Laurie and Iron Mark Switch Focus to Spruce Meadows
Saturday, 18 April 2015

Katie Laurie's World Cup dream ended today, despite a gallant effort from her gutsy chestnut Dunstan Kiwi Iron Mark.

The Anthony D'Ambrosio designed course at the 37th Longines FEI World Cup in Las Vegas challenged some of the world's best, with a killer treble that proved the undoing of many . . . and Laurie was one of those.

However, the rider from Mystery Creek had plenty of praise for 11-year-old Iron Mark (owned by June Berrington).

“He was just awesome,” said Laurie. “It was completely my mistake.”

The combination had taken rails at the double before heading into the “enormous” treble where the second element came down and they then pulled out of the third jump. They came around again and unfortunately, it happened again.

“It was going to be a long way with lots of trouble,” said Laurie.

“When I walked the course I thought it was big and tough, but down the treble was not quite what I thought.”

Laurie did not see any of the other combinations go, and said if she had, things may have been a little different.

“It (the treble) gave him (Mark) a fright, but also a lot of others too,” she said. “And he tried so hard when I fronted him again too.”

Iron Mark will now go home to their Californian base before Team Laurie head to Canada for Spruce Meadows – another of the world's most hallowed grounds.

“The outdoor arenas there will suit him far better.”

The day belonged to Olympic champ Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Albfuehrn's Paille who rode a superb jump-off to win by .44 seconds ahead of Bezzie Madden (USA) on Simon, and Lucy Davis (USA) on Barron in third with four faults.

Six of the 35 starters came through for the jump-off – four of them Americans, much to the delight of the very parochial crowd. The sentimental favourite had to be Rich Fellers (USA) and his 19-year-old stallion Flexible who clocked the fastest time, but took a single rail to finish fourth.

Patrice Delaveau (FRA) and Orient Express HDC were the only combination eliminated, with four others retiring.

Today's results see Guerdat and Fellers tied on zero penalties going into the final on Sunday night (Nevada time), with the 19-year-old Irish rider Bertram Allen in third on a single penalty. Laurie departs with a final placing of 33rd out of the 40-strong original field.