Jimmy Torano Bookends Podium in $20,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

Timothy Maddrix and Candid Traveler Win First and Third in $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Mill Spring, NC – May 14, 2022 – It was a sweet victory for 16-year-old Zayna Rizvi (Greenwich, CT) and Exquise du Pachis in the $30,000 Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). As the youngest rider among a slate of 26 competitors, Rizvi and the 2010 Belgian Sport Horse mare (Vagabond de la Pomme) raced to the finish in 39.812 seconds, rising to first following her second place finish in the Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake earlier in the week. 

Zayna Rizvi and Exquise du Pachis

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

In second place was Willie Tynan (Lexington, KY) with a time of 40.72 aboard Fancy Girl, the 2010 Dutch Warmblood mare (VDL Zirocco Blue x Silverstone) owned by Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach. Sarah Hubbard (Cornwall, CT) and Latino van de Looise Heide, the 2011 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cantos x Quadrillo) owned by Hubbard Horses, LLC, rounded out the podium in third place with a time of 41.274.

As second in line to test the course by designer Joe Rycroft (CAN), Rizvi was focused on shedding nerves and time. 

“Since I went second [in the jump-off], I knew I had to put down a good round and hope that I could go fast enough. [Exquise du Pachis] has a huge stride, so I think that’s where I have an advantage, and she’s great at the turns, so I just kind of let her go and she did it all perfectly,” explained Rizvi. 

Willie Tynan and Fancy Girl

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

“I thought the first course was actually pretty nice for me,” she continued. There were definitely some things that I was worried about going into it after walking the course, but I thought she did so well at all the spots where I thought we might have a little trouble.” 

“Patchy” is a new partner for Rizvi, having just recently acquired her earlier this year, but she already feels the mare’s loyalty.

Sarah Hubbard and Latino van de Looise Heide 

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

“She’s been so great! We’re both kind of getting to know each other, but she’s always right there with me. She tries really hard and I can tell that it’s going to be a good partnership,” added Rizvi.

Zayna Rizvi and Exquise du Pachis

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

An annual stop on her competition calendar, Rizvi shared why TIEC is a part of her schedule. 

“I love it here. We always come at least once a year. I love how it’s like its own little community. I feel like the horses love it here, too, and it’s always a really fun time.”

Jimmy Torano Bookends Podium in $20,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

May 12, 2022 – Jimmy Torano (Wellington, FL) led two mounts to the winners’ circle in the $20,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake during Tryon Spring 2 competition. Torano claimed first place aboard Kochio Z with a time of 37.269 and barely missed second place with his own Chewbacca HCC, the 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Clarimo x Quintero), with a time of 38.54 to take third. Earning second place with 38.318 seconds was Zayna Rizvi (Greenwich, CT) and Excellent, Peacock Ridge LLC’s 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Ahorn). 

Jimmy Torano and Kochio Z

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

Torano celebrated the young, but consistently strong performance of his 2014 Zangersheide gelding (Kannan x Datura Z), having made several top-three placements at TIEC with his new partner.

“This is actually a brand new horse for me, and he’s only eight years old. He was second in the $25,000 Grand Prix last week. Daryl Portela and I own him together, and the horse just gets better and better every time you walk into the ring. He hasn’t had a jump down here at Tryon yet. He’s been dynamite! He’s been first, first, second, and now first again today, so pretty good results for our two weeks here.”

Zayna Rizvi (Greenwich, CT) and Excellent

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

With a total of three horses challenging a field of 30 on the course designed by Joe Rycroft (CAN), the third time was the charm for Torano with Kochio Z. 

Jimmy Torano and Chewbacca HCC

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

“Unfortunately, on my first horse [Sterrehof’s Edinus], it’s a horse that I don’t really know that well. I think I was probably ready too soon for the jump-off, and should’ve probably jumped one more. I had a refusal at the first jump, but I decided to continue so I could get a feel for the jump-off with two more coming. On my second two, I know them both well and thought I could really take a shot, especially on Chewbacca. He was fractions off the win and got third. I trust that horse and know him pretty well now. Kochio is new, but I’ve had him for a couple months now and like I said, he’s just been dynamite here. I felt like I could really trust him and go all out. Zayna [Rizvi] really put the heat on, so I had to put it all out if I was going to win today.” 

Jimmy Torano and Kochio Z in their presentation ceremony.

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

Kochio Z will retire for the rest of the weekend while Torano and Chewbacca HCC test the $30,000 Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club Grand Prix. Torano is a big fan of TIEC, saying that he and his family would stay year-round except for one reason. 

“If it stayed cool, I’d like to be here 365 days a year. This is my favorite show. We love it here and we stay in a camper. Other than going to buy groceries, we don’t leave the grounds. We eat at [Roger’s] Diner, Campagna or Legends. We did two weeks this year, but I think we’ll probably do four or five in a row next year and years to come. All of the behind-the-scenes people here do a great job and I don’t think they get recognized. It’s really a management group that you can go to and they listen and hear you. We’ll definitely be back next year for several weeks in a row.”

Timothy Maddrix and Candid Traveler Win First and Third in $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

May 13, 2022 – Challenging a field of 20 pairs, Timothy Maddrix (Mountain Brook, AL) swept both first and third place wins in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at TIEC. In the irons with Candid Traveler, Maddrix earned 190 points for the win, while snapping third place with a score of 181 on Shutterbug, Sarah Campell’s 2008 Czech Warmblood gelding (Catango Z x Seuerka). Hannah Smith (Winston-Salem, NC) and Adore, her own 2008 Warmblood mare (Colbert GTI x Hauptstutbuch Carina), took second place with a score of 182. 

Timothy Maddrix and Candid Traveler

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

Maddrix was able to test the handy round with his first mount, Shutterbug, to better prepare for his second round on Candid Traveler, the 2015 Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Tora II) owned by Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach.

“Luckily, I had Shutterbug come back first, so I got to practice on him. It’s nice when you get to go last so you kind of get to know what the scores are. I did one turn on Shutterbug that I didn’t do on [Candid Traveler], but he was really handy everywhere I asked him to be. We did enough to win it.” 

Hannah Smith and Adore

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

Speaking highly of the course designed by Lewis Pack (Tryon, NC), Matrix said, “I thought the course was very inviting. There were a couple of left turns in the handy, which was hard for him because he likes his right lead, but he was good there. Overall, I thought it was fun to ride and it flowed well.”

Timothy Maddrix and Shutterbug

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

While the partnership with Candid Traveler is new, Maddrix is pleased with his performance so far, saying that his partner “was awesome. He’s a sale horse we just got in and this is the second show we’ve had him at. He’s done the 3’3” Greens, so we decided to put him in [the Derby], and he was awesome! He got a 93 in the first round. We were all pretty proud of him.”

Timothy Maddrix and Candid Traveler in their presentation ceremony.

©TIEC/Natalie Suto

Maddrix’s competition experience at TIEC has been positive, adding that “Tryon is great. We love it here. We have a really cool log cabin right down the road. It’s always great here!” 

For full results from the $30,000 Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club Grand Prix, click here.

For full results from the $20,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake, click here.

For full results from the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here.

For all division results from Tryon Spring 2, click here.

The Tryon Spring Series continues through June 12, 2022 with Hunter, Jumper and Equitation competition including three weeks of FEI Jumping. Learn more at Tryon.com/compete. 

Photos ©TIEC. These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Official show photos and photo request forms can be found at Tryon.com/photos. All photographers distributing or selling photos must be credentialed. For questions, contact media@tryon.com.