September 7, 2024 
When 21 of 33 starters fail to make the time allowed in a 5* 1.60m class and five more don’t even complete the course, you have to ask: was the time too tight?
Especially when there’s no shortage of experience or horse power in the field: 19 of those starters are ranked in the world top 50, including five in the world top 10.
Such was the case in Friday’s Tourmaline Cup 1.60m at Spruce Meadows. The Masters is known for its difficulty and Friday’s grand prix qualifier proved how.
Two pairs managed to crack the code of Leopoldo Palacios’s 1.60m test: Ireland’s Cian O’Connor on Fermoy and France’s Kevin Staut on Beau de Laubry Z. Five more finished on a single time fault.
Staut and the 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding were first to return for the short course and put the pressure on with a smooth and speedy double clear in 44.51 seconds. O’Connor dropped two rails and was two seconds slower through the timers in 46.51.
But while the clock may have been the biggest challenge on the day, Staut had already solved for it with Beau de Laubry Z.
“He’s a really, really quick horse as we could see, today,” said the world no. 16.
“So it’s really important to have a horse like that at Spruce [where] we know that in every competition, time allowed is something really, really important. So, that’s why [I decided] to bring Beau de Laubry Z here and, and I’m really happy about this decision and to have this win already.”
Partnered since October 2022, Staut and the bay gelding made their 1.60m debut in June 2023 and have jumped to four 1.60m podiums in their 25 starts at the height prior, including three victories (Jumpr stats). Most recently, they won the 5* Rolex Grand Prix of Dinard in June.
The horse’s athleticism has never been a question, said Staut. His mind, however, has.
“Honestly, when we bought him we had no idea that this horse could manage mentally the high level,” said Staut. “He had a lot of power for sure. Really, really careful. But he was a bit fragile in his head.
“For sure, sometimes, the horse has to find his rider and also the rider to find the right horse. I think we are working quite well together. He’s a really stiff horse. And, so I have to spend a lot of time flat working, trying to make some gymnastics in the morning, to have him a bit softer in the body. But the quality of the jump is amazing.”
Come Sunday, Staut and Beau de Laubry Z will try to repeat their winning formula in the CPCK International.
“He will be my horse for the Grand Prix on Sunday,” confirmed Staut.” The plan is to try to do the same thing that we did [Friday].”
