Hat Trick for Katie Laurie and Cera Caruso in $36,600 Two-Phase Speed CSI3*

The third and final week of the Traverse City Spring Horse Show, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, welcomed show jumping competitors last week to contend for top honours in the $36,600 Two-Phase Speed CSI3*. A total of 26 horse-and-rider combinations would take to the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring for their shot at the winner’s circle. Topping the class yet again was Australia’s Katie Laurie who claimed a hat trick riding Carissa McCall’s Cera Caruso, taking home the win in the speed class for the third week in a row.

Switching it up to a power-and-speed format, course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR) set forth a 8-obstacle power course in which riders must navigate a clear effort in order to advance to the 6-fence speed track. In a test of both agility and quickness across the ground, athletes just had one shot in the ring to take the win. Emerging as the pathfinders for the class was the first pair in the order of go, Ben Asselin (CAN) and The Freshman, owned by Attache Stables LTD. They crossed the speed timers with all of the rails intact in 28.02 seconds to set the pace for those who followed.

Quickly taking over Asselin’s spot was speed queen Laurie riding Cera Caruso, previous winners of the $36,600 Limitless Performance Speed Classic CSI4* during Week I and the $36,600 Speed Classic CSI2* during Week II. Entering the arena full of confidence, Laurie and the 13-year-old Australian Warmblood gelding proved why they deserved the spot at the top of the leaderboard, navigating their way through both the power and speed phase with ease. Laurie shaved nearly four seconds off of Asselin’s time to slip into the first place position in a time of 24.70 seconds.

“He has been so amazing this circuit,” said Katie of Cera Caruso. “He is a really competitive, fun horse and I’m really lucky to be riding him. His name at home is Elvis and he is such a cool horse. I ride for New Zealand owners Mike and Carissa McCall and they are huge supporters of mine. I have two horses here for them. He loves his job, he walks in the ring with his ears forward and he is a fighter and he’s fast. That’s all you can ask for!

Though the remainder of the class would try, none were able to match the talent of Laurie and Caruso, ultimately lending them the first place honours. Finishing close behind Laurie to claim second place was the United States’ Jonathan McCrea riding Windsor Show Stables’ Jasmijn with a speed time of 25.60 seconds. The third place pair was ultimately Ireland’s Lorcan Gallagher aboard Ixchel Mosley’s Siegfried 68 for finishing in a time of 26.15 seconds.

Solidifying her leading spot on the 2021 CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus leaderboard, Laurie’s win and her previous consistent placings in the past three weeks allowed her to hold her first place position with 39 points. Offering show jumping competitors the chance to accumulate points throughout the 12-week Traverse City Horse Shows series, the bonus is awarded to the athlete with the most points at the conclusion of the 2021 $230,000 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors. The CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus is a highly sought-after prize among the field of international competitors that attend Traverse City Horse Shows.

“It’s been awesome,” said Katie about the Traverse City Horse Shows series. “The horses have loved it. We had a bit of a break after the circuit in California, and I think it was really good for them. They’ve come back and they are fresh and happy and just loving it out. The ground has been super so jumping them for three weeks in a row hasn’t been a problem. They’ve been loving it.”

Katie was also fourth in the Two-Phase Speed CSI3* with stallion Casebrooke Lomond.

Congratulations Katie!

Source: Traverse City Horse Show press release

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