![Peter Petschenig and Saint Quentin (McCool)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/8794/peter petschenig and saint quentin.jpg)
Peter Petschenig and Saint Quentin (McCool)
Twenty-four of the top scoring riders throughout the season competed in the South Point Equestrian Arena over an Olaf Petersen, Jr. course. With 14 efforts featuring a series of related distances from start to finish, and a tight time allowed, the track demanded precision. Twelve horse and rider pairs finished the course without lowering the height of a jump, but only eight of the twelve mastered the track within the time allowed.
Petersen designed a jump-off that offered options with challenges. "The course has one sharp left turn, one sharp right turn and a long gallop to the last jump. It has everything an exciting jump-off needs."
With its share of thrills, the jump-off had some surprising twists. First to return, Sayre Happy on Ludwig's Joker B (HC Sport Horses, owner) had a refusal at the oxer into the 10ab combination. Richard Spooner on Cristallo were next. Known as the Master of Faster, Spooner went for speed, had a rail halfway through the round and a refusal at the final fence. Wednesday evening's winner, Karl Cook on Banba, had the time but two rails kept him out of the top spot. Rails continued to fall until Peter Petschenig and his own Saint Quentin zipped around the short course in a fault free time of 43.90. Last to go in the jump-off, Eduardo Menezes aboard Carushka finished a close second, clean and clear in 44.43.
The winner thought the course was a good test. "It was great. I think the course was tough enough. It was a tight time, and many had time faults. There were good horses and good riders, it was fun."
Pleased with the results, but especially with his horse, Petschenig said, "Saint Quentin came back this year from an injury. I didn't actually know how good he was going to be this year. As you can see, he did a great job - he was fantastic in the jump-off. It's a great end of the season for him."
![Peter Petschenig and Saint Quentin celebrate the win in the Markel Grand Prix Series Final with (l-r) their groom Deborah Kunath, Director of Equine Operations for Markel Insurance Brandon Seger, Petschenig's coach Allen Clarke, Lauren Davis of EquiFit, inc., and Markel Insurance's Chris Norden, Julian Bowan-Rees and John Seger (McCool)](http://www.usefnetwork.com/images/articles/8793/peter petschenig and saint quentin celebrate the win.jpg)
Peter Petschenig and Saint Quentin celebrate the win in the Markel Grand Prix Series Final with (l-r) their groom Deborah Kunath, Director of Equine Operations for Markel Insurance Brandon Seger, Petschenig's coach Allen Clarke, Lauren Davis of EquiFit, inc., and Markel Insurance's Chris Norden, Julian Bowan-Rees and John Seger (McCool)
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