Tiffany Foster used her start position to her advantage in the $15,000 1.45m at 91原创鈥檚 Thunderbird Show Park Harvest Celebration on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 25.

After producing the fastest clear of the first round in the uniquely formatted competition with Artisan Farms鈥� Galino, Foster earned the opportunity to return last of seven over Peter Holmes鈥� shortened track. She replicated her first round feat, taking the victory with a final time of 42.36 seconds. Justin Prather and E Z Ace finished second with Hilary McNerney and Lovelight third.

鈥淓ven though there weren鈥檛 a huge amount of entries in the class, Peter Holmes definitely didn鈥檛 under-build. It was a full 1.45m, and he didn鈥檛 go any softer for the jump-off,鈥� Foster said.

鈥淏ecause I was the fastest clear in the first round, I had the advantage of going last again in the jump-off, so I was able to watch everybody. Justin Prather had a very fast round. I was kind of hoping I鈥檇 be able to just cruise around and have a nice round, but I realized I had to go quite fast.鈥�

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After having a rail in the first round, the winning round format enabled Prather to return with a clean slate. He made the most of the opportunity and didn鈥檛 hide his satisfaction with his performance, emphatically praising his horse after crossing through the finish timers.

Foster was watching, and when it was her turn to take her shot, she didn鈥檛 let up on her gallop. One of Galino鈥檚 boots even fell by the wayside as the pair sliced their turn back to the penultimate fence.

鈥淚 slipped a little bit in the turn, but I鈥檇 seen my distance and I was pretty committed to it. I think that鈥檚 probably where we won it,鈥� Foster said.

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鈥淓verything was flying! Sand was flying, we were flying,鈥� she exclaimed. 鈥淏y the time I looked up, [the distance to the fence] was there. My horse was really with me in that turn, and that鈥檚 very important in those situations. If the horse isn鈥檛 with you, a slightly long distance becomes a very long distance. Thank you, 鈥楪ino鈥� for that!鈥�

Foster has been partnered with the bay gelding for nearly three years, and he鈥檚 been competitive from the start. Galino has jumped to podium placings from Samorin (SVK) to Dinard (FRA) and Spruce Meadows (CAN).

His win at Thunderbird marks the biggest of his young career.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a really competitive horse. He鈥檚 always been a bit of an old soul, so I鈥檝e been able to compete with him sort of the whole time I鈥檝e had him,鈥� Foster said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 really fun to enter in classes like this, because I always know I have a bit of a shot.鈥�