Toronto, Ontario – Ian Millar celebrated his third victory of the Royal Horse Show by winning the $100,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix on Wednesday, November 7, at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.
The eight-time Olympian posted the first clear round of the night over the tough track set by course designer Michel Vaillancourt. Millar joined four others in the jump-off while two riders, American Richard Spooner and Millar’s daughter, Amy, failed to advance when they incurred one time fault for exceeding the 69-second time allowed.
As the first to return for the jump-off, Millar set a blistering pace of 40.63 seconds, taking a daring inside turn to fence number nine. Four more riders followed, but none were able to catch Millar, who had also scored back-to-back victories on Saturday by winning the $100,000 Canadian Show Jumping Championship presented by Greenhawk followed by the $70,000 Kubota Cup Grand Prix.
“I did the inside turn to number nine which was a desperate turn and no one else tried it. I didn’t like it, and there is nothing worse than doing something like that and seeing someone else win by going around. Tonight it worked out but on another night, it could have just as easily not worked out,” explained Millar who pocketed $33,000 in prize money for his victory.
As the final challenger, Erynn Ballard, 27, of Hillsburgh, ON, had a different plan. Ballard left all the rails intact in a time of 45.29 seconds to finish as the runner-up.
“I knew my horse wasn’t as fast as Ian’s and not that handy, so my strategy was to stay clean,” said Ballard who has been partnered with her huge gelding, Robin Van Roosendael, for four years.
Young Dutchman Piet Raijmakers Jr. had a rail with Van Schijndel’s Rascin to place third while veteran British rider Nick Skelton and the eight-year-old french-bred horse, Le Prestige St. Lois, knocked down the double combination to incur eight faults. Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, attempted a very tight turn with his impressive new horse, Sadin, which resulted in a refusal. Four faults for the refusal plus the time it took to regroup cost Lamaze a total of 13 faults, leaving him in fifth place overall.
The $100,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix is a qualifying event for the 2008 World Cup Final to be held next April in Goteborg, Sweden.
Earlier in the day, Great Britian’s Michael Whitaker won the $15,000 McKee Family International Jumper Challenge riding Mozart des Hayettes while Amy Millar of Perth, ON, was the runner-up. In dressage, Jacqueline Brooks of Mount Albert, AB, and Gran Gesto won the opening night of the Canadian National Dressage Freestyle Championship.
The Royal Horse Show continues on Thursday when the Canadian National Dressage Freestyle Championship will be awarded, followed by the $25,000 National Steel Car Four Bar Challenge. In total, $745,000 in prize money is offered during the 10-day Royal Horse Show, making it one of the richest equestrian events in the world. For more information on The Royal Horse Show and The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, please visit www.royalfair.org.
$100,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix – Final Standings
1. Ian Millar Perth, ON In Style 0:0 40.63
2. Erynn Ballard Hillsburgh, ON Robin Van Roosendael 0:0 45.29
3. Piet Raijmakers Jr. Netherlands Van Schijndel’s Rascin 0:4 44.33
4. Nick Skelton Great Britain Le Prestige St. Lois 0:8 47.55
5. Eric Lamaze Schomberg, ON Sadin 0:13 56.64
6. Richard Spooner United States Ace 1
7. Amy Millar Perth, ON Costa Rica Z 1
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