For the second week in a row, Canadian Olympian Amy Millar of Perth, ON, led the victory gallop at Wesley Clover Parks after winning the $50,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Ottawa, ON.
Hot off her victory riding GCS Athena one week earlier in the $50,000 RBC Grand Prix, Millar once again came out on top in the $50,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix, this time partnered with Christiano. Millar also won the $15,000 Open Welcome both weeks of competition riding GCS Athena, owned by Brookstreet Stables, and Don’t Worry Farmer, owned by Millar Brooke Farm, respectively, setting a record as the only competitor to ever win all four major Open Jumper events at the back-to-back Ottawa Summer Tournaments.
“It’s been a pretty special two weeks,” said Millar, who trains out of her family’s Millar Brooke Farm in nearby Perth, ON. “My horses have been super and it’s always fun to win at home. Each of my horses won something so that’s very special and makes me feel good about my string and the management of them. It’s been great.”
With three horses entered in the $50,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix, Millar qualified two for the jump-off over the course set by course designer Ana Catalina “Catsy” Cruz of Mexico. She was joined by Susan Horn of Bolton, ON, who qualified both of her horses for the jump-off, as did Canadian Olympian Mac Cone of King City, ON. François Lamontagne of Saint-Eustache, QC, made it seven for the jump-off riding Chanel du Calvaire.
While five of the seven jump-off contenders again jumped clear, none were faster than Millar and Christiano, a 13-year-old Brandenburg gelding (Canoso x Compliment) owned by Future Adventures.
“Christiano is so wonderful,” praised Millar, who has represented Canada in Olympic and World Championship competition. “I’ve been riding him for awhile. I use him a lot in the Major League speed competitions so when I turn it on for a jump-off, he just snaps into gear right now. As soon as I picked up the gallop to number one in the jump-off, I knew he was with me, and he knew it was game time. He listened to everything I said and tried really hard in the jump-off.”
With a jump-off time of 34.34 seconds, Millar took the win over Horn, who had stopped the clock in 35.39 seconds riding KS Coradina, a 16-year-old Latvian Warmblood mare (Corlensky G x Cardento 933). Horn, who trains with Millar Brooke, also jumped clear in a time of 36.32 seconds to take fifth place with Kirlo van den Bosrand, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cardento 993 x Utrillo Z). Both horses are owned by her family’s Kingsfield Farm.
Having finished runner-up in the $50,000 RBC Grand Prix one week earlier, Cone and Con Couleur, a 12-year-old Mecklenburg gelding (Conthargos x Couleur Rubin), settled for third with a time of 35.90 seconds. Cone also took sixth place after incurring four faults in the jump-off aboard the eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Ogandros PS. Both of his mounts are owned by Mark Samuel’s Chadburn Holdings Inc.
Lamontagne slotted into fourth position with his long-time partner, Chanel du Calvaire, with a clear jump-off ride in 36.15 seconds.
For Millar, there’s nothing better than competing at Wesley Clover Parks.
“I absolutely love showing in Ottawa on this grass grand prix field,” said the 46-year-old who was cheered on by several family members, including her son on the eve of his fifth birthday. “Even if we get a bit of weather, this footing holds up beautifully. It’s very forgiving and it’s also very challenging.”
The two-week Ottawa Summer Tournaments conclude on Sunday, July 16, with the $5,000 CHDS Open Hunter Derby, presented by Apple Saddlery, beginning at 8 a.m. The fun-filled $5,000 Royal LePage Team Realty Dog and Pony Challenge will match agility dogs with horse-rider combinations, with the fastest combined time determining the winner. The $5,000 Modified Grand Prix, presented by Greenhawk, is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will close out two weeks of show jumping competition in the nation’s capital.
The Ottawa Summer Tournaments, now in their ninth season, once again features the $10,000 Under 25 MarBill Hill Farm Jumper Bonus and Circuit Award. Competitors are also earning points toward the Ottawa Circuit Awards, presented by Ride Every Stride. For more information and to register, visit www.ottawaequestriantournaments.com/special-awards.
Full results here.
$50,000 Brookstreet Grand Prix – Saturday, July 15, 2023
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Amy Millar / Perth, ON / Christiano / 0:0 / 34.34
2. Susan Horn / Bolton, ON / KS Coradina / 0:0 / 35.39
3. Mac Cone / King City, ON / Con Couleur / 0:0 / 35.90
4. François Lamontagne / Saint-Eustache, QC / Chanel du Calvaire / 0:0 / 36.15
5. Susan Horn / Bolton, ON / Kirlo van den Bosrand / 0:0 / 36.32
6. Mac Cone / King City, ON / Ogandros PS/ 0:4 / 37.83
7. Amy Millar / Perth, ON / Don’t Worry Farmer / 0:26 / 57.59
8. Olivia Blaber / Ottawa, ON / Mauna Lani / 4
9. Jay Hayes / Mono, ON / Hope VA / 4
10. Amy Millar / Perth, ON / GCS Athena / 4
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