Wellington, Fla.—March 27  

According to Lauren Hough, Cornet 39 has been on the verge of a big breakout, and in the $130,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* he finally found the spotlight.

“He was part of the winning [Furusiyya FEI] Nations Cup team in Ocala [Fla.] a few weeks ago, and then he had a little break and really felt fantastic tonight,” Hough detailed. “He was also very good in the WEF [Challenge Cup] the other day. He has sort of been knocking on the door, and I am very proud of him.”

Cornet 39 and Lauren Hough. Photo by Meg Banks/ESP

Cornet 39 is a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Cornet Obolensky x Caletto I) that Hough rides for owner Paris Sellon. Sellon rode him herself and then Hough took over the ride at the end of the winter last year, bringing him carefully along to the top level.

Hough and Cornet topped a 10-horse jump-off for the win. Laura Chapot and ISHD Dual Star finished second, and Carly Anthony riding Dublin placed third.

Chapot and Mary Chapot’s ISHD Dual Star briefly held the lead in the jump-off with their time of 36.29 seconds, but were soon bested by Hough and Cornet 39, who stole the show with a blazing round in a time of 35.98 seconds.

Hough stated, “There were 10 in the jump-off with some of the best horses and riders, and they kept setting the bar higher and higher. Laura [Chapot] is always very fast, and my horse was fantastic tonight,” she said. “He was really on my side. Sometimes he can go a little against me, and he was really trying hard for me. I think I was very fast back to the double and very fast to the second-to-last [jump], which actually put me out, and at the last minute I had to do one more stride to the last jump. I had a little bit of luck on my side, but I was really pleased with the horse’s performance tonight.”

Hough will continue to develop Cornet 39 this year and plans to compete him again in Week 12 CSI 5* competition.

Lauren Hough on Cornet 39. Photo by Meg Banks/ESP

“I think he has a really bright future,” she stated. “I am going week by week, as I had a setback myself, and had knee surgery this winter. My original plans got a little off-kilter, but he will go next week and we will go from there. We head back to Europe the April 15 and start back over there.

“I did come back very quickly,” Hough said of her surgery. “I have an amazing team of doctors and physios. I have been really lucky to have great people around me in this village of Wellington, so I am very grateful to all of them. Thank you to Engel & Völkers for their sponsorship tonight. This is the second time I have won their class, and I am really thankful for their support.”

Chapot settled for second place with her round aboard ISHD Dual Star, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Quick Star x Concorde), but was pleased with her Saturday night.

“I could not be happier with my horse tonight. I think she jumped fantastic, and I think she had a fantastic jump-off,” Chapot stated. “I think Lauren was a little bit faster back to the combination. Even with my horse’s big stride leaving out, it got a little bit steady, so it did not allow her to run the whole way around. I have no regrets; I would not take back any strides. She was super. Lauren was just a little faster, and she deserved the win today.”

Carly Anthony had her best finish ever riding Dublin for Artisan Farms. Anthony brings along young horses for Canadian Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze, and has been slowly developing the 9-year-old German Warmblood gelding (Cobra x Calido).

“I am really excited,” Anthony said after the class. “Artisan has owned Dublin for the last two years, and it has been my job to bring him along for Eric. I am very fortunate that they have let me take that on and bring him along to this level. He is special. He is a little difficult to ride sometimes. I got eight strides in the first line in the jump-off, which I think is where I lost a bit of time. But the more you push him and the more competitive you feel, he comes right back with it and wants to win just as badly as you do.”

Anthony continued, “This is the biggest thing he has done ever. We did the WEF [Challenge Cup] this week, which was also a step up, and until then we had done three 1.50-meter classes. In two out of the three he was clear, so I felt like we had enough of a good chance to go today and see what we got, and I think he exceeded expectations. This is a top finish. I am very happy with it and happy with how he went today. It makes me proud, and I am glad I can represent Artisan Farms.”

Final Results: $130,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4*

1. CORNET 39: 2004 Oldenburg gelding by Cornet Obolensky x Caletto I

LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Paris Sellon: 0/0/35.98

2. ISHD DUAL STAR: 2002 Irish Sport Horse mare by Quick Star x Concorde

LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Mary Chapot: 0/0/36.29

3. DUBLIN: 2007 German Warmblood gelding by Cobra x Calido

CARLY ANTHONY (USA), Artisan Farms, LLC: 0/0/37.67

4. HEROS: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Canadian River x Clinton

AMY MILLAR (CAN), AMMO Investments: 0/0/38.57

5. ZEREMONIE: 2007 Holsteiner mare by Cero II x Quick Star

LAURA KRAUT (USA), Old Willow Farms, LLC: 0/0/39.49

6. CORLIDA: 2006 Oldenburg mare by Cornet Obolensky x Calido

NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO (USA), The Corlida Group: 0/0/39.56

7. D’ULIEN VAN DE SMEETS: 2003 Belgian Warmblood mare by Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Darco

JUAN ORTIZ (VEN), The Synchronicity Group: 0/0/42.01

8. CITIZENGUARD CADJANINE Z: 2002 Zangersheide mare by Canabis Z x Feinschnitt I Z

RODRIGO PESSOA (BRA), Alain van Campenhoudt & Rodrigo Pessoa: 0/4/37.43

9. BRIGHTON: 2006 KWPN gelding by Contender II x Quick Star

TIFFANY FOSTER (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 0/4/38.28

10. TINO LA CHAPELLE: 2007 Selle Francais gelding by Mylord Carthago HN x Verdi HN

JUAN JOSE ZENDEJAS SALGADO (MEX), Alejandro Zendejas: 0/Elim.

11. VEYRON: 2006 Oldenburg stallion by Conterno Grande x Heartbreaker

BEN ASSELIN (CAN), Attache Stables: 1/86.18

12. DOREMI: 2003 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Quidam de Revel x Cento

CHRIS SURBEY (CAN), Linda Southern Heathcott: 1/87.78