Traverse City, Michigan, USA – September 08, 2024 – The first week of the 2024 Traverse City Tournament of Champions, featuring the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, is one Charlotte Jacobs (USA) will not soon forget. Jacobs, aboard Rincoola Milsean, scored a hat trick by winning all three international events throughout the week, capped with a climb to the top of the podium in the $120,000 Agero Grand Prix CSI 3* on Sunday at Flintfields Horse Park. 

Winning was all Jacobs, 29, knew how to do during opening week of the Tournament of Champions. After topping the $32,000 Stud Tree Two-Phase CSI 3* on Thursday afternoon, Jacobs and North Star Sport Horses’ 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Aldatus Z x Cruising) claimed Friday’s $32,000 GGT Footing Welcome Stake CSI 3*. After a day of rest, Jacobs’ mount—fondly known as “Roy” around the barn—came back out in winning from over one final Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed track in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring.

“This week was absolutely incredible,” gushed Jacobs. “This grand prix has been a big goal of mine and after having already had such a great week I went in thinking ‘if I win that’s great but if I just get a good placing and a good round I’m still happy’. Then to have won, I was just like ‘wow, is this week even real’.

“Every day I come out on him, I know that if I don’t screw it up I can win,” Jacobs continued. “He’s a spectacular horse and he’s the type that gets better the more you jump him, so I actually think his jump-off today was his best round all week.” 

Jorge built a long and technical track for his final track of the week, which saw a field of 33 international athletes. The first-round time allowed proved to be an issue for only one challenger, but another handful of riders suffered from one downed rail and were unable to advance. Ultimately, nine horse-and-rider pairings produced a fault-free effort and moved forward, including speed specialists such as Kent Farrington (USA), Hunter Holloway (USA), and Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP). Jacobs and Roy once again proved that their foot speed is invaluable as they raced to the top of the leaderboard in a blazing 35.31 seconds to effectively shut the door on the remaining competitors. 

“In the jump-off, I walked eight strides from fence one to two and it was very forward for me because I have a smaller strided horse,” she explained of her plan. “The part that I really wanted to be aware of was the turn from jump three back to the double because a lot of people were making mistakes there. I’m really lucky that I have a clever horse, so I was able to gallop him up there and sit him up and he tried his heart out to get out. I knew Kent and a lot of other fast riders were coming behind me, so I wanted to set the standard and I’m happy it worked out for me today.”

Brooke Kemper (USA) aboard Seaview Demonstration (FSS Correlli Bravo), a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by CM Sporthorses, produced the best time before Jacobs, landing across the timers in 37.89 seconds for second place.

Always fast over the short course, Goyoaga Mollet (ESP) took home the third-place ribbon with a slightly less efficient time of 39.01 seconds riding Stakato Cornet (Cornet Obolensky x Stakkato), an Ashland Farms-owned nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding. 

In light of her incredible week, Jacobs was also the recipient of the Yorkfield Stables Leading Lady Rider Award, while Goyoaga Mollet accepted the Yorkfield Stables Leading Male Rider honors. Jacobs’ groom and Roy’s designated best friend, Paulo Moreira, also received the Winning Groom Award for his efforts that contributed to the pair’s success. 

Final Results – $120,000 Agero Grand Prix CSI 3*

1) Charlotte Jacobs (USA) & Rincoola Milsean – 0 / 0 – 35.310

2) Brooke Kemper (USA) & Seaview Demonstration – 0 / 0 – 37.890

3) Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP) & Stakato Cornet – 0 / 0 – 39.010

Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows

Photos: © TCHS / Andrew Ryback Photography / Megan Giese Photography

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