In a close race to the finish, 21-year-old Daniel Bluman topped a star-studded field to win the $35,000 Henry Equestrian Plan Open Welcome held Friday, August 5, during the CSI2* Summer Festival at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, ON.
Renowned course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil set the track in the grand prix ring at the Caledon Equestrian Park, which will host the equestrian events for the 2015 Pan American Games. A total of 12 horse-rider combinations found the key to success, jumping clear to advance to the jump-off. Speed quickly became the name of the game as Yann Candele of Caledon, ON, overtook the lead riding Carlotta Singular from nine-time Olympian Ian Millar of Perth, ON, aboard Dryden. The final challenger entered the grand prix ring with a victory set firmly in his sights. In a thrilling race to the finish, Bluman and Sancha La Silla glided over the fences, turned tightly, and galloped home in a time of 36.29 seconds to overtake Candele’s time of 36.43 for the victory.
“I had a chance to see everyone who went before – Ian Millar, Yann Candele, Jill Henselwood – all the Canadian stars, and I saw what they did,” said Bluman, who was quick to give credit for his success to his younger brother, Steven, who helps manage his horses. “I trust my mare, she is really careful, and I just gave it the best gallop I could, tried to turn as fast as possible, and tried to stay inside the tracks of Yann. I galloped hard and, with a little bit of luck, things went my way.”
Bluman has only been riding Sancha La Silla since last November, having purchased the eight-year-old Mexican-bred mare (Chin Chin out of Sonora La Silla by Polydor) from Simon Nizri and breeder Alfonso Romo. Despite their short partnership, Bluman plans to ride Sancha La Silla at the Pan American Games this October in Guadalajara, Mexico, should he be named to the Colombian Show Jumping Team.
“The team has not been announced yet, but my chances are looking good,” said Bluman, who would be making his Pan Am Games debut. “I had to decide between my more experienced grand prix horse, Fatalis Fatum, and her, but I talked to Nelson Pessoa, who is the trainer of our team, and I would take her. She is a little bit young, but she is very fast for the first day of competition. Also, she would be going back to where she was born, to her home country!”
While the 2011 Pan American Games are his immediate goal, the young Colombian rider was also making his competitive debut at the Caledon Equestrian Park with a view to the next edition of the Pan American Games.
“I like jumping in FEI competitions, which is the main reason I wanted to come to Palgrave, but I also wanted to see where the next Pan Ams are going to be,” explained Bluman. “At this show we have a great course designer, FEI classes, and good prize money, plus I have good friends here.”
Show jumping competition continues at the Caledon Equestrian Park with Saturday’s $10,000 Champion Shavings Modified Grand Prix. Sunday brings the grand finale, the $90,000 CSI2* RAM Equestrian Grand Prix, which will see $27,000 in prize money awarded to the winner.
Set against the backdrop of the Niagara Escarpment, the Caledon Equestrian Park has hosted numerous Olympic, World Championship and Pan American Games selection trials for Canada’s show jumping and dressage teams. For more information, including full results, please visit http://www.equiman.com/.
$35,000 CSI2* Henry Equestrian Plan Open Welcome – Friday, August 5, 2011
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Daniel Bluman / Colombia / Sancha La Silla / 0:0 / 36.29
2. Yann Candele / Caledon, ON / Carlotta Singular / 0:0 / 36.43
3. Ian Millar / Perth, ON / Dryden / 0:0 / 37.65
4. Jill Henselwood / Oxford Mills, ON / IV Ever / 0:0 / 37.66
5. Ian Millar / Perth, ON / Star Power / 0:0 / 37.71
6. Elliott Stone / Midland, ON / Caprilli HSF / 0:0 / 37.84
7. Yann Candele / Caledon, ON / Game Ready / 0:4 / 36.08
8. Amy Millar / Perth, ON / Top Gun / 0:4 / 39.24
9. Hugh Graham / Schomberg, ON / Executive Privilege 3E / 0:4 / 39.32
10. Ljubov Kochetova / Russia / Lapsus du Lavoir / 0:4 / 40.45
11. Hugh Graham / Schomberg, ON / Distant Star 3E / 0:8 / 42.50
12. Jonathon Millar / Perth, ON / Contino 14 / 0:8 / 46.38
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