Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Déjà vu anyone? The show jumping leaderboard at the 2025 $100,000 Stirling Venture Capital Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services bears a nearly identical resemblance to the final standings of last year’s showcase. Today, just like last year, Will Coleman sits in the enviable position of first and second, while Boyd Martin is once again in third.
A minor injury interrupted much of the 2024 season for Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS, making this event his official return to action. He dove in head first, making waves with a new GPE dressage record of 17.3.
In addition to being an easy favorite this weekend — Equirating’s gave him a 38% chance of winning — the Holsteiner gelding (Chin Champ – Wildera, by Quinar Z) also boasts an impressive show jumping resume. Today’s double clear shouldn’t have come as a surprise considering he’s jumped clear in his last eight International appearances.
“I was pretty happy,” Will said, “I mean, Chin hasn’t been in a real competitive setting in, you know, 10 months, so I was thrilled with him just coming in here. He was a little bit over the top, excited, and maybe lost the shape a little bit going through his round, but he just tried so hard to leave the poles up. I sort of got away with it.”
Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Shelby Allen.
While Chin is the only horse from Will’s barn to have won here, his stablemate Off The Record doesn’t seem to have any plans to leave Aiken, S.C. without a prize check of his own.
The World Championship silver medalist remains of his dressage score of 26 after delivering in the first two phases. He’s closing in on another podium finish as he looks forward to the final, and arguably, his strongest phase. A true galloper through and through, this venue doesn’t necessarily seem like a perfect fit for the long format superstar, but his performance here last year proved that the Irish Sport Horse (Arkansas – Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio) is ready to rise to the challenge no matter the environment.
“Off the Record, I think, jumped out of his socks today. I was thrilled with him. He’s just the most amazing horse. He just keeps kind of giving us what he can, and it’s more than good enough. He’s just been a wonderful horse. And I’m just lucky to have him, you know, right here with me now at 16 years old, but he still feels like he loves it and certainly doesn’t feel like he wants to be retired anytime soon,” he said.
Will’s rides are separated by 8.7 points or 21 seconds on cross country. While Chin has a great deal of wiggle room, Timmy only has one second to keep a nose ahead of third place.
“Timmy, he loves competing. I think he will go and just be Timmy out there tomorrow. I don’t know if that’s gonna be good enough to go clean and make the time, but I think we’re gonna go and give it a crack and let him have a bit of fun. He loves this kind of stuff. I think the time will be incredibly difficult to make. I’m not sure anybody will get it.”
Boyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Riding for the Annie Goodwin Syndicate, Boyd Martin has piloted his 2022 winner Fedarman B into third place.
“Bruno,” who he rides in honor of the late Annie Goodwin, is a hometown favorite and seems to grow to match the crowd’s excitement as he makes his way around the arena.Boyd and the KWPN gelding (Eurocommerce Washington – Paulien B, by Fedor) look ahead to the finale on a score of 26.7.
“Bruno is just a legend. I’ve gotta make sure that I get myself focused and fired up for the show jumping – usually I’m terrified and nervous in the warm-up and my coach Peter [Wylde] said ‘hey, come on and just sharpen up a bit here’ and he’s such a such a phenomenal jumper. He’s still a real joy to ride,” Boyd said.
Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Boyd increased his chance for a top finish by jumping clear a second time with Yankee Creek Ranch LLC’s Commando 3 for fourth place overnight.
The Holsteiner (Connor 48 – R-Adelgunde, by Amigo XX) called “Connor” looked much more at home in this year’s competition, and he’ll hope to improve last year’s 17th place finish.
Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Shelby Allen.
One rail fell and six extra seconds elapsed for kiwi Monica Spencer, dropping her and her own Artist from second to fifth on a score of 29.6.
“I thought he jumped super. I don’t think I quite got him straight before fence three—it was in the shade, so I probably didn’t do him justice there. And then, he was just a little slow. I need to get back into competition mode. Early season and all that… Even with a few faults today, I’m still in a good spot, and that’s the bonus of having a solid dressage score. I’m really happy with him,” she said.
Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Jennie Brannigan also joined the clear round club aboard her reliable campaigner FE Lifestyle. Owned by Nina and Tim Gardner, “Foxy,” carries a score of 31.1 into the final phase in sixth place.
Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Where last year’s debut had tension and apprehension, 12 months gave Sharon White’s Claus 63 a wealth of confidence that allowed her to push him to a dressage result of 27.9 (a 13-point improvement from 2024). The Holsteiner (Catoo – Tina II, by Levisto) tipped a rail from fence three to sit on a two-phase score of 31.9 for seventh place.
Phillip Dutton and Possante. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Eight jump penalties lowered Phillip Dutton from third to eighth place with The Possante Group’s Possante. Fortunately, the KWPN gelding (Namelus R – Wendelien, by Otangelo) went sub-30 in the first phase, so their current penalty score of 32.9 leaves this pair still very much in the hunt.
Sarah Kuhn and Mr. Cash van de Start. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Ninth place belongs to local rider Sarah Kuhn and Deborah Kuhn’s Mr. Cash van de Start. One pole and 0.8 time penalties leaves them with a current score of 36.1.
Boyd closes out the top ten here with his final ride, The Nutcracker Syndicate and Ocala Horse Properties’ Cooley Nutcracker. “Bali” was formerly campaigned by Liz Halliday, with whom he finished top twenty at the Paris Olympics. Liz’s absence here at the showcase is palpable — not only is she a three-time winner, but generally a massive presence across the US eventing landscape. Boyd only recently took guardianship of the Irish Sport Horse (Tolan R. – Ballyshan Cleopatra, by Cobra), but he’s decided to rise to the challenge for his friend during her recovery. He and Bali sit on a score of 37.3.
Competition resumes with the cross country finale at 12:30 p.m.
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