Nine-time Olympian Ian Millar of Perth, ON, won the $100,000 Caledon Cup on Sunday, September 25, at the CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament (CSJT) in Palgrave, ON.
The $100,000 Caledon Cup, presented by Aviva Elite, Peel Maryborough, and RAM Equestrian, was held over three phases. Millar and Star Power won both the $30,000 Aviva Elite/Peel Maryborough Phase II on Saturday and the $50,000 RAM Equestrian Phase III on Sunday to take the overall Caledon Cup title.
Already in the lead heading into Sunday’s final, Millar was one of only three horse-rider combinations to advance to the jump-off. Another eight horse-rider combinations had a single rail over the course set by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela.
Roberto Teran of Colombia was the first rider back to challenge the shortened jump-off track with Denver, a 12-year-old Trakehner gelding owned by Hawkestone Farms. The pair will represent Colombia at the upcoming Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament was a final preparatory event. A miscommunication mid-way around the jump-off course brought Teran home with a final score of 12 faults for an eventual third place finish.
Amy Millar, 34, of Perth, ON, was next to take up the challenge, guiding Costa Rica Z to a fault-free round in a time of 50.19 seconds. Costa Rica Z is a 16-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Millar Brooke Farm Ltd. and Matthews.
Millar showed his daughter no mercy as he attempted to catch her leading time. A slick inside turn put the elder Millar up on the clock, and he and Star Power cruised home in a time of 48.61 seconds to take the victory. In addition to winning Sunday’s final, Millar and Star Power easily captured their first Caledon Cup title.
“It’s great for both horse and rider because it is a totally different pressure than just a one-off competition,” said Millar, 64, of the three-phase Caledon Cup. “Your order of go is determined by your place in the standings, and it builds pressure. The horses sense that from us. It is the same format that is used for the World Cup Final and at major games, and it is an excellent acclimatization and training exercise.”
Of Sunday’s track, Millar commented, “The course today was an average scope test; it was more tricky and visually difficult. Leopoldo asked a lot of questions, and it came down to the horse’s ability to concentrate, and their power. It’s not the horse, it’s not the rider. It’s the best horse and rider combination that is going to win. I couldn’t be more pleased with Star Power.”
Millar and the 10-year-old Dutch-bred gelding owned by Team Works have been named to the four-member Canadian Show Jumping Team for the upcoming Pan American Games. Millar, who has already earned nine medals, will be making his ninth Pan American Games appearance.
On Saturday, Millar and his daughter had the pleasure of presenting 13-year-old Gabrielle Malouin of Meumier, QC, with a horse. Malouin is the third Children’s Wish Foundation recipient to have her wish for a horse or pony granted at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament.
A Children’s Wish Celebration was also held on Saturday and featured a luncheon with live and silent auctions, followed in the evening by the Children’s Wish BBQ and Dance. Master of Ceremonies Allan Donnan hosted the evening’s festivities, including an extremely popular mechanical bull riding contest. After five hours of non-stop competition, there was a three-way ride-off for the overall title between junior champion Victoria Soucier, amateur champion Meghan Dwyer, and professional champion Christi McQuaker. In the end, it was Soucier who emerged victorious, winning a GPA Speed-Air helmet, donated by Rider’s Habit.
In total, over $35,000 was raised for the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada at this year’s Canadian Show Jumping Tournament.
Over 700 horses competed at the CSI2* Canadian Show Jumping Tournament, which was sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). For more information on the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament, please visit http://www.equiman.com/.
$50,000 RAM Equestrian Phase III – Sunday, September 25
Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time
1. Ian Millar Perth, ON Star Power 0:0 48.61
2. Amy Millar Perth, ON Costa Rica Z 0:0 50.19
3. Roberto Teran Colombia Denver 0:12 53.38
4. Hugh Graham Schomberg, ON Executive Privilege 3E 4
5. Angela Covert-Lawrence St. Lazare, QC Utan 4
6. Yann Candele Caledon, ON Game Ready 4
7. Yann Candele Caledon, ON Carlotta Singular 4
8. Roberto Teran Colombia Vortex 4
9. Elizabeth Bates Toronto, ON Marvelous 6 4
10. Amy Millar Perth, ON Top Gun 4
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