Jordan Coyle and For Gold, winners of the $32,000 Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic. Photo © Sportfot.
Press release from Wellington International
The $32,000 Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic shifted to the grass derby field at Equestrian Village for week two of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Forty-three competitors took to Olaf Petersen Jr’s course, with nine returning for the short track.
Of the return contenders, it was Ireland’s Jordan Coyle, and For Gold (For Fashion x Heraldik), owned by Falkirk Farm, LLC, who took the win. Fellow Irishman, Cian O’Connor, who ended up third, set a fast pace for Coyle to follow, completing the short track in 42.75 seconds with his mount Kilkenny (Cardento 933 x Guidam), owned by Susan Magnier.
Although Coyle didn’t have the win in mind today, he managed to knock nearly a second off O’Connor’s time, winning with a blazing 41.97 seconds. “This was his [For Gold’s] first show since November,” mentioned Coyle of the thirteen-year-old gelding. “My plan wasn’t to go crazy fast, as this is his first show back, but we did end up picking up a pretty quick pace. Each jump came up with that rhythm; he’s so talented, it all came together.”
Jordan Coyle and For Gold presented as winners of the $32,000 Hermès CSI3* 1.50m Classic by Kate McNamee, Equestrian Account Executive, Hermès. Photo © Sportfot.
Coyle not only recognizes For Gold’s talent, but admires it. “I’ve had him now for about ten months. He’s been nothing but incredible so far, I don’t know if I’ve ever had a horse like him,” admitted Coyle. “He’s unbelievably smart, for sure the smartest horse I’ve ever had. He has a great temperament about him; he focuses on getting over the jumps and the rest of him stays calm, whether that’s at home, in the warmup or in the ring. He’s all-around lovely to ride.”
Taking second place, between the two Irishmen on the podium, was USA’s Alison Robitaille, and Ester De Maugre (Vigo Cece x Ogano Sitte), owned by Alison Firestone, LLC. The pair separated the placings by just fractions of a second, coming in at a clear 42.16 seconds.
For the rest of the season, Coyle hopes to repeat the success For Gold had in 2023. “We took him to Mexico last year where he placed top-three in three 5* grand prixs,” said Coyle. “If we can get him back in that shape for this season, I truly believe he can do anything.”
The 2024 Hermès 1.50m Championship Jumper Series will take place weekly throughout WEF, culminating during Week 11’s Saturday Night Lights. Riders who consistently compete in the series will accumulate points towards the series’ title, a $10,000 Hermès store credit and a bespoke Hermès horse rug.
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