Audrey Coulter & Capital Colnardo Continue Their Win Streak at Del Mar CSI3*-W

Audrey Coulter, Signe Ostby and Dale Harvey. Ph. McCool

Copernicus Stables had a banner evening on Thursday, October 21, 2016 as Audrey Coulter and her coach Harrie Smolders finished 1-2 in the Del Mar International Horse Show’s $36,500 Intuit Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3*-W.

For the USA’s Coulter, whose family owns the Northern California-based Copernicus Stables, and both top placing horses, the result of the class was a continuation of what can now be called an official win streak. Just two weeks ago at the Jumping Sacramento CSI3*-W, Coulter won the World Cup Qualifier as well as the Thursday Grand Prix Qualifier aboard Capital Colnardo.

The 11-year-old Holsteiner stallion (Colman x Coronado) has come into his own, with Coulter last week lauding his improved rideability that gave her a confident ride. In this jumpoff class under the open air roof of the Del Mar International’s main arena, he kept up that form as the riders lined up while the sun set over the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Dutch rider Smolders, who was aboard the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Apollonia (Bogegaardens Apollo x Bogegaardens Capello), came closest to catching his student in the jumpoff with a time of 71.06 seconds to her 70.52.

The USA’s Karl Cook, who currently leads the Longines North American League – Western World Cup Qualifying standings, finished 3rd with the 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding Caillou (Casall x Corrado I).

Ten riders of the 46-pair entry list jumped clear in Round 1 to qualify for the jumpoff, with nine of those choosing to return. The top five all enjoyed double clear rounds, with the USA’s Katie Harris placing 4th aboard Lafino, and Australia’s Harley Brown coming 5th with Apex. A few more flags filled out the top ten: Germany’s Guido Klatte Jr., Mexico’s Enrique Gonzalez, and Sweden’s Hanna Mauritzson among them.

This opening class was a well-balanced preview to the action that’s to come later on this weekend at Del Mar. Coulter has every reason to continue her successful streak in Saturday evening’s $100,000 Longines World Cup Jumping Del Mar, and if she does so, she stands to gain a lead in the North American League – Western Sub-League Standings. Stay tuned to find out if she can pull it off.

See the full result of the $36,500 Intuit Grand Prix Qualifier at this link.