Katie Laurie (AUS) conquered her competitors and the atmosphere Saturday night, Oct. 17, in 91原创 at Thunderbird Show Park鈥檚 Harvest Welcome, riding McCaw MVNZ to a victory worthy of its primetime slot in the $37,000 Volvo Canada 1.45m.
The Harvest Welcome is the first FEI competition in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic brought global competition to a temporary halt this spring. The event features more than $180,000 in prize money, including a $20,000 U25 division, and is highlighted by the $73,000 ATCO Cup CSI2* Sunday afternoon.
Laurie claimed her second international victory in just three days at the venue after topping Thursday鈥檚 opening $37,000 CSI2* Artisan Farms Welcome with Casebrook Lomond. But Saturday鈥檚 win looked very different鈥攍iterally and figuratively. Hosting nighttime competition, the Thunderbird Arena transformed under spotlights, creating an electric atmosphere, with LED screens appearing more like marquee billboards than scoreboards.
With both of her mounts advancing to a 10-horse jump-off, Laurie, after taking an early lead over Peter Holmes鈥� (CAN) shortened track with Cera Caruso, reclaimed it and ultimately secured her victory with McCaw MVNZ. The pair鈥檚 winning time was a dominant 34.03 seconds. Jim Ifko (CAN) finished second with a near-perfect round aboard Un Diamant des Forets (35.00 seconds). Laurie bookended the podium with Cera Caruso with a final time of 36.00 seconds.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: A win for Gottschlich at 91原创鈥檚 Thunderbird Show Park Harvest Welcome
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a very, very good week!鈥� Laurie exclaimed. 鈥淢y faster horse was my first one [Cera Caruso], and he was awesome. He did a very good round. I was probably a tiny bit cautious on him, and then when I went out on McCaw, he鈥檚 a young horse and he鈥檚 not done much at this level, so half in my mind I was wondering if I should just play it safe. Then he warmed up so good for the jump-off, I thought we鈥檇 give it a go. We jumped the first line and he felt good, so I was like, 鈥榃e鈥檒l roll on!鈥欌��
Laurie left nothing to chance in the jump-off, and it was the final line on course that pushed her ahead of Ifko. Turning swiftly back to the penultimate vertical in 10 strides鈥攁nd meeting the fence at just the right angle鈥攕he visibly flapped the reins, putting all her trust in her mount, as she boldly galloped toward the final oxer. Horse and rider executed a leave-out in eight strides and continued their momentum through the timers, putting an exclamation mark on a performance that would earn them a comfortable margin of victory.
鈥淥n Cera Caruso, I did nine [strides] to the last [jump]. I asked my husband and [my good friend] Amanda [Taylor] at the gate when I was going in [with McCaw MVNZ], 鈥楾hey鈥檝e done eight strides [there], haven鈥檛 they?鈥� They said yes, so I just went out there and said, 鈥業鈥檝e got to try!鈥� I was committed!鈥�
The win marked the first for the 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding in FEI competition; the grey was imported to Canada earlier this year when Laurie and her husband Jackson moved to Calgary in January.
鈥淗e is pretty green at this level,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 walked the course and thought it might be a bit big for him. But he has so much try in him and is so careful, and I think he just loves it. He just gives it a go!
鈥淗e鈥檚 super competitive,鈥� she added. 鈥淓very time he goes up a level, he just tries so hard. I think he has a really big future.鈥�
READ ALSO: VIDEO: 91原创鈥檚 Tiffany Foster rides to another victory at Thunderbird Show Park
RESULTS: $37,000 CSI2* Volvo Canada Night Class 1.45m
Place / Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. McCaw MVNZ / Katie Laurie / AUS / Carissa McCall / 0/0 34.03
2. Un Diamant des Forets / Jim Ifko / CAN / Eventyre Farms Ltd 0/35.00
3. Cera Caruso / Katie Laurie / AUS / Carisa McCall / 0/0 36.00
4. Crusador Z / Brian Morton / CAN / Spruce Meadows, Ltd. / 0/0 37.36
5. Cunningham 4 / Christopher Lowe / CAN / Christopher Lowe / 0/38.99
6. Hamilton / Tiffany Foster / CAN / The Hamilton Group / 0/0 39.00
7. EZ Ace / Justin Prather / CAN / Bradon Equestrian Ltd / 0/4 34.96
8. Northern Light / Tiffany Foster / CAN / Artisan Farms, LLC / 0/4 37.03
9. Count Me In / Beth Underhill / CAN / Sandy Lupton / 0/4 37.30
10. Celine LS La Silla / Jim Ifko / CAN / Eventyre Farms, Ltd / 0/4 37.98
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