Laura Kraut had been concerned about whether her 2018 World Equestrian Games team gold medal mount, Confu, would recover from a virus. She wasn’t even thinking whether he could compete in a grand prix again, with his last appearance at that level having been in November.
So when he beat his illness and returned to the arena, his victory last night under the lights in the 4-star $216,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix in Wellington, Fla., was especially welcome.
Laura Kraut and Confu. (Sportfot photo)
“The win tonight means everything,” Laura said.
“A few months ago, we were crying because we weren’t sure he was going to make it. It means the world to have him win, and to win on Horseware week, I don’t think we could have scripted it any better,” said Laura about her longtime sponsor. I’m so thankful to have had their support for many years, and it feels like winning this class was meant to be.”
She topped a 10-horse jump-off with a clean round in 36 .44 seconds on St. Bride’s Farm 15-year-old Holsteiner by Contact Me.
The Irish dominated the rest of the podium, with Conor Swail second in 37.10 seconds on Vital Chance de la Roque and Mark McAuley third in 37.55 seconds with Jasco vd Bisschop clocked in over Michel Vaillancourt’s course at the soon-to-be-rebranded Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.