Mario Deslauriers 2nd in $100,000 Grand Prix

The pinnacle of show jumping sport crescendoed in the Lakeside Arena at TerraNova Equestrian Center on Saturday, March 15, 2025 as some of the best athletes across the globe battled it out in hopes of winning the week’s premier event, the $100,000 Dutta Corporation 1.45m FEI CSI2* Grand Prix. As the finale of the venue’s five-week circuit, the fifth week of the TerraNova Winter Series brought with it an extra-special aura with the addition of increased prize money and playing host to the Split Rock Jumping Tour. Held in the picturesque background of Myakka City, Florida, the series has delivered weekly on the thrill of both international show jumping action as well as nationally-rated hunter, jumper, and equitation competition. As no stranger to TerraNova Equestrian Center, or to a podium finish, it was none other than Paul O’Shea (IRL) who delivered the dominating performance aboard Spy.

A man riding a bay horse over a jump in Florida.

Paul O’Shea and Spy won the feature on the final weekend of the TerraNova Winter Series. (Jessica Buehler photo)

Peter Holmes (CAN) built a track worthy of the 32 elite international-level combinations on the start list to tackle round one with a variety of technical questions meant to advance only the field’s best. Representatives from seven individual nations laid it all on the line with hopes of earning the lion’s share of the day’s prize money, but ultimately, only 11 pairings managed to successfully find their way to the short course. Never one to be doubted amongst incredible competition, O’Shea produced not one but two double-clear efforts to give himself double the chances of a victory. He put the pressure on early with his winning partner, and as the rails continued to drop throughout the entirety of the jump off round, it became more and more clear that the pair had sealed the deal.

“Peter Holmes did a great job today; it was a tough course but I think for $100,000 it should be,” stated O’Shea. “My plan was to go as quickly as I could with Spy. He’s got a big stride and he’s very careful so that’s a big help on a track like this.

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“For a second I don’t think he really saw the last fence,” he continued, “he didn’t lock onto it until the last stride, but he gave an extra effort there so it just shows what a good horse he is.”

“I’ve had him since he was seven-years-old when he was bought by Erica Hatfield,” O’Shea explained. “He was green when we got him and we’ve brought him along very slowly, but we’ve always had a lot of belief and faith in him. Andrea Sinner and Trish Hartwell have come on board as well, so they own him together now and were looking forward to the future with him. This is the first show they’ve been able to come to as owners with Erica [Hatfield].so I’m very happy; it’s a great way to start.”

Splitting the difference between Irish team mates O’Shea and Darragh Kenny, Mario Deslauriers (CAN) navigated over two successful tracks to clock in almost two seconds behind O’Shea for the reserve position on the podium. Piloting Louise Battermann and Oliver Beck’s nine-year-old Holsteiner mare, Inside Of My Heart (L.B. Crumble x San Patrignano Cassini), the veteran show jumper stopped the timers in 44.06 seconds and was the only other double-clear effort. Kenny secured the final podium position for Ireland with one unlucky rail but in an efficient time of 43.41 seconds aboard his winning partner from Thursday’s welcome stake, Lightning. (Deslauriers was also 5th with Costa Quick PS; Tiffany Foster was 9th with Ester.)

Erica Hatfield of Eye Candy Jumpers accepted the Owner’s Award presented by Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. Fourth-place finisher, Sloane Coles, accepted the Leading Lady Award, presented by Magellan Jets.

Alongside the best of the sport were some rising stars as a field of eight entries contested the $500 Horse Hub TerraNova 2’6” Hunter Derby. At the completion of the single round hunt-and-go event, the top score of 86.00 was enough to skyrocket the pair of Brooke Cudmore and Ferry van den Hoogeweg into the winning position.

“This is an awesome facility,” Cudmore gushed. “I wish I brought more of my young horses to play in these little derbies because they’re great. I love that they are open classes for everybody to compete in, whether you’re a pro, or a kid, or my little older lady.

“It’s just a really fun opportunity that they have, because half of the time the pros can’t even show on the weekends unless you’re jumping really big,” she added. “So it’s nice to have these options. Next year, I will definitely be bringing more babies with me.”

Competition at the 2025 TerraNova Winter Series will conclude on Sunday, March 16, 2025 as national-level competitors take back the headlines in the $20,000 KB Squared Construction 1.35m TerraNova Prix and a variety of junior-amateur classics.

Results can be found here.

Watch the $100,000 Dutta Corporation 1.45m FEI CSI2* Grand Prix here. (Mario’s jump-off round is at 3:13:45)