Press release from Traverse City Horse Shows

Beat Mändli (SUI) is done being a bridesmaid in Traverse City. Already three times a second-place finisher since arriving during week two of the Traverse City Spring series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, he secured the win to kick off week three in Friday’s $37,000 Launch Consulting CSI3* Welcome Stake with Vic Des Cerisiers.

Twice second and now a winner, Vic Des Cerisiers has been a long and steady partnership for Mändli. “We bought Vic as a 7-year-old,” he said of the now 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Olympic D’Anguerny x Desir Du Chateau) owned by Grant Road Partners LLC. “First Katie [Dinan] rode him a little bit then we switched around. He had a bit of a break over the winter and he’s just coming back to the scene. He’s doing quite well here; it’s really impressive and I’m very happy with him.”

The win wasn’t handed to the two-time Swiss Olympian, however, as he topped a six-horse jump-off to claim top honors in a time of 33.27 seconds. “I was early to go and I had a few fast ones behind me,” Mändli remarked on his strategy. “I didn’t want to go too crazy, but he feels good at the moment so I decided to have a go, and it worked out well. I had a slow start with six strides but then the rollback to that one vertical was fast and then to the oxer I made up time.” 

First to jump off and second in the final placings was Roberto Teran Tafur (COL) and Dez Ooktoff, navigating to a double-clear effort just off Mändli’s time in 33.68 seconds. Third place went to Margie Engle (USA) and Royce, owned by the Gladewinds Partners, LLC, with the final double-clear effort in 34.60 seconds.

1. VIC DES CERISIERS: 2009 SF gelding by Olympic D’Anguerny x Desir Du Chateau
BEAT MANDLI (SUI), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/0/33.27

2. DEZ OOKTOFF: 2008 KWPN stallion by Colandro x Lys Rouge
ROBERTO TERAN TAFUR (COL), Roberto Teran Tafur: 0/0/33.68

3. ROYCE: 2004 OS stallion by Cafe Au Lait x Grandilot
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Gladewinds Partners, LLC: 0/0/34.60

4. LIVESTREAM 2: 2010 OLDBG gelding by Lordanos x LandadelLISA 
CARLSEN (CAN), Lisa Carlsen: 0/4/33.32

5. ATIKA DES HAUTS VENTS: 2010 SF mare by Rock’n Roll Semilly
KATIE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/4/33.39

6. TACHINI Z: 2009 ZANG gelding by Toulon x Burggraaf NV
MICHAEL MORRISSEY (USA), MD Stables: 0/4/34.27

7. ESCADA 289: 2012 HOLST mare by Clearway x Coriano
CAITLYN CONNORS (USA), Windridge Farm LLC: 0/WD

8. ATHOS D’ELLE: 2010 SF stallion by Apache D’Adriers x Papillon Rouge
KATIE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners LLC: 1/70.49

9. BUGA Z: 2010 ZANG gelding by Chester Z x Quality Touch Z
SAMUEL PAROT (CHI), Samuel Parot: 1/70.54

10. GAZELLE ES: 2011 KWPN mare by Diarado x Ukato 
JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Windsor Show Stables: 1/70.85

11. AYAMONTE BG Z: 2009 ZANG gelding by Air Jordan x Capital
DANA ESCALES (USA), Buttonwood Show Jumpers LLC: 4/68.80

12. LUIGI VD BISSCHOP: 2011 BWP gelding by Bamako De Muze x Nabab De Reve
MATT ARCHER (USA) Rhys Farms, LLC: 4/69.16