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Coulter scores first win of Desert Circuit on Graciella 50

Mar 17, 2013

They were the first pair to go clear, and Saer Coulter cleaned up with Graciella 50 to win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix Wild Card, presented by Zoetis, on Friday. The Stanford-based Coulter piloted the nine-year-old Hanoverian mare, owned by Copernicus Stables, through a blazingly quick jump-off, streaking around the track in 40.33 seconds (on 47 time allowed).

For Coulter, who has racked up an impressive string of second and third placings in Thermal, Friday’s victory was a sweet way to start the climactic final weekend of the seven-week Desert Circuit. The Wild Card class was designated the final opportunity for one more rider to qualify for Sunday’s AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach. Since Coulter is already qualified, and second-place Eric Navet of France is riding a young horse – Signe Ostby’s Quanto Fino 2 – not yet ready to take on a 1.60m course, the coveted rider list will finalized earlier this week will remain unchanged.

Navet and Quanto Fino 2, who he’s been developing for Ostby’s son Karl Cook, finished in 41.07 seconds in jump-off. Lane Clarke riding Casseur de Prix, was third in 42.07 seconds, followed by Rusty Stewart on Bristol in 42.89 seconds. Fifth place went to Margie Engle riding Royce to a 43.83 second finish. All three will again take to the Grand Prix Field Sunday for the AIG Thermal Million. Coulter and Graciella 50 were the sixth to enter the ring and the first clear. Coulter’s second trip 11 rounds later, on Copernicus Sables’ Carmena Z, produced four faults, but was good enough to earn twelfth.

Source World of Showjumping