Francisco Goyoaga Mollet Leads Off for Spain Winning Speed Challenge CSI 3* at Traverse City

Traverse City, Michigan, United States – May 05, 2025 – The first flag of the season to fly over the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring was for Spain after Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP) won the $32,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3* by more than two seconds riding PST de Muze during opening week of the Traverse City Horse Shows. 

The Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, continues through June 29 and features three weeks of FEI jumper competition, weekly hunter derbies, including the International Hunter Derby Regional Championships, in addition to the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and the Markel/USHJA Platinum & Zone Jumper Team Championships.

Goyoaga is a regular at Flintfields Horse Park, and Thursday’s win marked the first international victory on the record for PST de Muze, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned by Sigma Stables. 

“She’s really fast. I don’t normally go that fast with her because she’s a grand prix horse, but I thought I should wake her up a little for this first show,” said Goyoaga, 28, after leading the victory gallop with the Vigo d’Arsouilles STX x Clinton mare. “She’s so naturally fast that I can leave out strides everywhere. 

“The class got fast, so you had to take a chance at the last fence. If you wanted to do one more stride to be safer, then you were slower,” continued Goyoaga of his flawless execution of an inside turn to the final vertical on course. “It’s more about how smart your horse is and how much risk you can take.”

Pulling off the same inside turn, Daisy Farish (USA) nipped at the heels of PST de Muze aboard Etonemoi del Cabalero but came up short in 64.17 seconds. She and the 11-year-old Selle Français mare (Air Jordan x Le Tot de Semilly), owned by Lanes End Showjumping, settled as the runners up. 

Goyoaga bookended the podium by finishing third in the irons of Spanish-bred mare Clic es Patrons, owned in partnership between Acanthaster, S.L. and Tip Top de le Orlem, on a time of 64.47 seconds.

Goyoaga has had the ride on PST de Muze for roughly one year and has quickly developed high hopes for the mare. 

“She’s going to be a real five-star grand prix horse,” he said before noting his plans to point her towards the top-sport offerings at Traverse City Horse Shows later this season, including the Major League Show Jumping CSI 5*, Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier and American Gold Cup CSI5*. “She’s probably the best horse I’ve ever ridden in my life.”

Aside from a tentative appearance at the European Championships hosted by his home country in July, Goyoaga plans to spend his entire summer season in Michigan. The 28-year-old rider is also holding out hope for an appearance from Spain in the Nations Cup CSIO 3* during the fourth week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders. “I’ve been waiting all year for this moment; we love it here. This show is incredible—every year we come back and there’s something new. They welcome the riders like no other place, so I love coming here.”

International competition continues at Flintfields Horse Park on Friday with the $32,000 Welcome Stake CSI 3*.

Final Results – $32,000 Speed Challenge CSI 3*

1) Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP) & PST de Muze – 0 – 61.88

2) Daisy Farish (USA) & Etonemoi del Cabalero – 0 – 64.17

3) Francisco Goyoaga Mollet (ESP) & Clic es Patrons – 0 – 64.47

Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows

Photos: © TCHS / Megan Giese Media

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