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Colin Syquia and Durant Jump to the Lead in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at TIEC
For Immediate Release
Tryon, NC – May 17, 2019 – Holly Shepherd (Grand Bay, AL) and High Society, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Tolando x Pasandra) owned by Mary Antonini, rode home with blue in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) with a top score of 379.5. Jimmy Torano (Wellington, FL) with California 19, a 2009 German Warmblood gelding (Cornet Obelensky x Unknown) owned by Pessoa Stables LLC, finished in second place with a score of 376. Holly Shepherd (Grand Bay, AL) also claimed third place with Midas, a 2013 Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Belunye HH) owned by Margaret Camp, with a score of 364.
Holly Shepherd and High Society©TIEC
With 15 pairs in the derby, Shepherd impressed the judges on the course set by Andy Christiansen and secured first and third place. “It was a good class; I couldn’t be happier with the way the horses went,” Shepherd said.
“High Society went as good as I could have wanted him to go. He was incredible. My strategy [in the handy] was to just be a little bit more careful and be ultra, ultra handy. I went a little safer on him, and he went spectacular. He is a lovely horse. He’s a rockstar and so game, and he always looks so beautiful going around the ring,” Shepherd commented.
Holly Shepherd and High Society in their awards presentation ceremony alongside Mary Antonini.©TIEC
Colin Syquia and Durant Jump to the Lead in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at TIEC
Colin Syquia (Wellington, FL) claimed first place in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at TIEC aboard Durant, owned by Eurasia Inc. Syquia secured a score of 183 on the Pre-Green mount. Tommi Clark (Tryon, NC) came in second riding Expectation, owned by Stephen Borders with a score of 178, and Holly Shepherd (Grand Bay, AL) earned third place riding As You Wish, owned by Ashley Runnels with a score of 174.
Colin Syquia and Durant
©TIEC
With 22 entries in the derby, Syquia and Durant were the last pair in the handy round and jumped to the top. “The course was really inviting; I thought it was really nice, and this is such an impressive venue,” Syquia commented.
“The course gave you a lot of single jumps to let the horses get around the ring and accustomed to the open space, and they were pretty jumps. He [Durant] is a spectacular jumper. He’s so brave, and the harder and more challenging it is, the harder he tries. He’s a Pre-Green horse and just starting showing here [at TIEC] in the fall. This is his first big win,” Syquia added.
“I’m really thankful for the organizers who put such a nice class in this big arena. It gives the horses such a great experience and exposure, especially horses that aren’t doing the international derbies yet. It gives them a big venue to get going in,” he concluded.
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Colin Syquia and Durant in their presentation ceremony.
©TIEC
For full results from the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, click here.
For full results from the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here.
Photo credit ©TIEC. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release.
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