Major League Show Jumping opened Season 6 at Angelstone Events on Thursday with the $250,000 5* Qualifier presented by BFL Canada, as Toronto prepares to host the season’s first 5* Team Competition and 5* Grand Prix later this week.
A field of 31 combinations took on the 1.55m track designed by Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA). The first round tested the field throughout, but the final combination at 12AB proved particularly influential, catching a number of contenders on the way home.
By the end of the first round, twelve combinations had produced clear efforts to advance to the jump off, setting up the first 5* showdown of Season 6.
Six combinations ultimately finished double clear, but it was World No. 2 Kent Farrington (USA) and the nine-year-old gelding, Descartes SR (Caramelo x Oklund) who set the standard. The pair stopped the clock in 41.96 seconds to take the opening 5* win of the season.
Farrington used Descartes SR’s natural speed to his advantage over the shortened course. “I tried to use the length of his stride, he’s naturally quick across the ground.” said Farrington.
Farrington and Descartes SR are no strangers to MLSJ victory. The pair won the 5* Grand Prix during Leg 8 in Kentucky last season, a result that helped Farrington on his way to claiming his second MLSJ Individual Championship.
Thursday’s result also continued Farrington’s success in the Toronto Qualifier. After winning the same class in Season 5 aboard Myla, Farrington returned one year later to make it back to back Qualifier victories in Toronto.
Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Corbie V.V. (Cornet Obolensky x Chacco-Blue) followed World No. 2 in the jump off and immediately put Farrington’s lead under pressure. Bluman crossed the timers in 42.82 seconds, slotting into second as another tight finish unfolded between the Season 5 rivals.
It is a familiar matchup for the two riders. Bluman and Farrington spent much of Season 5 battling at the top of the individual standings, including a Toronto Grand Prix that saw Bluman take the win over Farrington by just 0.11 seconds. If Thursday was any indication, that storyline did not end with Season 5.
Last to return for the jump off, Nina Mallevaey (FRA) and My Clementine (Obos Quality 004 x Kashmir Van Schuttershof) made their bid for the top of the leaderboard, ultimately stopping the clock in 43.26 seconds to round out the podium in third. (Canada’s Sean Jobin placed 5th riding Grande Dame DK.)
With the first 5* win of Season 6 secured, Farrington and Descartes SR look ahead to the remainder of the opening week in Toronto. “I have high hopes for the horse.” said Farrington.
Attention now turns to the 5* Team Competition and 5* Grand Prix with the first points of Season 6 up for grabs.
Complete results from the $250,000 5* Qualifier presented by BFL Canada can be found here.
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