WELLINGTON, Fla.--Ireland's Daniel Coyle on Ivory TCS won the CSIO4*, $226,000 Grand Prix in a four horse jump-off at the Winter Equestrian Festival on March 5.

Daniel Coyle on Ivory TCS (Photo by Sportfot)First to go in the jump-off over a course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio, Beth Underhill  of Canada had two rails down to eventually finish fourth.

Coyle, next to go, knew Lacey Gilbertson and Mclain Ward packing a double punch of speed behind him, and he was clean and quick in 38.06.

“I had to leave very little room, give them something to chase, but not leave very much,” Coyle said. “I think I was beatable but there wasn't much of a gap, which was my plan. Ivory is a very fast horse in every jump-off. She might take two extra strides than a big horse, but that doesn’t mean she’s necessarily slower because she does it so fast. I tried to use that today because there were no related distances; it was single fences then turn back and gallop halfway across the track, so I tried to use the quickness that she naturally has to my advantage.”

 

NEXT TO GO, Ward on Callas turned tight to the second fence and had a rail down to finish third.

McLain Ward on Callas over the water (Photo by Sportfot)Last of the four to go, Gilbertson on Karlin van’t Vennehof, who looked like she just wanted to make sure she was clean, was clean in 39.3 seconds to place second.

“I wanted to give her a nice easy day in the qualifier," said Coyle. "Coming out today I felt like we had a good shot. I told Ariel earlier that it might be our day and I’m thrilled that it was. Everything worked exactly to our plan.”

“She was bought as a 7-year-old to be sold and I've had a few people try her, but I have to say I’m delighted that she has not gone yet,” said Coyle.