Press release from The Hampton Classic Horse Show

Five years ago, Collin was bound for slaughter in Belgium – purchased for the price of meat – when Brazilian rider Luiz Francisco de Azevedo got a call to try and “do something with this crazy horse.” Thursday at the Hampton Classic, de Azevedo put his trust in Collin and they came away with the win in the $40,000 FEI Speed Stake.

“I was really lucky to go late in the order, right after Catherine Tyree went on her second horse,” said de Azevedo. “I was watching the end of her trip, and she did seven strides to the last jump and it was really tight for her. At that moment I knew I was going to take the risk and try for six strides. I have to say thanks to my horse, he’s so brave and he’s a real fighter. Not all horses would do that. I know we could try the six strides. I can trust him and I know he will be there on the other side.

“We bought Collin five years ago as a seven-year-old. He was going to the slaughter in Belgium. A friend of mine bought him for the price of meat and he was crazy to ride, really difficult. This friend was close to me and my family, and he asked me to try and make something of him. Two weeks after that we had our first international show together. He’s still crazy, not dangerous, but crazy.” 

American Catherine Tyree also had the luxury of going late in the order with her second-placed horse BEC Lorenzo, after going early in the order with her third-placed horse Catungee. The pair of greys stopped the clock in 66.39 seconds and 66.76 seconds respectively.

Adrienne Sternlicht maintains her lead in the $30,000 LONGINES Rider Challenge following Thursday’s competition with 200 points. Ireland’s Richie Moloney is hot on her heels with 175 points and Molly Ashe-Cawley is third with 115 points. Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam, last year’s winner, currently sits in fourth position with 115 points. The Challenge continues through Sunday when the leading rider will receive a check for $30,000 and a new LONGINES timepiece.