Press release from Thunderbird Show Park
Last to go in an 11-horse jump-off, Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Chs Krooze sped straight to the top of the $36,500 CSI2* Friends of tbird.
Coyle owns the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare outright, and the duo bested Denmark’s Nikolaj Hein Ruus (DEN) and Chili Pepper SM by nearly a second. The winning pair finished Holmes’ jump-off in 36.60 seconds. Hein Ruus’ time was 37.55 seconds, while Rodrigo Lambre (BRA) and Conandro finished third with a 38.68-second time.
“It was a very fast jump-off,” Coyle said. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have had to go so fast, but the class ended up getting faster and faster. My horse is incredibly fast and very careful, so I was lucky to have her at the end of the class to have a go at it.”
Coyle acquired the mare through a friend in Ireland, Peter Smyth, who campaigned her in the young horse divisions as an 8-year-old. Over the winter, Coyle gave her experience in the U25 divisions in Wellington before stepping up to open FEI company.
“I always try to have a couple horses of my own, but it’s nice to have one at the top of the sport,” Coyle said. “She’s special, as most mares are, but if they’re on your side, there’s nothing better, I believe! She gives her heart every single time.”