The $25,000 G&C Farm Young Riders Grand Prix was the inaugural event for the best up-and-coming riders in the world ages 16-21. David Arcand of Montreal, Quebec earned first and third from the original field of 43.
Arcand remarked, “It was a really good course. There were good horses and good riders. I think he made a good course; it was careful. It had the water, the triple bar, the skinny; it really had everything. There was the right amount clean too.”
Reed Kessler and Mika were the first of seven in the jump-off. They had four faults in 36.977 seconds, which placed them fifth at the end of the class. Laura Teodori and Stedet’s Leroy accumulated eight jumping and three time faults in 42.260 seconds to go into seventh place in the class. Goutal and Wintina Deux were next in and were very quick from jumps three to four. They finished clear in 35.930 seconds to take the lead, but would eventually finish second.
Arcand was next in with Santo’s Utopia, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding by Nevado SA xx Equador. With a smooth gallop and great footspeed, the pair went straight to the top of the leaderboard with a clear round in 35.534 seconds. “It was probably in the one turn after the skinny (fence),” Arcand explained of where he made up time. “A lot of people did the same thing in the jump-off. I’ve got a naturally fast horse, so that helped me a lot.”
Michael Murphy and Katina 12 were faster in 34.731 seconds, but eight faults relegated them to sixth place in the class. Ali Wolff and H&M Necoll were also very quick in 34.482 seconds, but a rail at jump 11a put them into fourth place.
Arcand was the last to return on his second horse Tarzan. They posted the fastest time of the class in 33.607 seconds, but they also pulled a rail at fence 11a for four faults and finished third.
This was a great win for the young Arcand, who will be turning professional shortly. He has only been showing at the FEI (international) grand prix level since last summer. “It was in Canada and was smaller than here. Here it’s the real deal. My first time in a big grand prix was here in January,” he said.
Arcand trains with Marie Hecart and felt that the move for his horse from the FEI grand prix level to today’s class helped both him and his horse. He noted, “I wanted to give him a lower class to do. He responded well, and it was good for his confidence. I’ve been trying to do bigger stuff for awhile and had a couple down, so this is good for my confidence too.”
Today’s victory for Arcand was special for him since it was with a horse that he knows well. “I bought him when he was six years old, so I’ve owned him forever. I know him by heart,” he smiled. “It’s really nice to win. I’m really happy that I won here.”
Final Results: $25,000 G&C Young Rider Grand Prix
1. SANTO’S UTOPIA, DAVID ARCAND, DAVID ARCAND: 0/0/35.534
2. WINTINA DEUX, CLEMENTINE GOUTAL, SENARMONT MANAGEMENT: 0/0/35.930
3. TARZAN, DAVID ARCAND, DAVID ARCAND: 0/4/33.607
4. H & M NECOLL, ALI WOLFF, BLACKLICK BEND FARM: 0/4/34.482
5. MIKA, REED KESSLER, REED KESSLER: 0/4/36.977
6. KATINA 12, MICHAEL MURPHY, MICHAEL MURPHY: 0/8/34.731
7. STEDET’S LEROY, LAURA TEODORI, DK-USA SPORTHORSE LLC: 0/11/42.260
8. CORINA, OLIVIA JACK, OLIVIA JACK: 4/80.655
9. LANDDAME, ZACHARY LIBES, ZACHARY LIBES: 4/82.634
10. LA SUPRA, MEGAN FELLOWS, MEGAN FELLOWS: 4/83.797
11. ZABOOMERANG, MORGAN KENNEDY: 4/83.958
12. COULETTO K. JAMES, KATHERINE DINAN, KATIE DINAN LLC: 4/84.044
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