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Daniel Coyle and Legacy Shine in the $72,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI 2*

Daniel Coyle and Legacy ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – October 26, 2019 – Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Legacy claimed the $72,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI 2* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) at Tryon Resort, stopping the jump-off timers in a time of 35.34 seconds. Richie Moloney (IRL) and Equinimity LLC’s Rocksy Music, a 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ars Vivendi x Diamond Serpent), sped around the short course in a time of 36.024 seconds to earn second, with Mark Bluman (COL) and Cartouche, a 2007 Silla Argentina stallion (unknown x unknown) owned by Daniel Bluman and Over the Top Stables LLC, rounding out the podium on a time of 36.374 seconds.

The Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) course design saw 56 pairs contest the first round, with 15 entries challenging the jump-off. “It was a very good course. It was challenging enough, and it wasn’t very simple,” Coyle detailed. “There were lots of places to make errors, and it was a good track. Although there were lots of clear rounds, it didn’t walk that way, and I didn’t think it would have that many.

“I watched the first few go in the jump-off, and I had already planned seven strides from one to two, which was far away and very big, but she has a very big stride,” Coyle said of the 2010 Zangersheide mare (Chippendale Z x Bon Ami) owned by Ariel Grange. “You didn’t want to be too tight back to the liverpool, and then the last three jumps were really just off your eye, so it was the beginning of the course and the related distances where I probably made up the most time.”

Although Legacy is still green, Coyle shared that he has very high hopes for her and has been bringing her along to the higher levels this year. “This horse is very, very special and I think she’s a real contender for the Olympics next year. Ariel [Grange] and I made the decision a few years ago to buy her for the top, top level, and every time we ask her to do something, she proves herself. Next year we’re hoping is going to be a big year for her.”

The pair has had success at Spruce Meadows and in young horse competition at Dublin, and Coyle noted that he’s been “saving her” for fall and winter competition culminating in her win in Tryon Stadium:

“She hasn’t done much this year – our biggest achievement was jumping at The Masters at Spruce Meadows as my second horse, but still, that’s very big jumping there! She didn’t do much since then until now, but we’ve been saving her a little bit for next year. I don’t want to do too much this year. Every time we ask her to do it, she does it,” Coyle emphasized. “Next year is a big year, and we’re going to ask her to step up to a big level. We’ll start doing bigger classes and CSI 5*s in Florida this winter. But I’m happy we’ve given her this time this year to produce and come to this level on her own.”

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

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