The $20,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix came down to a match race on Saturday at Thunderbird Show Park’s Harvest Festival. The tough and technical track produced just a pair of clear rounds, setting the stage for a two-horse race in the jump off.
When the dust settled, it was Kassidy Keith (CAN) and her veteran partner Havana who emerged victorious, stopping the timers in 44.91 seconds. USA’s Reagan Tomb, 19, finished second aboard Clan de Nyze Z with 13 faults in 63.25 seconds. She also took third on Nijinsky 10.
The winding 16-effort track demanded accuracy from start to finish.
“I thought walking it, it was not huge, but it was quite technical,” Keith said. “There were a lot of turns—there’s been a lot of turns all week.
“There was a decision at the end of the ring where you rode up in seven [strides] or did eight,” Keith explained. “But for Havana, I like to keep it forward. She always builds by the end of the course, so I chose seven, and I think it worked out beautifully.”
Tomb was first to return for the jump off and was on track to set a speedy standard with Ashley Papalia’s scopey grey when a drive-by at the double knocked them off track. The pair regrouped to finish on a positive note.
Keith, a known speed specialist, closed the door with an efficient double clear.
“The last thing that Reyhan [Haunert] said to me [before the first round] was, ‘You don’t want to be cautious just for a clear round,’” Keith recalled. “So I tried to keep it still on pace [for the jump off]. That being said, there was a little bit of an iffy last oxer, but it worked out.”
The victory capped a week that didn’t start as well as it ended for Keith.
“I did the Welcome [class], and Havana was really good. Unfortunately, I took the standard out with my right leg,” she chuckled. “And then today, she felt super. She’s feeling super going into the fall [season], so I’m excited.”
$20,000 Maui Jim Grand Prix
Rank/Horse/Rider/Nation/Owner/Faults-Time
1. Havana, Kassidy Keith (CAN) Kassidy Keith 0 / 0-44.91
2. Clan De Nyze Z, Reagan Tomb (USA) Ashley Papalia 0 / 13-63.25
3. Nijinsky 10 Reagan Tomb (USA) Greg Tomb 2-84.12
4. Macgyver, Laura Jane Tidball (CAN) Thunderbird / Attache Stables 2-84.26
5. Hippy Boy D Azur, Stella Chernoff (CAN) Stump Lake Ranch And Cattle Co Ltd 4-77.48
Full results here.
Foster’s New Partner Jambo Proves a Quick Study
Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster piloted her newest partner Jambo to a win in the $10,000 Winning Round 1.35m at Thunderbird Show Park’s Harvest Festival on Saturday in a time of 42.32 seconds..
Tiffany Foster rode Jambo to first place in the $10,000 Winning Round 1.35m. (Kady Dane Photography)
Just six tenths of a second separated the top three finishers. Guillaume Henaut (BEL) and Liverpool took second in 42.92, while Megan Garcia (USA) and Constable finished third in 42.96.
The win is all the more impressive considering the pair’s short time together.
“I just got him this summer,” Foster said. “He’s owned by Kent Farrington, he sent him to me as a young horse to start developing. He is only 7 years old, so we’ve been just working together. He needs to get a little more trained, but he’s doing really well.”
The winning round format sees the top 10 return for the second round on clean slate, in reverse order of their first round results. Foster and Jambo incurred 8 faults in round one, but applied their learnings to improve over the short course. Using Jambo’s natural ability and ground-covering stride to their advantage, they were quick and clear to capture the win.
“He has a really big stride, so I was able to kind of use that from [fence] one to two,” Foster explained. “And he’s pretty good at picking up the first distance, so he was really good to the last jump too, even though he didn’t really see it. He followed my lead very well there.”
Beyond his athletic gifts, Foster is quick to praise Jambo’s temperament—a quality she believes may be his greatest asset.
“He is the kindest, sweetest, most fun and gentle horse,” she said. “I think his character is one of his best attributes.”
$10,000 Winning Round 1.35m
Rank / Horse / Rider / Nation / Owner / Faults-Time
1. Jambo, Tiffany Foster (CAN) Kent Farrington LLC 8 / 0-42.32
2. Liverpool, Guillaume Henaut (BEL) Graham Williamson 4 / 0-42.92
3. Constable, Megan Garcia (USA) Megan Garcia 2 / 0-42.96
4. Bonnaroo Z, Ashley Papalia (CAN) Artisan Farms , LLC 3 / 0-46.41
5. Martini Z, James Mcdonald (CAN) Diana McDonald 11 / 0-46.54
Full results here.
Tracey Epp and Heartvit ZH earned a score of 104 to win the Amy Brattebo Real Estate Open 3’6” Canadian Hunter Derby. (Kady Dane Photography)
Epp and Heartvit ZH End Derby Season as They Began It
Tracey Epp and her veteran partner Heartvit ZH saved their best for last, earning a score of 104 to win the Amy Brattebo Real Estate Open 3’6″ Canadian Hunter Derby at Thunderbird Show Park’s Harvest Celebration.
The victory capped a remarkable 2026 season for the pair, who logged five top 10 finishes, including two wins, in the derby series to claim the overall series championship.
“I think his biggest strength is he knows when it’s a big deal,” Epp said of Heartvit ZH. “He knows when it is a big class, when there’s a crowd, he knows when it counts.”
With two mounts in the class, Epp bookended the start list and ultimately jumped to a one-two finish. She took second place aboard Klasse One with a score of 102. Shannon Haney and Lord Bellini F rounded out the podium in third with a score of 101. Just three points separated the top three finishers in the tightly contested class.
The Canadian Hunter Derby is a one-round competition judged as a handy hunter class. Additional bonus points are awarded for jumping up to five high options on course, as well as for additional handiness and high performance displayed throughout the round. The competition also serves as a qualifier for the Canadian Hunter Derby National Championship, held at the Royal Horse Show in November.
Course designer Greg Kuti set a 12-jump track. Epp executed all five high options, relying on the former 1.50m jumper’s scope to earn crucial bonus points.
“I’m really lucky because I had two horses in the class,” Epp said. “I kind of knew after I did my first horse where I could be a little more slick, and I knew how the turns and the lines rode. I think that was my advantage.”
The Czech Warmblood stallion maintains a “full-time job” as a breeding stallion alongside his competition career.
For Epp, the series championship represents more than just a title—it’s preparation for the biggest stage in Canadian hunter competition.
“I have done all of the [Amy Brattebo Real Estate Canadian Hunter derbies] this year, and I was lucky enough to be the overall series champion,” Epp said. “It’s super important to be able to follow the series to know where you rank. We take him out east for medal finals, so it’s nice going in off a big win and a series win, and it just keeps things in perspective for the Finals.”
The Canadian Hunter Derby series continues to serve as a vital development pathway for hunters in British Columbia and beyond, offering riders the opportunity to accumulate points throughout the season while preparing for national championship competition. With the Royal Horse Show on the horizon, Epp and Heartvit ZH will look to carry their series momentum onto the national stage.
$3,000 Amy Brattebo Real Estate Open CND Hunter Derby 3’6”
Rank | Horse | Rider | Nation | Owner | Score
1. Heartvit ZH | Tracey Epp | CAN | Tracey Epp | 104
2. Klasse One | Tracey Epp | CAN | Tracey Epp | 102
3.Lord Bellini F | Shannon Haney | CAN | Bradon Equestrian Ltd | 101
4. Conejo | Bianca Duronio | CAN | Bianca Duronio | 94
5. Fighting Falcon | Rhonda Thompson | CAN | Rhonda Thompson | 78
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