Law is Flawless in the First Two Phases of the CHC International CIC3* Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series Division
The Chattahoochee Hills International and Horse Trials officially kicked off on Friday morning with dressage running in three separate rings. Early weather reports warned of impending thunder storms conjuring, and organizer Hugh Lochore was actually looking forward to the rain in order to save his crew from spending time in the water truck. While the rain never materialized, a few notably strong rides did in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series CIC3* division.
Leslie Law set the standard early in the day with a beautiful ride aboard Beatrice Rey-Herme’s 8-year-old British Sport Horse gelding Tout de Suite known around the barn as “Colby.” Before he headed out for show jumping Law was pleased with the ride but noted that “he is young and immature in a lot of ways, but he is also mature in a lot of ways. He can get look-y so I don’t want to over face him.”
The only other sub-50 rides belonged to Elinor MacPhail aboard Sally Crane’s 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding, RF Eloquence (45.9) and Jacob Fletcher on Fletcher Farm’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Atlantic Domino (48.6). Their scores gave them second and third places respectively heading into show jumping.
The Mark Donovan designed show jumping course proved uneventful for the top three pairs, as they remained in first, second and third place at the end of the day. Law and MacPhail both had double clear rounds while Fletcher added a rail to his score ending the day with a 52.6, but allowing him to keep his placing.
When asked about the condition of the cross-country course heading into the final day of competition Law noted “it is beautiful.” However, he did express his concern over the distances at 13ABC .
“The tree stump on the mound to the angled hedges. I am a little concerned with that. I don’t think they got the distance quite right on the angled hedges. I might be proved wrong on it, but right now I think it is too long. I love the exercise I just don’t like the distance.”
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Tout de Suite “Colby” is Ageing Nicely
Although the name Tout de Suite roughly translates from French to English as ‘immediately’ or ‘at once’ Law is taking his time in bringing along this promising horse. His patience appears to be paying off as the pair has put together an impressive record over the last several years. Colby is a graduate of the USEA Young Event Horse program, was the 2013 Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships Preliminary Horse Champion and most recently won the CIC3* at the Poplar Place Farm March Horse Trial.
Since Law and Colby began competing together the pair has managed to finish in first place 50% of the time, and in the top three in 87% of the events they have entered.
“It must be my wife [fellow rider Lesley Grant Law],” said Law. “It must be her that has created the 50 and 87%. We’ve had a good year, and we will try and keep it going.”
Sir Rockstar Rocks the Advanced Division
The Advanced division also serves as a qualifying class for the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Championships and Libby Head and Sir Rockstar have taken the lead following Dressage and Show Jumping. The pair sat in fourth after Dressage on a 37.2, but a double clear Show Jump round boosted them into the lead. Julie Norman and Consensus sit in second while Zacahary Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail round out the top three.
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About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series
Qualifying for the 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup began last fall with the Plantation Field CIC3* (PA) and the Woodside CIC3* (CA) and features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced Horse Trials and CIC3* levels. The final will take place at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships September 2015 in Tyler, Texas. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money in the Adequan Advanced Division and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion.
The 2015 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nunn Finer, Nutrena, Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency, Point Two, Dubarry, and FITS.
The PRO Tour Series consists of 13 premier destination events in the United States and Canada, featuring the best riders and most entertainment. Riders and Horses are awarded points on the PRO Tour Rider Leader Board and PRO Tour Horse Leader Board.
The Professional Riders Organization would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2015 PRO Tour Series: KER Optimum Time, Tex Sutton, Triple Crown Nutrition, SSG Riding Gloves, and Midadlantic Ltd.
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