Brianne Goutal-Marteau Hoists Trophy Again in $230,000 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors

Traverse City, Mich. – The celebration of the 51st Anniversary of the American Gold Cup took place Saturday, September 18, the pinnacle event to 12 weeks of show jumping competition in Traverse City. Returning for the second year in a row, the most thrilling day of the season saw 29 of the world’s top horse-and-rider combinations enter through the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring in those hopes of etching their name in history on the coveted American Gold Cup perpetual trophy. In the end, it was the United States’ Brianne Goutal-Marteau who rose to the top in the $230,000 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, for the second time in its history.
Brianne Goutal-Marteau and Viva Colombia, photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Though the champion distinction had alluded high-profile names so far such as Margie Engle (USA) and Shane Sweetnam (IRL), each of whom were in the field and would be fighting for the title, three previous winners of the prestigious American Gold Cup trophy were included in the starting list. That “who’s who” list featured two-time winner Peter Leone (USA), Richie Moloney (IRL) and Goutal-Marteau (USA). For Saturday’s highlight event, the 29 qualified elite horse-and-rider partnerships were up against the skillfully-crafted track set by veteran course designer Alan Wade (IRL), who set forth a lofty 13-effort pattern of fences that proved to be the perfect tool to separate the top-tier performers from the rest of the pack.
Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu, photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Emerging as the pathfinder for the first round track, Lauren Hough (USA) and Kathleen Kamine’s Paloma navigated an impressive round that was clear in the field and on the clock. Six others would try to replicate Hough’s clear round, but none were successful until Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu put forth a spectacular clear effort to force a jump-off. Two rounds later, Goutal-Marteau added her name to the jump-off list with Viva Colombia. The remaining combinations made valiant efforts over Wade’s challenging track, but none could complete the course without incurring faults, leaving just three pairs to advance to the tie-breaking jump-off.

RESULTS
$230,000 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors
1. Viva Colombia / Brianne Goutal-Marteau / USA / Brianne Goutal LLC / 0 | 83.40 / 0 | 42.370
2. Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu / Paul O’Shea / IRL / Machu Picchu Partners LLC / 0 | 82.91 / 0 | 43.720
3. Paloma / Lauren Hough / USA / Kathleen Kamine / 0 | 81.48 / 4 | 43.110
4. Berlinda / Alessandra Volpi / UA / Alessandra Volpi / 4 | 77.50
5. Sea Topblue / Andrew Bourns / USA / Andrew Bourns / 4 | 80.53
6. Freaky Liefhebber / Jacqueline Steffens / CAN / Team Eye Candy / 4 | 77.50
7. Donner / Peter Leone / USA / Lionshare Farm / 4 | 82.68
8. Bennys Legacy / Adrienne Sternlicht / USA / Starlight Farms 1 LLC / 4 | 82.94
9. Leonie / Erin Davis-Heineking / USA / October Hill Stables Limited / 10 / 85.560
10. Easy Girl / Santiago Lambre / BRA / Santiago Lambre / 5 / 86.280
11. Cashew CR / Alex Matz / USA / Dorothy Matz / 8 / 81.400
12. Dijon Terdoorn Z / Beat Mändli / SUI / Grant Road Partners LLC / 8 / 83.460
www.traversecityhorseshows.com | photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
HSJ