP) set the early pace with his first of two qualified mounts, the Spencer Smith owned Ice Zoetendaele Z, clocking in at 37.01 seconds. While many tried to catch his time, it took until Driscoll came in, tenth in the jump-off order and aboard Plain Bay Farm’s 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Casall x Crawford 5), that the pace was increased. Coming home on a clear effort in 35.72 seconds, she captured the lead and ultimately pushed Goyoaga Mollet into second, with Alec Lawler (USA) and Condalou taking third in 37.39 seconds.
The last two to jump off, Simon McCarthy (IRL) and Tanner Korotkin (USA), brought the heat and almost caught Driscoll, both beating her time but each with a rail down, with respective sixth and fifth-place finishes.
“I thought the course today suited my big mare a little better,” Driscoll continued. “She can do leave-outs that no other horses can do. For the jump-off I was able to do eight [strides] from [fences] one to two. A horse like this where I can continue galloping, she can be quite competitive with the best of them.”