Tryon Summer 3 Midweek Update:
Todd Minikus and Amex Z Champions in the $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*
Tomas Yofre and Cher Cheval are Winners of $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*
For Immediate Release
Rette Solomon for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC - June 29, 2023 - With two clear rounds, Todd Minikus (USA) and Bit By Bit Group’s Amex Z earned first place in Thursday’s $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2* with a time of 34.51 seconds. With a time of 36.41 seconds, Samuel Parot (CHI) rode Trinidad Soffia’s 2013 Zangersheide mare, Cumorka Z (Copin Van De Broy x Calato) to reserve honors. Earning third was Kady Abrahamson (USA), aboard Abrahamson Equestrian LLC’s Any (Aliano x Alcatraz), the 2008 Holsteiner mare.
Todd Minikus and Amex Z
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Todd Minikus and his team have celebrated their share of victories throughout Tryon’s Spring Series, and are now starting the Tryon Summer Series presented by St. Luke’s Hospital on a high note. “Amex is a longtime partner of mine, and she's been very successful just here lately,” Minikus said of the 2009 Zangersheide mare.
Samuel Parot and Cumorka Z
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Minikus credited a recent change in tack to his Welcome Stake win. “Today I changed bridles, and it made a big difference in the way she went. That felt like the Amex that we know and love!”
Kady Abrahamson and Any
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Amex Z’s stellar performance in Tryon Stadium set the team up for success. “She went fantastic! Generally, if she goes clear in the jump off, it's class over. It's hard to catch her if she leaves the jumps up. She's a very fast mare and she has a huge stride, so she does one less [stride] everywhere,” Minikus detailed.
Todd Minikus and Amex Z alongside teammate Sam and JP Godard, TIEC Competition Manager.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Minikus’ team is already hard at work in preparation for the $78,000 Earl Scruggs Music Festival Grand Prix CSI 2* this Saturday. “I'd like to thank Sam for taking care of [Amex Z], and Riley, Sue, and the rest of my team. They did a good job this week, so we are crossing our fingers for Saturday,” he shared.
After several weeks at Tryon, Team Minikus will return to compete in the fall. “We love it here,” Minikus concluded. “It's great for the whole family, and it's always a good stop for us.”
For full results from the $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*, click here.
Tomas Yofre and Cher Cheval are Winners of $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*
June 28, 2023 - Going clear across both phases, Tomas Yofre (ARG) and Stellium Sport Horses LLC’s Cher Cheval claimed the win in the $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*, marking a time of 29.07 seconds in the speed phase. With a time of 31.12 seconds, Doug Payne (USA) rode Emeraldo (Emerald Van't Ruytershof x Quadrillo), Payne Equestrian’s 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding, to reserve honors. Placing third in the Two Phase with a time of 31.33 seconds was Lexi Ray (CAN) aboard her own Evita (Otangelo x Cash), the 2009 Dutch Warmblood mare.
Tomas Yofre and Cher Cheval
©Natalie Suto Photography
Yofre piloted Cher Cheval, the 2013 Holsteiner gelding, to a win for the Broder family of Stellium Sport Horses LLC. “I want to say thanks to Olivia Broder and her family, because they trust me and they give me a horse to jump.”
Doug Payne and Emeraldo
©Natalie Suto Photography
Of Cher Cheval, Yofre shared that “he’s super nice, and ten years old now. He was doing 1.50 meter classes in Europe, and we just bought him last year. So I took the ride, and he is doing really good. He did 2* Grand Prixs, he won in Toronto this winter. He’s a really good horse, very fast.”
Lexi Ray and Evita
©Natalie Suto Photography
For Wednesday’s winning rounds, Yofre’s goal was to keep it clear and clean. “In the first round, I just tried to go clear. I was going to jump until eight, but then he felt like he needed to jump a little more, so then I did the second pass,” the Argentinian rider explained.
Tomas Yofre, teammate and Cher Cheval in their presentation ceremony.
©Natalie Suto Photography
After the team’s success in the Two Phase, Yofre and Cher Cheval anticipate a busy week. “I’m going to jump him tomorrow in the Welcome, and then probably the Grand Prix,” Yofre detailed.
After Tryon Summer 3, Yofre plans to stay to compete in the Tryon Summer Series for another week. “We really like Tryon. We have a great time here!”
For full results of the $6,000 Two Phase CSI 2*, click here.
Tryon Summer 3 competition continues through Sunday, July 4th, and features national and international Jumper competition alongside Hunter and Equitation divisions.
Hobby Horse presented by Young Rider also back on July 1st! Competition will start at 6:30pm, with check-ins starting at 6pm. Pre-registration is required. Tryon International’s Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home continues on July 1st, with events starting at 6pm and the $78,000 Earl Scruggs Music Festival Grand Prix CSI 2*. Learn more at www.Tryon.com/snl.
View details and learn more about ongoing events at Tryon.com/allevents.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Bailey Beck and Natalie Suto, as noted). These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase competition photos at www.nataliesutophotography.shootproof.com. With questions regarding photography at TIEC, contact media@tryon.com.