Press release from Traverse City Horse Shows

The first international competition of the 2024 Silver Oak Jumper Tournament took center stage in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring on Thursday. The event marked the kickoff of a highly anticipated three weeks at the 2024 Tournament of Champions in Traverse City (USA). Well-rested after several weeks off and ready to challenge, the week’s first FEI win went to Charlotte Jacobs (USA) aboard Rincoola Milsean in the $32,000 Stud Tree CSI3* 1.45m Two-Phase. 

Jacobs was one of 38 athletes to contest Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) single-round track, and brought forward two mounts for the challenge. Seven nations were represented in the field, and the time-to-beat got more and more competitive as the class progressed. Jacobs used Rincoola Milsean’s natural and dependable foot speed to take top call. She and North Star’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Aldatus Z x Cruising) crossed the timers more than two seconds faster than the closest competitor in 32.15 seconds. 

“I thought it was a really great class for him,” enthused Jacobs. “I love the two-phase classes because you don’t have to go fast all the way around, just the second half. He is so naturally quick that I knew if I did the inside turns and stayed on it with him, he would have a good chance of winning.”

For Jacobs, the win is one of several the young rider has incurred during her time in Traverse City, and an exciting start to the series as she aims at the American Gold Cup CSI5* during the final week of the Tournament of Champions. With her partner—fondly nicknamed Roy—Jacobs says their morning routine often dictates how he will perform in the day’s class. 

“The morning of the show, my husband takes him out on the lunge line to do whatever he wants, and he almost always rolls in the sand,” she laughed. “We know if Roy is relaxed, he will roll during his lunge, and then he’s good to go. This morning he lunged, he rolled and then he won the class.” 

Jacobs’ fellow American competitor, Alex Granato, sailed into second place  with his own 10-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, Cupcake (Balou x Solos Landtinus), with a clear round and a clock-stopping effort in 34.85 seconds. Producing a clean sweep for team USA, Margie Goldstein-Engle rounded out the top three after landing fault-free in a time of 35.19 seconds aboard Jack of Hearts (Heartbeat x Baloubet du Rouet), the Gladewinds Partners, LLC’s 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding.