Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA – May 12, 2022 – Jimmy Torano (USA) led two mounts to the winners’ circle in the $20,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake during Tryon Spring 2 competition. Torano (USA) claimed first place aboard Kochio Z with a time of 37.269 and barely missed second place with his own Chewbacca HCC, the 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Clarimo x Quintero), with a time of 38.54 to take third. Earning second place with 38.318 seconds was Zayna Rizvi (USA) and Excellent, Peacock Ridge LLC’s 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Ahorn). 

Torano (USA) celebrated the young, but consistently strong performance of his 2014 Zangersheide gelding (Kannan x Datura Z), having made several top-three placements at TIEC with his new partner.

“This is actually a brand new horse for me, and he’s only eight years old. He was second in the $25,000 Grand Prix last week. Daryl Portela and I own him together, and the horse just gets better and better every time you walk into the ring. He hasn’t had a jump down here at Tryon yet. He’s been dynamite! He’s been first, first, second, and now first again today, so pretty good results for our two weeks here.”

With a total of three horses challenging a field of 30 on the course designed by Joe Rycroft (CAN), the third time was the charm for Torano (USA) with Kochio Z. 

“Unfortunately, on my first horse [Sterrehof’s Edinus], it’s a horse that I don’t really know that well. I think I was probably ready too soon for the jump-off, and should’ve probably jumped one more. I had a refusal at the first jump, but I decided to continue so I could get a feel for the jump-off with two more coming. On my second two, I know them both well and thought I could really take a shot, especially on Chewbacca. He was fractions off the win and got third. I trust that horse and know him pretty well now. Kochio is new, but I’ve had him for a couple months now and like I said, he’s just been dynamite here. I felt like I could really trust him and go all out. Zayna Rizvi (USA) really put the heat on, so I had to put it all out if I was going to win today.” 

Kochio Z will retire for the rest of the weekend while Torano and Chewbacca HCC test the $30,000 Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club Grand Prix. Torano is a big fan of TIEC, saying that he and his family would stay year-round except for one reason. 

“If it stayed cool, I’d like to be here 365 days a year. This is my favorite show. We love it here and we stay in a camper. Other than going to buy groceries, we don’t leave the grounds. We eat at [Roger’s] Diner, Campagna or Legends. We did two weeks this year, but I think we’ll probably do four or five in a row next year and years to come. All of the behind-the-scenes people here do a great job and I don’t think they get recognized. It’s really a management group that you can go to and they listen and hear you. We’ll definitely be back next year for several weeks in a row.”

Final Results – $20,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

1) Jimmy Torano (USA) & Kochio Z – 0 / 0 – 37.269

2) Zayna Rizvi (USA) & Excellent – 0 / 0 – 38.318

3) Jimmy Torano (USA) & Chewbacca HCC – 0 / 0 – 38.54

Source: Press Release by Michelle Yelton for TIEC – Tryon International Equestrian Center

Photos: © TIEC / Natalie Suto

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Link