Julia Nagler and Killosery Kuidam Take the Top Spot in the Blenheim U25 Jumper Classic
Hugh Mutch and Cristar
San Juan Capistrano, CA – An enthusiastic crowd cheered on the twenty show jumpers competing in the $30,000 Markel Insurance 1.45m Grand Prix at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano. With the only double clean performance of the class, Hugh Mutch and the twelve-year-old Holsteiner stallion, Cristar (owned by 2 Mutch Show Jumping), topped the field to take the win. Julia Nagler took the top spot in the concurrently run $2,500 Blenheim U25 Jumper Classic aboard Killosery Kuidam.
Course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela built the 1.45m track on The Oaks International Grand Prix Field, which included a triple combination, many direct and bending lines, and an optional open water or oxer. The time allowed proved to be tight, with nine horse and rider combinations receiving time faults.
Mutch was the first to compete in the jump-off round. Riding a tidy and quick track, he stopped the clock in 45.49 seconds. The only other competitor to master Palacios’ first round without fault, Kelsey Maloney and her own La Coco, followed. An unfortunate four faults put her into the second-place position.
“I acquired Cristar in March of this year after HITS Thermal. He was second in the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix last year to Mandy Porter by three-one-hundredths of a second, and I got to watch him while I was there commentating the class. I had never seen him before because Tammy Phillips, who owned him, showed mostly in Canada,” Mutch explained. “He is beautiful and super careful, so he caught my eye. My girlfriend and I became friends with Tammy and she felt I was one of three riders who would be right for him. She let me try him, and I owned him two days later.”
Hugh Mutch and Cristar celebrate the win in the $30,000 Markel Insurance 1.45m Grand Prix
Mutch is no stranger to the winner’s circle and appreciates what it takes to have a horse like Cristar. “He’s one of those horses that makes me get up in the morning and do what I do. He’s fun to ride and I have a great relationship with him. He’s sweet, kind, and loves everyone. It’s a pleasure to own a horse like that,” Mutch noted. “I thank Tammy for picking me. He’ll be the last great horse I have a shot at riding. I’m 58 and can still play with the 20-year-olds; it’s a lot of fun.”
Three qualifiers remain in the Markel Insurance 1.45m Grand Prix Series, where the 25 riders with the most points for the season are invited to the Markel Insurance 1.45m Series Final at The Las Vegas National, CSI 4*-W.
Julia Nagler and Killosery Kuidam Take the Top Spot in the $2,500 Blenheim U25 Jumper Classic
Over the challenging Palacios track, Julia Nagler rode her own Killosery Kuidam to a six fault score, earning the win in the $2,500 Blenheim U25 Jumper Classic. With one more $2,500 class next week at the Showpark Summer Classic, the U25 division wraps up at the Blenheim Fall Tournament in September with the $20,000 Blenheim EquiSports U25 Championship Classic.
Julia Nagler and Killosery Kuidam win the $2,500 Blenheim U25 Jumper Classic
RESULTS
$30,000 1.45m Markel Insurance Grand Prix
Place – Entry Number – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1. 103 – Cristar – Hugh Mutch – 2 Mutch Show Jumping – 0/0/45.499
2. 524 – La Coco – Kelsey Maloney – Maloney Pony – 0/4/46.357
3. 615 – Tybo VD Tojopehoeve Z – Kirsten Coe – E-Sport, LLC – 2/89.420
4. 592 – Pomerol – Patricio Pasquel – Patricio Pasquel – 4/81.111
5. 271 – Duc de Rhoan – Michelle Kerivan – Michelle Kerivan – 4/86.657
6. 339 – McLord’s TKO – Lane Clarke – Mickey Hayden – 5/88.206
7. 478 – Tender Star – Natasha Traurig – Neil Jones Equestrian, Inc. – 5/88.829
8. 109 – Killosery Kuidam – Julia Nagler – Julia Nagler – 6/89.225
9. 479 – Collonella Z – Natasha Traurig – Carolina Tardelli – 9/88.479
10. 165 – Quadrigus – Gabriela Pattinson – Susanne Coleman – 9/88.487
11. 527 – Quitana 11 – Savannah Jenkins – Georgy Maskrey-Segesman – 12/82.536
12. 536 – Clint Eastwood 10 – Anna Ishiyama – Anna Ishiyama – 12/84.452
Photos by Captured Moment Photography
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Markel Insurance Company is proud to once again partner with Blenheim EquiSports for another season of fun in the sun.
Representative Brandon Seger will be on the show grounds to answer any questions related to your equine insurance needs. At the show and in the barns, Markel is the Insurance Company with Horse Sense. With offices across the US, Markel is your national insurance provider covering equine risks for over 50 years.
Thank you for your support – contact Brandon to get a horse, farm or liability insurance quote today: Bseger@markelcorp.com – 213-219-7837.
Markel/Lisa Seger Insurance Field Agent Josh Mullins is also available to answer any questions related to your equine insurance needs.
Contact Josh at: josh@lisasegerinsurance.com – 949-212-2970
