November 7, 2022 
Helios “did the damn thing” in the Major League Show Jumping team event in Mexico.
MLSJ’s front running team expanded their every growing lead—again—on Sunday at MLSJ Monterrey I, jumping to the top of podium for a record-setting fifth team event title this season.
Monterrey was their hardest fought yet.
“It was hard”
Only four combinations managed to find a clear path around Anthony D’Ambrosia’s first round track.
“The goal was just jump clear because it was hard,” said Helios’s lead off rider, Karl Cook.
Helios managed the task best, posting eight faults in the first round with Cook (Caillou 24) and Simon McCarthy (Gotcha) each catching a rail. Eugenio Garza (Victer Finn DH Z) logged the team’s only clear.
Spy Coast Spies posted the second lowest score in the first round with a four fault performance by Jordan Coyle and Costa Diam and eight fault ride by Jacob Pope and Highway FBH to finish on 12. Teammate Lacey Gilbertson kept her near perfect track record in MLSJ team events alive with a clear in the first round.
Trailblazers, represented by new recruits Patricio Pasquel, Lillie Keenan, and Darragh Kenny, logged 17 faults to qualify for the second round.
Tied on 18 points, Eye Candy’s Richie Moloney, Paul O’Shea and Conor Swail squeaked ahead of Roadrunners’ Kaitlin Campbell, Kyle King and Arturo Parada on their team time (207.50 seconds to Roadrunners 212.78) to finish in the top four and advance to round two.
Crusaders (21 faults), Team Lugano (27 faults) and ShowPlus Northern Lights (elimination) failed to make the cut.
Round two saw a change in the guard
With the top four teams returning on a zero score, the second round continued much the same way as the first, with Helios once again landing on top. MLSJ’s winningest team has made no secret of their “ride the fastest two in the second round” strategy this season. This week, that was McCarthy and Garza.
“We felt we could take more risks,” confirmed Garza.
Risk is exactly what he took. The Mexican Olympian posted the fastest time of the day, stopping the clock in the first jump off at 42.45 seconds as teammates Ashlee Bond and Bliss Heers scream-cheered from the sidelines.
Trailblazers time of 94.80, posted by Keenan and Kenny, assured them of a spot in the gold medal match, while Eye Candy (95.07) and Spy Coast Spies (Coyle and Pope) were relegated to the bronze medal match (99.64).
Eye Candy squeaks ahead in the team standings
The closest race this season is for second place. Heading into the seventh leg in Monterrey, Eye Candy and Spy Coast Spies were tied in the number two spot on the team standings.
In a foot race between the reigning world number five (Swail) and 2021 MLSJ rookie (Gilbertson), Swail and Gamble came out on top, stopping the clock at 43.98 to Gilbertson’s 45.74 to take the bronze. Eye Candy is now one point ahead in the team standings.
Caillou made his team debut
Monterrey marks Caillou’s first appearance for Helios, and Cook’s second time riding anchor, after campaigning Fecybelle in Vancouver and Traverse City.
“I was following the second round times, trying to get a feel for what the times were looking like. And then I made sure to get to the gate early so that I could watch Patricio because I only have to beat him. So really I needed to watch him go,” said Cook.
Pasquel’s efficient clear in 46.02 seconds left the door open.
“[In] my first round I had the last rail down, I knew Caillou was going to be very sharp. And so after [fences] one, two, three, four, I knew I was going to be faster than him and the goal is just to stay faster,” shared Cook.
“So I was just staying calm because in those moments, it’s so easy to just ride too much. The goal is just just ride. [It’s] he’s jumping great, you know you can make it.”
The pair did precisely that leaving all the rails in place and crossing the timers in 44.02 to seize the win.
The secret to Helios’ success…
With five wins to date, Helios has clearly cracked the code on MLSJ success. But they’ll tell you it takes more than just fast horses and fast riders with a desire to win, though they have those in spades too. Maintaining the consistency they’ve achieved this season takes team synergy.
“The majority [of our riders] have been on Nations Cup teams, and I think we can all say that the better the camaraderie is, the better you do in the ring,” said team manager Ashlee Bond. “We’re just a group of friends, and we all came together and we all have the same goal and we all really love each other. And we’re like a big family and it’s paying off. The proof is in the winning.”
Garza concurred. “I think a big part of why it’s been such a fun team is because even the riders, like Ashlee, that are not riding today, they’re involved.
“We didn’t have a screen to watch the other riders [at the ring]. So it was all based on the communication that we got from both Bliss and Ashlee and I think they were instrumental in securing the win, how fast we had to go, what strides to do in what line. So, it helps to have a team that is so eager to win.”
“I think also, as the least experienced rider on the team, having all of the experience around me gives me confidence in the ring, and I can definitely feel my horse rising to that,” added McCarthy.
“We’ve had no horse perform under par all season long and, you know, massive credit to the team of horses that we have. They’re absolutely fighters. They’re fast. They’re careful. They’re scopey. They’ve been unbelievable all year long.”
Helios has now taken MLSJ team wins in Vancouver, BC, Traverse City, MI, Toronto, ON, and both San Miguel de Allende and Monterrey, Mex.
Major League continues next week at Monterrey for leg eight of the tour. Can anyone stop the Helios train from leaving the MLSJ station?
